Why is the United Sates afraid of becoming a bilingual country?

Gavi

I think that everybody that lives in the USA should know English. English is the native language of the USA. But learning Spanish as a second language would also be good for this country. Learning a second language helps people communicate with other Hispanic people, and also lt helps people in the future get better jobs. Everywhere you go in the USA, you see Spanish, and that is not going to change. To many Hispanics have come to the USA and added their language in the USA. I think it good to have a bilingual country, but people should first learn English, before learning Spanish.

micky

I am bilingual but my second language is not spanish. Isn't it arrogant and racist of you to insist that spanish be a language I have to learn?

Yesugi

A country can't be afraid of anything. The people here, though, don't generally like foreigners coming here and making demands on the rest of us.

mnwomen

They come here to live then they should learn English. I dont think anyone is afraid of this. Most Americans do not like being told they have to change to make it better for people who come here. As a sign of respect for the country they are moving to you speak the dominant language.

furrryyy

It cost millions of dollars, tax dollars, to pander to non-English speaking, non-English understanding, and non-English reading people, by way of translating English to Spanish in everyday business and legal matters.

We don't need twenty million illegal aliens to become bilingual. Since when is bilingual defined as knowing Spanish and English? We don't need invaders to choose our second language for us.

Ronald M

because a single language helped america become the greatest country on earth

katie c

we just don't like things being forced on us. and yes this is how it feels. when you cant even get a job because you don't know Spanish.

that's ridiculous.

levyrat

I have no idea what you're talking about. The subject is immigration and whether or not we're going to 1) secure our borders and 2) grant amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrant invaders. Fear of bilingualism has nothing to do with it.

In any case, you're just trying another version of the "raza" card with this question, and that ploy is worn out. Do you have any original material?

JMB

cyclops

Its not beneficial , to Americans only to those, who are
unwilling to learn our Language, before they come into our
Country. I am trilingual, when I travel to a Foreign Country, I,m
a guest in their Country, I follow their Laws , and observe their
customs, by speaking their Language, I,m showing them that,
I cared enough to learn their Language.

slew

Why stop there. WE should make everyone speak Vietnamese, Tagolog, Armenian and Farsi. You live in California. You should realize how difficult to communicate to people, unless you don't go roaming around the city.

milepost211

The last time I checked, our constitution was "NOT" written in Spanish.

You learn English and we won't need a second language.

The Rat

saywhat

How would like if we invaded your country and demanded that English have equal footing with Spanish. I live in South Florida and bilingual is Spanish with sometimes broken English. As to being afraid, we are not the ones that are crossing the borders, running away from our rights and freedoms

michael f

I would not say that Americans are afraid to learn another language, we are mad that we are the ones that have to change and learn another language because people are coming here. Also, we are not mad that people are coming her legally, people are mad because we are expected to change. Why are the people that are coming here not learning English?

curious

All countries have one main language. No need to have two. And besides that, why should children be forced to learn 3 languages? They grow up speaking English, plus take a foreign language of their choice (out of the many languages) in school. Why should they be required to know English & Spanish, & then take a school course to learn French or something of THEIR choice. Do you know how hard & confusing that would be for the common person? If you don't like what language is spoke in this country, go live in a different country.

DAR

German was the second most common language once. Polish and Chinese predominate in various regions. Why Spanish?

If the majority is the point, then the majority speak English. We have over 300 languages spoken here. English is the language we speak to eachother in.

And it is really freaky when your avatar changes like that.

hypno_toad1

I shouldn't have to feel like a foreigner in my own country. Come here legally, get a job, pay your taxes learn the language, assimilate or; Viva La Mexico, go back home if you don't really want to be an American. Make your own country great by making a difference there then you won't need to come here!

pretzgolf

Why not learn my language" Slovenia"it should be the second and I would like to see all street signs,bill boards ,and all book lets on electronic equipment in my language instead of Spanish or french.It's a nice language and it should be taught in all schools and all teachers should learn it mandatory.

Don't call me Shirley

There are many things that would enlighten and benefit people. Such as a college education, a good exercise program and diet, reading, writing, spirituality, communing with nature, volunteering time to one's community, travel abroad, museums, art galleries, learning French, German,
Japanese, the list is long.

It's not the language, it's the implications. Imagine if me and 10 of my friends moved to a Spanish speaking country. We are going there. We are leaving this country to go to that country. Why would we want to go to another country and make it exactly like the one we left? Would it be kind of us to stand around in groups and speak loudly to each other, laughing and pointing, knowing that the majority of people couldn't understand what we are saying? And when people whisper, giggle, point, or speak in a foreign language, giggle, point, human nature is going to kick in and there are going to be some who are offended.

Let's say everywhere we go, it's a struggle to make ourselves understood. There's confusion, frustration, it benefits no one. Now do me and my 10 friends insist that the entire village we've moved to learn our language? Do we get mad and burn their flag and demand rights?

The American people have worked with Hispanics and Mexicans for many decades. Many American farmers and businesses have hired and housed immigrants. Where I'm from that was common when my grandmother was younger.

