English as the offical language?

[2952-0-0]

Even as recently as this century were large parts of the Midwest primarily German-speaking. FDR had campaign literature printed in German for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Do you mean last century? I don't mind an "official" language that is the main language the government communicates with, but it's more important for the government to be able to communicate to everyone, rather than to make a political statement using languages. Although French and English are official languages of Canada, hardly anyone here uses French on a daily basis. I know over here you can take the drivers knowledge test in 11 languages (Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Spanish, French, and so on) in addition to English. In this case what's more important is for drivers to understand road safety, rather than for a small minority of those who cannot speak English to not have a driver license and effectively isolate themselves from society.

[CultureKing]

Steve Lonegan for President!!

Though seriously, the points he raises are correct.  The government needs to stop spending extra money to equip things like voting machines in two languages.  If you can't speak English you should not be voting.

what? Deny people the RIGHT to vote simply based on their language??? That doesn't seem to be a very liberatarian ideal to me... Also it doesn't really cost that much to print or have ballots in other languages

[DownWithTheLeft]

Steve Lonegan for President!!

Though seriously, the points he raises are correct.  The government needs to stop spending extra money to equip things like voting machines in two languages.  If you can't speak English you should not be voting.

what? Deny people the RIGHT to vote simply based on their language??? That doesn't seem to be a very liberatarian ideal to me... Also it doesn't really cost that much to print or have ballots in other languages

If you cannot tell the difference between Republican and Republicano or Democrat and Democrato, you really should not be voting.  Also, the names are the same in English and Spanish, so the only thing that could cause a problem is parties, and you shouldn't be voting based solely on parties anyway

[MasterJedi]

As long as people aren't forced to use it at home or between family members or those that know the language in public.

[Sensei]

As long as people aren't forced to use it at home or between family members or those that know the language in public.

[minionofmidas]

Even as recently as this century were large parts of the Midwest primarily German-speaking. FDR had campaign literature printed in German for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Do you mean last century?

Note to Dean: 20th century is over.

Yes in the sense that all government business would be conducted in English and public education would be in English and road signs would be in English.

Note to David: Last of these things way above and beyond what "official language" signifies.

[Speed of Sound]

Even as recently as this century were large parts of the Midwest primarily German-speaking. FDR had campaign literature printed in German for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Do you mean last century?

Note to Dean: 20th century is over.

Shouldnt that note be going to BRTD?

[minionofmidas]

Even as recently as this century were large parts of the Midwest primarily German-speaking. FDR had campaign literature printed in German for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Do you mean last century?

Note to Dean: 20th century is over.

Shouldnt that note be going to BRTD?

Evvero. Scusi.

[Speed of Sound]

Even as recently as this century were large parts of the Midwest primarily German-speaking. FDR had campaign literature printed in German for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Do you mean last century?

Note to Dean: 20th century is over.

Shouldnt that note be going to BRTD?

Evvero. Scusi.

Quid inquis? Non iam intelligo.

[jokerman]

Aye.  National homogenity in something such as language in our circumstances is essential to a thriving nation and healthy democracy.

Because not having that before this point has ruined our country...?

Notice I say "in our circumstances."  Besides, those times have had their social evils inflicting the minority ethnic group, why return to that?

[Ebowed]

No.

[Everett]

Absolutely not. Do we really need to waste large amounts of time muddling through more happy feel-good bits of legislation that accomplish virtually nothing worthwhile besides pleasing the perpetually insecure xenophobes? Does it require the existence of a formal document explicitly stating that English is the official language in order to make everyone finally feel secure about our national identity? What would the penalties be for not communicating in English?

Of course official government business should continue to be conducted in English at minimum. Otherwise, if people wish to use other languages, surely they have that freedom in this country. And besides, English basically has the de facto status of being our official language anyway. So what's the problem here?

[The Dowager Mod]

Englisch die Amtssprache zu bilden ist eine Weise gerecht, damit die Rassisten über alle jene furchtsamen braunen Leute besser fühlen.

[Gabu]

Je ne sais pas pourquoi l'anglais est devenu si répandue dans le monde; c'est vraiment une langue bizarre, et n'a pas un sens du tout.

[The Dowager Mod]

Je ne sais pas pourquoi l'anglais est devenu si répandue dans le monde; c'est vraiment une langue bizarre, et n'a pas un sens du tout.

Les fichus anglais l'ont écarté aiment une maladie.