This One is Not Going to Work

[Foxfyre]

I keep talking about US citizens and everyone wants to make it about immigrants.

Most new legal immigrants come to the USA with the intention of being citizens. And it is still the law that they must have some ability in English in order to be naturalized whether or not that law is enforced.

We need to return to the time that new immigrants were required to be self supporting or have a sponsor that would see to it that they had a place to live, provide a job, provide English instruction, etc.

It guarantees equal protection under the law, voting rights, and non-discrimination.

None of which involve English as the official language of the USA

 

[Unkotare]

which has nothing to do with what language we speak or do our forms in.

Of course it does.

 

[BrokeLoser]

The point is that there is no such requirement by law.

Right, and declaring English as America’s official language doesn’t change that.

 

[Mac-7]

Constitution.

See post 269 - again

 

[Anathema]

NO doubt speaking English would be way more than helpful, if your going to live here.
But is it necessary to be mean about it?

YES, because there are far too many people who have been here for extended periods of time (8+ years) who still don’t speak even passable English.

 

[Unkotare]

Most new legal immigrants come to the USA with the intention of being citizens. ...

I'm talking about natural born citizens. Why can't anyone pay attention?

 

[Unkotare]

...

None of which involve English as the official language of the USA

All of which involve access to government services and the exercise of rights.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

In which language is our constitution written?

That is the one I would go with.

 

[Foxfyre]

I'm talking about natural born citizens. Why can't anyone pay attention?

Any natural born citizen who cannot speak English is going to to be severely disadvantaged living in America. But making English the official language and not accommodating other languages so much could be a huge incentive to stop being lazy and learn the common language in which most of us do business and increase our knowledge. And that would be a huge advantage to that citizen.

 

[MisterBeale]

pourquoi?

 

[Unkotare]

In which language is our constitution written?

That is the one I would go with.

It also helps to read it.

 

[MisterBeale]

Any natural born citizen who cannot speak English is going to to be severely disadvantaged living in America. But making English the official language and not accommodating other languages so much could be a huge incentive to stop being lazy and learn the common language in which most of us do business and increase our knowledge. And that would be a huge advantage to that citizen.

I agree with all of this. . . but that still does not mean that it isn't a violation of civil liberties and civil rights in a free society.

Letting the state dictate to us, what we HAVE to do, always is.



You can dress it up however you want, it is still a violation of the individuals rights.

 

[Unkotare]

Any natural born citizen who cannot speak English is going to to be severely disadvantaged living in America....

That's true, but beside the point.

 

[Foxfyre]

All of which involve access to government services and the exercise of rights.

All citizens would still have access to government services, but the language would be English.

There are more than 7,000 spoken languages in the world. The USA should not have to accommodate every one of those languages. To accommodate two or three other than English languages and not all in fact would be discriminatory.

If everybody has to read and speak English when doing official business it is more efficient (and less expensive) for government services, it is better for the person, it is better for everybody.

 

[Foxfyre]

That's true, but beside the point.

Of course it is the point. We should not make it more convenient and easier and thereby discourage people to be disadvantaged.

 

[Unkotare]

... And that would be a huge advantage to that citizen.

Getting more exercise would be a huge advantage to citizens. Want an E.O. forcing everyone to exercise?

Better nutrition would be a huge advantage to citizens. Want an E.O. mandating everyone eat better?

 

[Unkotare]

All citizens would still have access to government services, ...

Not equal access.

 

[Foxfyre]

I agree with all of this. . . but that still does not mean that it isn't a violation of civil liberties and civil rights in a free society.

Letting the state dictate to us, what we HAVE to do, always is.



You can dress it up however you want, it is still a violation of the individuals rights.

No it isn't. 178 out of the 195 countries in the world have an official language. Some recognize one or more other languages but the language of government and business is the rule.

The USA cannot accommodate the more than 7000 languages spoken in the world. The sensible thing is to have one language for the conduct of government and business and education. That in no way dictates what language anybody speaks otherwise.

 

[Foxfyre]

Getting more exercise would be a huge advantage to citizens. Want an E.O. forcing everyone to exercise?

Better nutrition would be a huge advantage to citizens. Want an E.O. mandating everyone eat better?

People who don't exercise or who eat a diet of junk food don't cost me anything personally. They do not put my life in jeopardy because they can't read rules and instructions or understand road signs. They don't take anything from the taxpayer who has to pay for government documents published in multiple languages. Etc.

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

It helps immigrants learn our language

Then just pass a law that all immigrants must pass a solid English language exam before granting them the right to live here, that's all he has to say and move on. But he loves drama so he goes the long way around to solve a simple problem. He's useless and only fools admire his ineptitude, mistaking it for wisdom.

Its annoying when you have to use google translate just to order food at a restaurant.

You're a fool, if a restaurant isn't to your liking go somewhere else, as soon as business gets tough they'll hire better English speaking staff.