with whats going on with the illegal immigrants will English be our second language?? with spanish our first??
551980
This is the USA.   English is the primary language, the second is decided by the country of origin.   No one made the current Hispanic immigrants come to the US.  They came for the opportunities as did people from cultures around the world.  America is made up of hundreds of nationalities so why should the Hispanic culture think they are the primary language.   If they don't like what they "see", then go home to the country they so quickly escaped.
582748
This one thing is will become a HUGE issue in the future if not put in check, but I don't think anyone would be fined -- just not accommodated quite so significantly.\n\nIf we don't get this under control, English will become a secondary language.  We will then be putting our own aging and elderly people in the position of having to, at an advanced age, learn a new language to even survive in their own country where they've paid into the system for many decades.   We won't be able to get jobs ourselves unless we speak the other language.  We will be displaced, so to speak, in our own country where we've paid taxes our entire adult lives.  Can you imagine having your car break down, but you can't get any help because no one you encounter even speaks your language in your own country (check areas in and around Miami, people!!!)\n\nIf English (hopefully) becomes passed as the "official language" it would mean that government, business and education would be conducted in ENGLISH.  DMV and voting materials SHOULD be done in ENGLISH (if you can't read & understand English then how can you vote or pass a drivers test???)  Schools will be taugh in ENGLISH (with potentially English-proficiency classes to get non-natives up to speed).  People will all have to learn to speak the common language.  For personal annoyances, we should no longer have to pay for foreign-language channels on basic cable -- put that on a separate tier!  No more Spanish "menues" when you call a business and go into automated hell.  Environmentally, it would be beneficial because instructions booklets, leaflets, etc. that are now printed in multiple languages would be printed in one language, therefore using less paper.  I could go on and on, but just think about it.  There's a HUGE benefit to it all the way around, including simply annoying each other less by being able to communicate more effectively.  The non-acclimation point of the illegal immigrants is a HUGE factor in the anger and frustration directed toward them -- and they will have to make changes to address this!
668240
I agree with the three first question, QuestionWyrm  - gave you a great answer.\n\nThis must be because of the quantity of people with whom you (Americans) make business. \n\nSpanish is the fourth language in the world in terms of numbers of speakers ,over 330 million. While other sources list it as the second or third most spoken language. \n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApkLGf3tU7WA4seOsS0ljaLsy6IX?qid=1006051010802\n\nThose are the reasons, that's all, it has nothing to do with anybody trying to be more important or even trying to steal your country, life or anything like that.\n\nOn the other hand, i agree with you that immigrants should learn english, as long as they want to get better oportunities. And i'm sure many of the immigrants are aware of this situation, and they are learning english, i can bet on it!!!
455231
HAve you noticed this discussion is turning more and more and more aggressive, aren't we here to play a game, to talk about our ideas, and to share information.\nWe don't have the solutions, but believe me, the aggression would create more aggresive environment, wich is not what is needed here!\nI believe the immigrants don't need to learn english but MUST learn english, just as many people in the world learn english to get better oportunities, and - wheter we like it or not - like many people had to learn spanish to make business or get to important positions al over the world.\nRemember, we live now in a globalized world, don't take that apart!
768350
I think they're right on the money in wanting to distance themselves from the 'we want spanish' crowd. They left Mexico etc. for a reason. To assimilate someplace, you gotta buckle down and learn the language, at least give it an honest effort. No one expects perfection, but a good-faith effort would be good.
681957
Pumping out kids like they are doing now, joining forces with Mexicans to take over America. (oh wait!) that's what they are doing now!)So I'll answer your next question about America in the year 2016, We will also have to learn Chinese, besides Spanish. So when we call our banks, etc we will have to listen to press 1 for Spanish, 2 for Chinese, 3 for Korean, 4 for all Americans! etc!!!
24405
It was the defacto official language in the 19th century when immegrent would say we are Americans now we will speak English.  The problem is Illegal Aliens from around the world that really don't want to be apart of the country\n\nIt should be.  Something has to bind us together as people or we will split apart.
