Speak English Or Else?
Carmen: I am a Native American Apache/Cherokee. Who is to say that I am not American when I converse in my native culture language? I am truly impressed with your commentary.
Richard: Get with the program called AMERICAN PRIDE. The Mexicans are taking this country from us liberal by liberal.
Jim: I support having English as the official language of government for the sole purpose of maintaining our democracy.
Joe: There is a whole realm of sensitivity that has to go along with how we do this, bringing these kids into the public school system so they can be successful, without smashing the sense of self before they get there.
Michael: Most Americans are not racist, but it would thrill most of us if they did not totally undermine our system of laws and come into this country illegally and then completely undermine our culture by not even trying to assimilate and learn our, rather, my language.
James: Start advocating one language as the language above all the languages and you are opening the doors to a social meltdown.
Brian: I believe that if this trend continues, within 50 to 100 years we will have a secession movement in the Sun Belt states. After all, without assimilation, these Spanish-speakers could well identify themselves more closely with their counterparts in northern Mexico than with the old, cold rust belt. That being the case, I choose English-only.
Fillit: I know that there are reasons to respect the culture of the immigrant. However, I feel that doing so often leaves the immigrant on the outside (of the US economy) looking in. I feel that as a society, we are making a mistake to do this to these hard-working immigrants.
Robert: Friends of mine traveled all over Europe on vacation this summer. They went to France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Spain over a three-week period and said they did not have any problems whatsoever with language because everyone spoke English. What they did find funny is that when they got home, they went down to Miami for dinner and had trouble because no one spoke English.
Julie: Where else in the world can you go and get all of your information in your native language? For my experience, only America! That is what makes our country so appealing. Easy, schmeezy.
OK: I'm not a fanatic on the balloting. Spanish and Korean, etc. and other major languages are fine. But when I hear that the L.A. ballot is printed in over 100 languages I do think there are better places to spend that money. If they can't speak English, how well-informed are they on the issues they are voting for?
Mark: I know how we can stop the flow of illegals from Mexico. We need to allow border patrols to shoot on sight when they see a vehicle trying to cross the border illegally.... speak English or don't speak at all.
Mary: I don't think that the inscription on the Statue of Liberty means, "Come on in, disregard and complain about everything you don't like here, expect everyone to change their ways to better suit you and if they don't you can file a discrimination lawsuit."
Nancy: The kids of those Koreans you can't understand at the convenience store are going to kick your professional butts in a couple of years, in perfect English while playing the Polonaise on the piano and solving complex equations in their heads. And having that caliber of people will make America a better country.
Lloyd Garver writes a weekly column for SportsLine.com. He has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover.
By Lloyd Garver
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As for speaking English as a mandatory requirement for the United States, I would lean towards the idea of Freedom of Speech. America isn't a dictatorship and as such, the Government or no one person should be told they have to learn English to live and or work here. America was founded by thousands of immigrants, coming from many different cultures and backgrounds. This is what makes America what it is today. A diverse country, proud of its Freedom. If speaking the English language was such an issue in the US, then why teach other languages in school or college. Diversity. Freedom to learn and speak whatever language we want.