When in time were people not able to come to America just because they could not speak our language? Take a look at your heritage I be  you find German, dutch, French, Russian, Frank..... did they speak our language. Your Family came to America in droves and they make this county what it is today. So since when do we turn away those wo cant speak English?
137062
Hell yah, everyone should look back to the roots of the U.S. even if it WAS DIFFERENT TIMES! It was how it originated!
564276
OK abc here is a serious answer to your question. We live so far away from everywhere else (even south America and/or Canada for most of the US) that we just have not had the experience. I'm think i am more knowledgable than most ppl i know, on Europe anyway, since my in-laws are from Liverpool and one of my good friends and her hubby are Irish, but i don't think most ppl in the US even know a person that is from another country (that is not a S. Am country). I know if you live in Englad, Germany, Spain, Italy ect...you can fly to another country in a matter of a few hours and it is fairly cheap. Honestly most Americans would love to be able to visit (can I stay at your house lol) but it is to expensive. I think this goes along with the education question. Its not that we don't learn our history, it is just much easier to remember something if you have visited the place (i can give you quite a detailed account of the Alamo) or if your family was involved (Revolution, cilvil war). If you are wondering if we learn about the daily habits (such as food perference, job opportunities, fashion) of the modern English at school no we don't, but I really don't think that it would be the job of the school to teach this.\n\n\nI also think that the reason we love accents is because we rarely hear them! We would sit and listen to someone from England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia all day....you guys are really popular here lol\n\nI was wondering about the nationalities of the users on this site...is there a way to see that?
173197
I agree. I guess we should ALL LEARN SPANISH and forget American History.  Who needs English, we should BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR LATINO IMMIGRANTS, and IGNORE THE ASIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE HAITIANS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND HAVE TO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE AFRICAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE. WHY ARE SOME AMERICANS SO STUPID? WHY DO SOME AMERICANS GET OFFENDED WHEN YOU TELL THEM THAT HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. WHY SHOULD WE BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HAVE THINGS IN SPANISH IF WE DON'T ACCOMODATE OTHER IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE COME IN THE PAST AND ARE CURRENTLY COMING FROM OTHER PLACES LEGALLY. TO ME THAT IS VERY, VERY RACIST. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT SPANISH? OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SPOKE ENGLISH, OUR CONSTITUTION IS IN ENGLISH, OUR STATE LEGISLATURES AND CONGRESS IS HELD IN ENGLISH, THE PRESIDENT GIVES HIS SPEECHES IN ENGLISH,ETC. IF YOU COME TO AMERICA, LEARN ENGLISH. This directed at TishaTiger,lynda_vosbein,PANCHA,kid_rigo92, and wongmoxy. As for those that said that we should learn a native tongue is missing the point. Why don't the Mexican government speak Nauhautl(the Aztec language)? Why don't Spanish-speaking countries learn the native language of the indigeous people? Because the Spaniards and Spanish-speaking governments see these languages as being INFERIOR to Spanish AND BECAUSE SPANISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THESE COUNTRIES.IF YOU EXPECT TO IMMIGRATE TO A SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY LIKE ARGENTINA OR CHILE, IMMIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEAK SPANISH. THAT IS FOR ALL OF THE GERMANS, ITALIAN, FRENCH AND EVEN IRISH IMMIGRANTS TO THOSE COUNTRIES. SPANISH COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE FORMS IN ITALIAN FOR THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, FRENCH FOR THE FRENCH IMMIGRANTS, GERMAN FOR THE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS, OR EVEN GAELIC FOR THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT IF THEY WANT TO IMMIGRATE TO THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES, THAT THEY KNOW THE LANGUAGE, SPANISH. WHY SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HOLD OURSELVES TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAT SOME OF THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES HOLD THEIR IMMIGRANTS TO?AGAIN, I think that's racist. \n  I know I am rambling on, but the point is if you come to America, learn English, don't expect us to learn your language if the SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES WON'T DO IT FOR THE NATIVES OR FOR THEIR IMMIGRANTS. It is expected that if you want to immigrate that you should learn the language. The US should be no exception to that rule.\n\n I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