685754
First, quit stereo typing U.S.citizens.\nsecond, if you know anything about United States history, The pilgrims who settled here, were mostly English, so they brought the language here, and it has been here since. They spoke proper, or the Queens English. But over the years, it has evolved into American english. They didn't give us the language. Now, the settlers introduced english to the native americans, and many of them learned it very well, as many of the settlers learned some of the different dielects of the native american language. Africans learned english from the white settlers who went to africa, and set up colonies. The africans eventually learned english, some chose to keep their native languages also. Nobody is saying the Mexicans are destroying the english language, what people are saying is that we want english as the primary language in the united states. Spanish can be secondary. we need a primary language, so that people can effectively communicate. can you imagine what it would be like if every language here had to have seperate schools for the children. Besides that, one language will help to provide a common bond. If we don't have a common bond through one language, then we might as well go back to the cave man days. How funny we would all look if we had to have a thousand interperators following us around all day long. Wouldn't it be really noisey?
1081195
We should not be expected to CATER to ILLEGALS, just because the BUSINESSES do!!! ENGLISH is the language of THIS country!!! If you don't like it,LEAVE!!!!! And for "clipzforlife",YOU need to learn the history of what REALLY happened!!! Mexico SOLD the land to the U.S.!!!! And,NOW they are bitching because they want it back!!! They will NOT get it without a FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
319017
First of all I would like to say congrats. You speak better English than any illegal Mexican that come over daily. Even better English than some of them who have been living in the US for over 10 years. Now to answer your question I dont know. Just wanted to say thnk you for proving to me that it is just Mexicans that cant speak English.
570552
Welcome to America...where the primary language is ENGLISH!!!
1164689
Amen!\n\nI see no reason for us to be bilingual & why the heck should we "press one for English", it's the damn United States of America; English is our National Language!\n\nI think English should be more empashied as our first language.\n\nI can only see it when you are doing business Internationally and that's it!  Why the hell should I have to have two years of Spanish to teach school?  It's not right!  They should have two years or more to speak English!\n\nMedicaid & Food Stamps - You have to have a SSN but they can just "buy" them from someone who is making them illegally.  Besides, there are so many loopholes in the system it isn't funny!
322774
Hmmmm ...can you take the test in Spanish? :)  Because I very much doubt if our new potential citizens could be bothered learning enough English to understand the questions ....
466166
Illegal Latino immigrants and their supporters are ignorant as H3LL!!  They are the only nationality in our country here illegally, who protest in our country, fly their country's flags, disrespects our flag, leaders, laws, National Anthem, Citizens, abuse our welfare system, take slave wages for jobs Americans WILL do for a fair wage, cause incomes to plummet, are a drain on our economy, cause hundreds of hospitals to close, glut our ER's for non-emergency illnesses, glut our prisons, and on and on and on. NO! If I knew Spanish I wouldn't speak it now, out of respect for my own language, the language the majority of people here use. English is the unified language even if it isn't the official language. In order to assimilate in this country people need to speak the same language. Other immigrants manage to learn English, why can't they!? They need to go home get civilized then come back the LEGAL way!!
453488
spanish is BETTER!! It's already turing into OUR country now gringo, or haven't you noticed? little by little we have been importing our culture and our peopole into the u.s. It's too late for the gov of america to do anything now!!ajajajjaja! better learn some spanish gringo, cause soon your kids will HAVE to!! we even got our flags on some american schools in ca. and tx. georgia is being taking over too. WATCH the news and SEE!!
447972
Some EDUCATIONAL Reading For Citizens\n\nhttp://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd185.htm\n\nI have friends who live in the Phoenix area that speak fluent Spanish. Over the weekend before the big marches on April 10, 2006, Spanish speaking radio was sending this message: "Hide what's in your heart today. We know in your heart your allegiance is to Mexico, but today use your head. Americans were upset about Mexican flags and our show of solidarity for reconquista. Now we must wear white shirts and wave the American flags being handed out. It will be difficult because we know in your heart your love is for Mexico, but hide it today."
488572
Yes, by making English our official language, it will speed up assimilation of the immigrants who at this time are being pandered to and enabled and encouraged to NOT learn English by having so many official documents in other languages.\n\nThe other day I got my food handlers permit.  The test was in English, Spanish, Phillipino, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Ukraine, Thai, and one or two of the languages of India. The Koreans at my table were HELPING each other with their tests.  The three Anglos, me included, worked on our tests ALONE.\n\nEnglish should be an official and common language.