English as the Official Language

[ottermax]

English should be an official language, but there should be some sort of recognition for the Spanish language spoken by 10% of the population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_in_the_United_States

[MODU]

How many second or third-generation Hispanics do you know that speak Spanish more than English?

Spanish only, I know three in my church alone (we have a separate Spanish congregation).  There is also a family that speaks primarily Twi (both first and second generation).  I know of one Japanese household (which I think I've shared my story on them on here in the past) where only the native language is allowed in the house, even for guests.  And that's all good.  No one says they should get rid of their native language.  However, when it comes with dealings in the community and within the law, English should be the official language and whomever is here legally must know how to speak it.  It's that simple.  Not sure why people want to complicate it.

[Alcon]

How many second or third-generation Hispanics do you know that speak Spanish more than English?

Spanish only, I know three in my church alone (we have a separate Spanish congregation).  There is also a family that speaks primarily Twi (both first and second generation).  I know of one Japanese household (which I think I've shared my story on them on here in the past) where only the native language is allowed in the house, even for guests.  And that's all good.  No one says they should get rid of their native language.  However, when it comes with dealings in the community and within the law, English should be the official language and whomever is here legally must know how to speak it.  It's that simple.  Not sure why people want to complicate it.

There are primarily Spanish third-generation people?  Seriously?

And what percent of the third-generation speaks only Spanish?

[MODU]

There are primarily Spanish third-generation people?  Seriously?

Yes

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I dunno.  I'm not the census bureau.


Yes

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I dunno.  I'm not the census bearua.

[adam]

No, of course not.  Only simpleminded, xenophobic racists are for this.

You make it sound like they are wanting to outlaw all other languages. I personally think it would be great with we helped everyone communicate better. Would you say that France, Germany, and a plythera of other countries are xenophobic racists because they established national languages? Or is America the only country that can practice "xenophobia"?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Oh yes, the old "you have to make the English really tiny so everyone knows that FRENCH!!1111 is our language of preference".

Charming isn't it? O/c even that was forced on the Quebec government... until about a decade or two (I forget the exact date) speaking a language other than French outside people's homes was almost totally banned.

I've heard of so many retarded laws in Quebec that I'd vote for just about anyone over BQ, largely things I've seen Canadians on DU complain about. For example francophone parents are basically prohibited from sending their kids to anglophone schools under almost any circumstances whatsoever, and online businesses have been fined for having their sites exclusively in English.

[Gabu]

Oh yes, the old "you have to make the English really tiny so everyone knows that FRENCH!!1111 is our language of preference".

Charming isn't it? O/c even that was forced on the Quebec government... until about a decade or two (I forget the exact date) speaking a language other than French outside people's homes was almost totally banned.

I've heard of so many retarded laws in Quebec that I'd vote for just about anyone over BQ, largely things I've seen Canadians on DU complain about. For example francophone parents are basically prohibited from sending their kids to anglophone schools under almost any circumstances whatsoever, and online businesses have been fined for having their sites exclusively in English.

Calling Quebec hostile towards English would be an understatement.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Come to think of it, that's actually a good reason to oppose this. I'd hate to see a day when web site management could be fined for only having their site in Spanish or anything like that.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Since most canadians live in urban areas a couple of nukes fired at the right cities would remove quebec's francophone majority. Open up immigration from mexico temporariyl to replace the stubborn frenchies with assimilatable people.

[WoosterLibertarian]

No way. What makes this country great is its cultural diversity.

[Gabu]

Since most canadians live in urban areas a couple of nukes fired at the right cities would remove quebec's francophone majority. Open up immigration from mexico temporariyl to replace the stubborn frenchies with assimilatable people.

Yeah, I think we'll pass on that.

[ilikeverin]

No, maybe a foreign language should be required (for high school or some such, most colleges want at least 2 years of languages anyway), but what language one speaks should be optional.  After all, there's something to be said about learning Arabic or Mandarin right now.

[The Dowager Mod]

Nope.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Yes.