Should English be the official language for all goverment situations in the United States of America?

yidlmama

I think that anyone of us Americans can go back far enough into history and find some of our immigrant ancestor's and find that they have learned the language of the land in which they live. I do believe that our country's native language should be English...it is what our Constitution is written in..it is our heritage and I don't think that the American culture should be compromised or changed to suit someone else. I also think that whether you believe in God or not...we should NOT take God out of our country or our historical documents or out of our government..it too is a part of our heritage and culture. I do think that freedom of religion should be honored....NOT ALTERED!!!! By saying this I don't I don't think that everyone should change their beliefs or feel left out...just deal with it...it is too late to change history. It should be honored as that!!!
Tolerance is to make room for all....not cater to all!!! We all have a right to our personal preference...however, the foundation for our establishments are being compromised every day because some one screams " I'm offended"...get over it. Those are the people who need to show tolerance for what this country was founded on!!!!

I STILL hate hippies

Yes.

Want a funny fact? You have to learn English to be a citizen of the US, but many voting booths have voting instructions in Spanish. Isn't that interesting?

laylallu

I hope you win the debate. YES!

HITLERY

I agree.NO MORE OF THIS #1 FOR ENGLISH CRAP.

Niecy

Yes it should. People can talk whatever language they want among themselves, but business and government stuff should be in English.

Gypsy Gal

Yes as english is the language of our nation called america

Mopar Muscle Gal

yes it should
why should I have to punch in #1 for English on the phone if I want to hear instructions for something

Jane

Well, I have mixed opinions on the subject, but I believe that it shouldn't be, because when the English first came here in the late 1500's, and we met the Native Americans, we wanted to change their language, which is being completely hypocritical. People freak out how there was a sign in New Jersey advertising McD's in spanish, but meanwhile, this is the most diverse country in the world! People really have the nerve to say that American's should not learn spanish or such and such because the cases of people jumping the border, meanwhile as I said before, WE came here and gave no resepct to the Native American's language. In my opinion, we should should all be speaking Native Tribe languages.

Norman V

Oh,hell yes !!!

Belen

English has always been the official language in the United States of America. In fact, the INS requires all those who want to be naturalized American citizens to be able to speak and write English.

I am not aware of any other language that Americans have used for a long, long time but English.

Miki

I agree, english should be the official language. my parents both learned the language.

Siervocal

I agree one hundred percent with you. I would only disagree if you forced me to speak it in my house with my family and friends, like governor Tancredo wants.

Laura

Yes, it should be.

sjsosullivan

In a manner of speaking, it already is, though the US also posts written notices in spanish. However, too few people speak, read, and write spanish for spanish to be seriously considered as a national language, at this time. So, we get English. German was once the contender for our nation's official language. Wow, huh?

technicianaz

hum??????
well in 2006 in my state we vote for that
Arizona official language is English!!!

maybe you forget to vote?

tony

borders, language, culture...the three pillars of any society. we are beset by leaders who ignore the first, deny the second, and betray the third.

a national identity is tied very tightly to its language...think of the French...and our american society, with all it's bumps, bruises, faults and marvels is an English-speaking society.

get used to it.

skip

I agree with the previous poster who commented on having to read, write, speak and understand English to becfome a naturalized citizen but Spanish language signs being posted when you go to vote. I actually think that is a very good point. No one in authority has explained to me why that should be (although I did write a paper on the Voting Rights Act which mentioned it and the professor was impressed).

Of course, there is the issue of Puerto Rico. The primary langauge there is Spanish. We must make sure we do not disenfranchise Puerto Ricans with a dash towards all English.

We must also accept that we are, indeed, a nation of immigrants (I am one myself - first generation). I came from an English-speaking country so it is no big deal for me. However, what about those who come here legally and who would benefit from some information being provided in their native tongue? It might be something as simple (and beneficial to society) as tax and immigration information leaflets, for instance. I am reminded of a friend who escaped from Bosnia with only the clothes on his back. He needed language assistance to begin with. He has been here seven years now, speaks English and is a proud citizen. People like that need, and deserve, appropriate support.

There is no easy answer for this. I am certainly opposed to election materials being prepared in any language other than English. Congress missed a chance to send a message when they renewed the Voting Rights Act. However, I think we are not helping ourselves if we make it a blanket ban. If translating leaflets, etc into other languages serves the common good, I am all for it. If it is merely to pander to minority communities so that they vote for the incumbents, I am implacably opposed.

texasjewboy12

YES. I agree with you 100%!

Karen M

YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. A thousand times, YES.

Princess_29_71

Yes

Crazybird

English should be the official language, period. Any other language you learn or know is great for translators or dealing with travelers that visit here. But to live here. Learn English. No citizen of this country that knows English should be denied employment or aid because they don't speak a foreign language to do a job. No new immigrants should be forced to learn 2 different languages to be able to function in this country. Bi-lingual education which means "must speak Spanish" should be abolished since it is catering to one specific group at the expence of other immigrants learning English and our own childrens education as well and the right to choose what other language a person wishes to learn. English is the official language in over 1/2 the states and it's time English be demanded to be spoken. I don't care what you do in your personal life.....but enough of not being able to order a burger or get directions because 1 group refuses to speak English. Enough of trying to get out of legal trouble by playing stupid and claiming you don't understand "stop". It's just another excuse to be not be held accountable for their actions. You don't live in another country for 15 years and not learn something. You can't take a drivers exam and not know it's illegal to drive without insurance or have your children in safety seats or that you don't drive drunk. Even translated it's still the same laws. I've personally had enough of this catering to no avail. They expect government funded everything to keep from doing 1 thing....speak English.

Baddest_Bandulu

You need to ask this question in a non-English speaking part of yahoo questions in a language other than English in order to have a balanced choice of answers. I think the people who are proud of the English language who say Yes, Yes, need to realize that in a situation where the entire community is non-English speaking, English might wind up becoming the language of obfuscation rather than clarity. Imagine a courtroom in a small town in Texas or New Mexico where everyone from the Plaintiff, to the Defendant, the Judge, the Jury and the arresting officer and all the lawyers were Spanish speaking, but because of a law requiring everyone to speak English, they followed it and everyone spoke English BADLY. Are you including Puerto Rico and American Samoa in this? First we need to stop calling the American language English, because it isn't. Then we need one Academy to regulate the American language that's made up of all the Doctorate holding "English" Professors. Then they need to come to a consensus as to what is and what isn't the common American language.
Personally though, I think a very tough English exam should replace the diversity lottery.

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