262338
Ok....let's get one thing straight.  When my (and many others) ancestors came here long ago IT WASN"T ILLEGAL!!!  Most of them came here not for money or a better life but for life itself (jews, scots, irish).  They had people actually killing them, I mean gun to the head, knife to the heart.  And they came to this country and FOUGHT for this country, losing whole families along the way.  I live in the south and am a proud southerner (that does not mean racist), my family were poor dirt farmers from Tennessee who scraped by with what they could grow or what they could buy with the little money my father (who had to drop out of school at the age of 12 to get a job - only boy out of 11 children - and fought in Vietnam) made doing odd jobs.  Today we have laws in place to stop the over population of our country.  My husband is an immigrant who went through the proper channels.  Yes, it cost money that we didn't have but we STILL went through the proper channels.  They will let you in unless you have something to hide, all you have to do is fill out the paper work and wait.  I know that today time is money and one day can mean the life and death of someone you love but AMERICA is NOT to blame for the state of your home country.  I am all for immigration if it is done legally!  As far as I am concerned, whether you come from Mexico, China, England, France, or Tim-buck-too, if you come here illegally you should be prepared to face the repercussions of doing so.  Breaking the law is breaking the law, period.  No one is above it (with the exception of the Bosh family - or so they wish us to believe).
167017
Why on earth would you want to speak another language when you can be just like all of the other typical closed-minded Americans that believe that you should only speak English?  Is it that you want to travel?  Meet other people?  Increase international business opportunities?  Whatever it is that you want to do, I'm sure it's for selfish reasons and you should listen to these provincial individuals and SPEAK ENGLISH.
297284
I really don't mean to be rude but the really scary thing is that you have a family. Where did you hear that America will be nothing in a few years? your grilled cheese? 200 years ago the strongest country was England 100 years ago it was France or Russia.............. wow ........................................do us all a favor and don't tell people that your American, or from the United States, tell them your Canadian or something. Wow You've got to be from Oklahoma or Pennsylvania>
156923
I believe that English was the language used when our country was founded and should continue to stay our "official" language. I think if we start by adding Spanish as an official language it is unfair to all of the other immigrants who reside here. we cannot possibly cater to all. products and packaging being printed in other languages is the decision of the manufacturer, not law makers. If we are going to print documents in Spanish, shouldn't it be printed in every language for everyone? Could you imagine a group of Americans in Mexico or even Germany and demanding that they do everything in English because we can't understand the language? Of course not. It's a ludicrous idea. All of our ancestors came from many places all over the globe. When they arrived, they had to learn the language and follow the rules already in progress. they didn't demand we cater to their disabilities. So why is it different now? This is a land who welcomes all with open arms. Stop trying to force them behind Miss Liberty's back.
188173
It started off nice but toward the end, the last comment I have to disagree. I think even though someone is from another country its good to learn the English language but a person should not be forced to one language or to change what one believes in. When a person is diverse, it breaks down racial and ethnic barriers. We should show loyalty to our country but this country does not solely run  on its own. This country also depends on foreign imports and exchanges for goods and products. We should have loyalty to whom God has said "Love Thy neighbor as you would yourself". God did not specify that you had to American to apply this to your life. There are plenty of people that were not born in America that have made great contributions to this country that we all benefit from.
226770
I'm a first generation immigrant from England, and I just want to say that I think it's hilarious so many Americans want Mexicans & other South Americans to learn MY country's language! I know folks from all around the world, but it's only Americans that you can rely on to only speak a single language!\n\nHaving said that, it's not so hard to come here legally.  \n\nWe'll sort this mess out before long.  If all Mexicans stop going to Walmart & Starbucks (as I heard on the radio today) the WalMart will fix the problem.\n\nHow about we just give EVERYBODY the citizenship test, and everyone that fails (including those born here) gets shipped out?