The problem we have is that we've tolorated and helped, and now, a large majority of these coming to the country come with the attitude that we owe them something. How do you think the folks that have worked hard and done things legally feel? Or those who have lived here for years and raised families and supported communities fell when they see their race behaving in a way to make them look bad?

ustoev

We are more than bi-lingual. Certainly there are more Hispanic spoken that any other language after English but the Amish speak their form of German and there are large groups of french, Chinese and middle eastern dialects.
It is always uncomfortable when you do not understand what is said. There is also a lot of tension that the Hispanics are taking people's jobs. And that scares people. No one likes the unknown and the fear of others has always driven us apart. I think that the language issue is only a smoke screen of other fears.

Bertacus

Every other group of people who immigrated to America learned English. Why do the hispanics think they are special. Americans are the hardest working people in the world , if people are too lazy learn English it tells me they don't care about this country and will not contribute to its greatness.

Aquila

And why not change the flag while you're at it.

Are you realizing that your ideas will be the reason for a huge ethnic war in the future? You think people will like the fact that the government let millions and millions of people just to "replace" the americans?

Integrate or stay where you are.

Skully

I agree that there are benefits of learning another language. And I do think it is wise to learn Spanish ... it is a beautiful language a wonderful culture and great food and very useful. However, the national language and language to function in this country is English whether you like it or not. And English is indeed becoming the language of global commerce. Most countries insist on their kids learning English.

Every country has a national language. The US should be no exception. If I am going to live in a country other than the United States, I would definitely feel obligated to be a good citizen to learn the language, culture and laws.

Moreover, If you look at Canada with its vocal minority who has forced "French" down their throats . .. many things in the world of commerce have to be printed in both French and English . .. it gets confusing and expensive.

Bob R

the citizens of the United States have made it Loud and Clear

NO MORE IMMIGRATION!!!!!

we are not soliciting suggestions on how to change our culture and laws to suit people who dont respect our laws

ENOUGH!!!!!

Crazybird

Because of being an open immigrant society we have had people from every corner of the word comming here. At one time it was English-Spanish, English-French, English-German, English-Japan, English-Poland, English-Vietnam, English- WHATEVER. I really don't get this "must speak Spanish"" thing. Every Immigrant that comes here speaks ANOTHER language. When they come here and learn ENGLISH.....THEY ARE BI-LINGUAL! Bi-Lingual MEANS the ability to speak 2 languages. There is no GLOBAL rule as to what those 2 languages MUST be. If you go by POPULATION it's Chinese. If you go by business and money it's English. There is no valuable REASON to speak Spanish. MAJORITY doesn't rule in the world business. Otherwise we'd be Chinese, Indian (from India) and Spanish. Third world countries don't WIN because they have the most babies. Successful "bi-lingual" countries...like Canada.....STILL HAVE BORDERS! Go to Quebec.....speak FRENCH. Otherwise.....Speak English. There are VERY FEW AMERICANS THAT DON"T KNOW ANOTHER LANGUAGE. IT"S REQUIRED IN COLLEGE AND IN MOST HIGH_SCHOOLS. SPEAK ENGLISH....and then whatever moves you. Speak "OTHER" to your hearts content!!!! Just SPEAK ENGLISH here.

The USA isn't "afraid of being "bi-lingual" or we wouldn't be a WORLD power. Or a world wide destination for immigration. America wouldn't be the #1 destination ,what does Spanish give me? Tell me what BENEFIT or MONEY it grants me by knowing it? Besides "don't cut the roses". Tell me why I should bother knowing it outside of the fact that the most poor immigrants come from Spanish speaking countries? Why bother learning it? You don't HAVE ANYTHING I WANT OR NEED THAT I CAN"T GET SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! From people who speak English.

Bi-lingual ISN"T the issue.....It's "must speak Spanish" that is.

sixdollarfreedom

why are people who come from another country afraid to learn a language that is primarily spoken in the country they are choosing to live in? I know if I snuck into Mexico or Germany to live, I would certainly make an attempt to learn their language. And I would not protest or whine when they could not sufficiently communicate with me because I did not take the time to learn their language. Especially if "I went there to have a better life".

People are not afraid to become bi-lingual. As a matter of fact, learning a second language is not only an asset it is a requirement in schools now. Why should we force anyone who lives here legally to adapt so that they can communicate with people who are not willing to adapt to us. Why should it be Spanish they have to learn.

What about french, German, Chinese. There are probably almost as many Chinese in our country as Latinos. What about sign language. Yes, that is considered a second language also and people who know sign language are compensated at a much higher rate to be translators than traditional verbal translators. How many deaf people are in the US now. Do you hear them pushing to make learning sign language mandatory for everyone...... and they don't even have a choice on learning to communicate in an other way.

Brianne

No, the people comming here are just to lazy to learn the language of this country!!!! There are immigrants who actually pay to learn English! We are not afraid, we don't feel we should have to! This kind of attitude is disgusting!!!

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