why is it unreasonable for the U.S. Government to expect people living in the u.s. to know English?
915284
No kidding how could they "expect" people be ABLE to.   and reading your last question def. proves it.\n \nThe agitator\n\n "You want million dollar!?\nou play Crazy Smile Face Challenge! Firts you eat the food, the food is power,the power!! you win mrs. mikies million dollar challenge when you poop last! Who poop last!?!?!? "
732882
If Americans had to learn the language of everyone who comes to America legally or illegally, then we would all be in language schools 24 hours a day.\n\nIt's the RESPONSIBILITY of the person coming to live in the U.S. to learn English, not the other way around.
593411
Do you mean that *official* communication is English-only?  Or that those who speak Spanish, Japanese, or Malayalam are forbidden to speak to others who speak their language other than in English?\n\nI think the first is short-sighted.  The second is discriminatory.\n\nYes, if you live in America, you should speak English.  But you, living your entire life in one language have no idea how difficult it *is* to learn a foreign language as an adult.  Some people will never learn much beyond the basics.  Most will learn quite a bit, but never be as fluent in it as in their native language.  Only *very* few people have the talent to really thoroughly learn a new language.\n\nAnd, to correct a couple of "facts" in other answers, you do *not* need American citizenship in order to get a Green Card or work visa.  In fact, if you are a US citizen, you would need neither one; they are *only* for non-citizens.\n\nAnd "most of the world" does *not* speak English.  Many people around the world do speak English to *some* degree.  Over 300 million people speak English as a first language; less than 200 million speak it as a second language (see URL in sources section below).  The world's population is about 6.5 billion.  If one in thirteen has become "most" in recent years, I am unaware of it.
924916
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.
639445
nothing! and god bless them!  when my ancestors came over they had to learn the English language to survive in this country.  the same should be true of the many Spanish immigrants we have today.  English is the official language of the USA and either choose to learn it or choose to go someplace else.
533540
More power to them!  My ancestors (and yours probably) came from another country, did not speak English and more than likely had an accent.  People who come to the US generally WANT to learn English, but learning a new language is very difficult, particulary for adults.  Give the new immigrants a generation or so to assimilate.
143950
I think it is a little extreme, but I can understand the frustration.  Here in Texas, I get annoyed when people of Hispanic origin refuse to learn English, and our society and government enables them to do this by not requiring immigrants to learn english, and even forcing government employees to speak spanish.  Also, our local and national businesses learn spanish to accomodate those who do not speak our language.\n\nI am all for immigration....that is what the makes the U.S. An intresting place to live, but I doubt that if I moved to Mexico or Spain or any other spanish speaking country, that they would learn english to accomadate me.  I understand why they would not....pride in their culture...we have the same and would appreciate immigrants having enough respect to learn it.  After all, it is free from our government.  \n\nSo, I guess my final thought on your question is that I agree that it is a little extreme to forbid it, but at the same time, I see why and understand the reason.\n\nTake care and God bless.
1152518
So true! But then again, shouldn't someone have made sure that he could speak English before he even became the president? Someone let it slip by, and now look what we're stuck with.
880501
I think if you live in the US you should know how to speak English.  And when you are out of your home in front of others - like at work, etc, it is rude to speak a different language.
516802
I think because English people are sympathetic towards our American cousins and make that extra effort to not give in to frustration and correct their grammar/spelling at every other corner. Due to the fact that the language most Americans speak is also understood by most native English speakers then they justify it as being English.\nCalling it American would cause a political rift in Anglo-US relations and probably allow the spoken and written accuracy level of American to sink to even further lows than it has already. By keeping English as a role-model, they hope to at least retain some vestige of respect for the history and culture of their country.
1103715
Don't overgeneralize.  I have known many people from many countries, and I have lived in another country on the other side of the world.  \n\nThe truth of the matter is that the majority of people in any country do not want to learn another country.  Most often, people who have not learned a second language equate that with a lack of education -- those uneducated people will not have a job that brings them to the notice of a foreigner.  \n\nMany people learn a second language to a point, in order to survive in their own mult-lingual environment.  Americans are no exception to that rule, with the international areas of the country.  \n\nHowever, specialists in many fields, in many countries, are limited to one language themselves.  This is because a careful study of one field, such as physics, will preclude the type of careful attention needed to become fluent in another language.
652203
Are you kidding? Congress is full of political correct police who are paranoid about offending anyone. They care more about votes than common sense. If they made English the official language of the U.S., then all those who do not speak or write English will be offended.
804321
Because this is a diverse country which I think is one of the charms of living in the United States. Our country doesn't have an official language so technically, they can speak whatever they want. It just so happens most of the country speaks English. \n\nAnd most employees can speak at least limited English, although it may be harder to understand. Rather than getting upset about it, take it as an opportunity to help their conversational skills.
975521
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.
1067054
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.
671817
I agree with you on one thing (but I'll proofread mine)... "If you give people to take the path of least resistance, generally they will take it."\n\nBeing unable to use the native language of the country of one's residence renders one poor, and it's true that options are few. Soooo many people here don't learn English EVER because there are Spanish newspapers, television, books, services of all kinds, Hispanic businesses where some of the staff don't speak a lick of English, etc etc. Almost everything Southern California has to offer has a Spanish version of it. People can come here and live out most of their lives and still never learn English. A shame, that's just laziness. I mean, night school is FREE! However, there's really no incentive if everything is in Spanish. That should change, I believe that citizenship should be contingent upon learning English. No need to be a master at it, but enough to communicate decently in public.\n\nHowever, to say that they don't belong here, I will COMPLETELY DISAGREE with you. This country is for immigrants, no matter where they're from and no matter what language they speak. Once they're here, they do have the obligation of learning American ways, including the language, this is true. But how dare anyone say that a certain group "doesn't belong" in this country!!! I'm Hispanic, and find this VERY OFFENSIVE.
977412
It's ridiculous but excusable.  Some people may learn English but still have a hard time mastering it. They may speak English perfectly but have a hard time reading confusing forms. Some people can read it but not speak it as well.  When you learn another language they don't teach you every single word especially all the legal jargon.    \n\nBasically, you can learn English, pass all the tests (if there even are any) and still mess up and need help from time to time especially when it's something important like a social security form.