What is it with some immigrants that refuse to have English spoken in their homes.  Why don't they want to assimilate.
218444
Absolutely! All immigrants should learn the local language and customs and obey their new country's laws. What people do in their own homes is their own business, but "when in Rome, do as the Romans do"
441988
If you're going to be here - you should be able to speak the language - its as simple as that.   If you go to France, the French won't learn English for you, you'll have to learn French.  Just like you'd have to learn Greek to go Greece and so on.  So why shouldn't people coming here have to know  the language and speak it?  I, for one, am getting sick and tired of going into the stores and seeing Spanish spread out all over the place, picking up products and having to sort my way through Spanish and on and on.  I'm all for the Dallas ordinance and wish more cities had the guts to put one through like it.
509452
As long as they're legal I don't care.  It's the illegal ones that I have a problem with.  And English "is" our National language.  And no, Native Americans are not our ancestors.  The majority of Americans are of European descent.  That's why we speak English.  No, it has nothing to do with culture diversity.  It has to do with intelligence.  The morons who think it's better to have multiple languages are that, morons.  How many teachers are we going to hire to teach all these languages?  How many interpreters do we have to hire because not everyone is going to know "all" the languages.  I took French in high school.  Why?  Because I wanted to.  Did I "need" to?  No.  Do I speak it now?  No.  You want to live in the United States, learn English. I was in the military and went to Germany.  Guess what?   I learned German.  At least enough to get by.  I didn't force them to learn English.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  Nuff said.
154420
It was not our choice for them to come here, so why should it be our responsibility to accomodate them because they do not speak english. If you come to the US knowing that English is the primary language you should be prepared to learn it.
253600
That's is why they need to leave, they have no respect for our country, they don't want to assimilate or blend into our society. They should learn English and sing the anthem in English it was not meant to be translated it loses it's meaning. I just heard on the news the Congress just passed a resolution that it will be sung in English only. The Congress found it very insulting.
558552
It is a privilege to be a United States citizen and the official language of a US citizen is English. If your mother truly wanted to become a citizen she has had the last 15 years to learn English and unless she is incompetent she should would have learned the language if she wanted to. I understand this is your mother and I would be upset if someone talked down about my mother but you are wanting to bend the rules for yet another immigrant. I think even to live here you should know English because I'm tired of going somewhere and everything is written in 3 or 4 languages, it's ridiculous. Invest some time and money into her so she can learn the language, you obviously speak the language so you and everyone else have just been enabling her not to learn the language by continually translating everything for her. When I learned Spanish, why you may ask because I was going to Mexico and they shouldn't have to speak English for me (what a concept learn the language of the country you are going to and not expect people of that county to cater you) back on track in my Spanish class a single English word could not be uttered it was full submersion. Quit speaking the native language to her and force her to learn English if becoming a citizen is what she wants to do she'll learn.
182782
I completely agree with you on everything!  My grandparents had to learn English when they came here, so did all the other immigrants that came at the time they did.  So why shouldn't the Spanish speaking immigrants have to learn it?  Are they too stupid?  Or too arrogant?  Maybe someone else is happy to have their taxes go to some lady that waddled across the border, had her baby here, and now collects welfare "for the baby" but I am not.  I say if they want to be here, go through the legal process, learn the language, and get a job and pay taxes like the rest of us.\n\nAnd oh yeah - while you like in the US, you fly the US flag.  That's another thing - they claim they are so oppressed where they are from, yet they want to wave the flag of where they re from and be "loyal" to where they came from - well they should be loyal to the country that gives them the things their own country won't!
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.
138331
This whole immigration thing is just the flavor of the month.If i move to Mexico, i would make the effort to learn the predominant language of the area. Right now i speak a little Spanish and a little Tagalog. It helps to break down barriers to communication.We do have laws in place dealing with this issue. Both sides of the border have just been working it for mutual benefit. We don't need new laws either enforce the ones that we do have or do away with them. Peace.
134684
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.
133320
You have no obligation to learn English of French I assume but wouldn't it make sense to make an effort? \n\nCanada has two official languages. It is not a bilingual country where population evenly speaks both languages. French is spoken in Quebec. Large pockets of english speakers exist in Montreal. Immigrants who only speak english usually live in those areas but why don't they go live elsewhere in CAnada if they are not interested in Quebec's culture?\n\nQuebec has a very different culture than the rest of Canada. It's French-speaking populion grew up with different cultural refences than English-Canadian or Americans. (Even though it truly offends English Canadians to be compared to Americans). Making an effort to understand it really pays off. Wouldn't it be better not to be confined to small neighborhoods on montreal?
203474
My Great Grandparents were immigrants but THEY even learned to speak English.  Where I live there are so many immigrants they make a point not to learn English. I feel like an outsider in my own Country.  We need to look at what we're doing, we need to be much, much stricter in our laws and it should be a requirement that the immigrant speaks fluent English.  Enough is Enough.  PS: Report your boss.
141148
HELLLOOOOO??? Am I the only American answering this question??? I was born here and I have lived here my whole life and I ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT have to learn another language to communicate with people in MY OWN COUNTRY! If I moved to India or S. America or Mexico or whatever I would not expect people to learn English so I would feel at home and comfortable! I would not move there until I knew at least the minimum appropriate language to speak to the people of that land with respect. If you go to another country at least have respect enough for the people of that land to learn thier language...and maybe even a bit about thier history. I understand that people come here to get away from poverty and find a better life, I don't disagree with the USA giving that to them but as far as not being able to afford to learn English...that's a crock! It's spoken everday all day everywhere you go! Your kids go to school and learn and are taught in English.....learn from them! To say that someone is unqualified for a job because they only speak the language of the country in which they live speaks that is the dumbest and stuck - up thing I have ever heard!! Just like Gearge Carlin says..."If you are going to take my order of french fries and a double cheeseburger, do it in English" PERIOD! I am living proof of respect for people in those countries...just so you know I am not talking "out of the side of my neck" I was actually thinking about moving to Italy and in the process of researching that option I also looked up a few local places where I could take basic Italian. It's just respect for the country in which you live to learn the language....not ask the country to learn yours!!\n\n\nP.S.......blondie....a mispell does not mean that someone does not know english...and stereotyping is probably not in your best interest...I mean you are a blonde!!
299817
I think you hit the spot... mental insecurity. I don't hate legal or illegal immigrants. It is sad though that all of these people for the most part have nothing better to do than to be bashing people who only come here to work, help our economy and want a piece of the american dream. Do "americans" think they are better because they speak English? Is English the universal language? why don't they learn a new language. I hate to see what this country will turn into and not because of illegals but because of legals who are so ignorant and close minded.
401241
That's because our government has catered to them. Instead of following the laws that state they have to learn English. My feelings are if you live in a country learn the language. But our government gives them to many incentives to not learn our language.
431894
The majority of native English speakers cannot speak any language but their own........ I let that be their own problem, not mine.\n\nI'm Dutch and I'm happy that I learned to speak more than one language.
30285
English is the offical language... but this being a free country they do not require you to learn it... it would go against certin rights if they required it... but I do agree with you that everyone should need to know at least the basics... I hate being asked "ah spanish?"\n\nGets very nerve racking....