547114
The USA already uses English as the language of its government and legal system.  Making it official, like France or England does, calls into question whether we can then spend government money to publish things in Spanish, Vietnamese, or other languages.  \n\nSo, the language of the USA is English, but we do not deny our immigrants the help they need in their own languages while they are becoming American (which takes a generation).\n\nI think that most of the people who want to make English the Official Language want to do so to make it more difficult for immigrants to assimilate here.  I think they feel threatened by other cultures and want a return to an America they perceived as white and European.\n\nI think we should not adopt an official language, or 2 or 3, but we should continue to use English for our government and laws, and use multiple languages where people need help.
631673
It happens everywhere..because there are a- holes everywhere.\nI'm Irish living in the US legally and have heard people actually say oh we don't mean the Irish we mean the one's that can't speak English..\nThe Irish went through the same thing in the UK in the 50's and there are imigrants in Ireland hearing it now.\nPeople need to be aware of their own histories and maybe they wouldn't be so ignorant.
405965
52 other nations besides America have adopted English as their official language.  It sounds normal to me.\nPrinting all documents in several languages costs American citizens money.  People who want to live in America should learn English, as all immigrants in the past 250 years have. \n People should not be able to demand services from the American government in any other language but English.\nWould you move to a country without learning the language?
603928
Isn't it a personal choice? And anyway, If a person (immigrant or citizen) cannot communicate in the most common language of the country he resides in, who's at loss? Then why does one (who can communicate) make such a big deal if other person cannot communicate in national language (unless earlier is providing services to later).\n\nThe argument about immigration is not as much about a common language as it is about legal v/s illegal status. \n\nThat said, immigrants (as well as citizens) have to accept & respect the culture &  values of the country where they (with personal choice of their own) decide to reside (legally as well as illegally). And in my opinon that includes the national LANGUAGE as well. \nNo question about it.
532213
I GOT YOUR BACK, BRO!\n\nThe peopel who founded this country spoke English, so why can't those who come here from other countries learn to speak OUR language? They sure don't bend over backwards to accommodate us when we visit their countries. Or even if we move there, we have to learn THEIR language if we intend to survive.\n\nThey have TESL classes in our schools (Taking English as a Second Language)...IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST, LAST AND ONLY LANGUAGE...IF you are an American!!!!!!!
433104
I hate it when people put on a fake American accent. it sound like they trying too hard, or trying to be American. I can understand if they have lived there for a while, & start talking that way, but faking it, Oh no!!
351753
The disappearance of the American Melting Pot. When America started, people came from all over the world to create a better way of life, to become Americans. The immigrants would work hard to learn English, to get jobs, to become strong citizens that wanted to help create an even better America. Now immigrants come and want the benefits of being an American without becoming an American. It doesn't seem like anybody wants to 'melt' into the American society. They want to be separate but equal. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of my German/Welsh heritage, but I fly an American flag in my front yard, not a German or Welsh flag. I live close to the border with Mexico, driving around some areas you find it hard to tell you are in America, Mexican flags fly everywhere, marquees at school are in Spanish, more and more billboards are in Spanish. It used to be the special store that had a sign that said "Habla Espanol", now it's hard to find a clerk that doesn't have an accent so thick you can understand them. \n\nI'm not a racist or a redneck, in my family there are Latinos, Tunisians, Blacks, Russians, Irish, Scottish, Apache, Welsh, German, Cherokee and Chinese. Talk about a melting pot! Our family get togethers look like a UN meeting! My point is, if you want to become an American, become an American. If you want to keep your native identity and culture, maybe you should have stayed home.
359203
Once again, I totally agree with you on this subject. I that when immigrants come over here and don't won't want to become citizens that they are just taking advantage of us and that their plans are to just use and abuse our economy and go back where they come from later after they have soaked up everything that they can. \n\nAlso, if they came over here b/c America is a great place, then why do they expect us to change our language, lifestyles etc....... If their own land was so unbearable to them that they couldn't live there, why do they want to turn our country into the same place?\n\n That was a great question! I know I have a lot of mad people out there who are reading this, but those are my feelings about this and my feelings will not change as long as I see my country getting run over by illegal immigrants.