Speak English

[RedefinedDiva]

Well. I am sticking with the position that immigrants shouldn't be required to know English off hand when entering the country. I do think that opportunities should be given for them to learn once adjusted to the country. Most of the immigrants in our country are not legal, thereby unable to seek out these opportunities as easily as others. Besides that, there aren't even people out there that are willing to teach these people. Most people that have posted on this thread barely want to deal with people with minimal knowledge of English. Imagine trying to teach those with NO knowledge. I have had a hard enough time trying to get an adequate knowledge of English and I've been speaking it my whole life.

I would also have to disagree with SportsLuva. Although times have changed, when Josephine Baker and others from the Renaissance era relocated to Paris and other countries to be accepted regardless of their color, do you think they knew the native language?

How would our lives be different if someone would taken the attitudes of today and applied it back then? We have to change our attitudes.

[markmywords]

i haven't posted on here in quite a while but this thread made me a bit salty.

there is no official language of the united states for a reason. this country is supposed to be for every and anyone. so if in thirty years more people in the country speak spanish than english then spanish it will be. (or whichever other language)

if people can get along without speaking any kind of english in this country then that is their right by the constitution. if it inconveniences you then so be it. you'll just have to move on, but that is your right too.

and if immigrants have to speak english when they come here, then americans should have to stop going to foreign countries and expecting people to speak english. try to learn local phrases.

[straightBOS]

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva

I would also have to disagree with SportsLuva. Although times have changed, when Josephine Baker and others from the Renaissance era relocated to Paris and other countries to be accepted regardless of their color, do you think they knew the native language?

Yes, they did, and they spoke it qutie well, in fact. I think the debate on Not Learning English loses steam when we consider that English is in fact quite a popular language-- worldwide. International Air Traffic is done in English, in India, where every state has a different language, they are still required to learn English. Also, regardless of what the face of America will look like in the future, the power and the money will STILL be in the hands of those who can speak English and speak it well.

When talking about permanent relocation and gaining as much knowledge as you can to truly provide a better life for your family, I cannot see how learning English is not at the top of that list.

Also, as I stated before, there are places one can go to learn English, as well as cassette and VHS tapes. Now, I really don't have a problem with the Mexican waiting outside the 7-Eleven hoping to get a job cutting grass-- if that's enough for him, but you can't tell me that his situtation is akin to the American family vacationing in the Swiss Alps who cannot properly order a Pepsi.

[showstopper_1908]

Some believe that our national language almost became German, this site says it's a myth.

http://www.us-english.org/foundation...s/founders.asp

[Gyrl7]

No disrespect, but my point is we need to clean up our own houses first before we start talking about others. I also notice this thread targets towards other nationalities in latter parts of it. In the very first post she started off as saying hispanic persons and to a certain degree I can identify what was said because of where I live(which also has a large Hispanic Community)......that was my point. So, with that being said...I think the orginator of this thread understands where I am coming from with respects to my reply. kthnx!


[QUOTE]Originally posted by ChaosDST
[B]Many of us are not specifically targeting Spanish speakers. We're talking about ANYONE who comes to AmeriKKKa and dwells here w/o speaking and understanding, atleast functional, English.

AmeriKKKans have poor grammar as well. My parents were ALWAYS very strict about grammar. This is why I'm so anal about grammar...and choose to speak poorly at times

I noticed a bit of poor grammar in the original post that started this thread. However, we're specifically talking about persons who are not native English speakers.

Even AmeriKKKans with poor grammar (which 95% of AmeriKKKans have from time-to-time---regardless of level of education) have English speaking skills.

So, with that said...why shouldn't those entering the country be expected to achieve the same?

[AKAtude]

Originally posted by markmywords
i haven't posted on here in quite a while but this thread made me a bit salty.

there is no official language of the united states for a reason. this country is supposed to be for every and anyone. so if in thirty years more people in the country speak spanish than english then spanish it will be. (or whichever other language)

if people can get along without speaking any kind of english in this country then that is their right by the constitution. if it inconveniences you then so be it. you'll just have to move on, but that is your right too.

and if immigrants have to speak english when they come here, then americans should have to stop going to foreign countries and expecting people to speak english. try to learn local phrases.

English Declared Official in Iowa
Fri Mar 1, 2002

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill into law Friday declaring English the state's official language.


Though it is mainly symbolic, the law requires all government proceedings be conducted in English. Supporters have said English is a unifying factor in a state that has become increasingly diverse.

Opponents, including many Hispanics and liberals, have called it thinly veiled racism. Most Democrats in the Legislature voted against the bill, which is similar to laws approved in 26 other states.

"I recognize that the bill is not without controversy," said Vilsack, a Democrat. "My hope is that we will look beyond the controversy and put politics behind us so we can focus on our commitments and responsibility to improve education for all our children."

Many of Vilsack's core constituencies had pressured him to veto the measure. Democrats and labor groups held vigils at the governor's mansion and at the Statehouse in protest of the bill.

The Legislature sent Vilsack the bill earlier this week after two years of debate.

After the 2000 election, Vilsack launched a campaign to encourage an additional 310,000 immigrant workers to move to Iowa by 2010 to fill employment vacancies and boost dwindling population.

He noted Friday that lawmakers have promised an additional $1 million in a separate bill to fund state efforts helping immigrants learn English.

According to the advocacy group U.S. English Inc., 26 states have some form of official English laws. Similar legislation was approved by the U.S. House in 1996, but the Senate failed to act by the end of the session.

[Steeltrap]

I suspect that governor is either politically vulnerable or opportunistic (remember Pete Wilson and Prop. 209 in Cali) and that's why he signed that English-only bill. It's probably headed for a court challenge.

[ChaosDST]

Well, the "AmeriKKKans for proper grammar" campaign could take forever. In the meantime and in between time, non-English speaking, newly immigrated individuals should be taking English courses.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gyrl7
[B]No disrespect, but my point is we need to clean up our own houses first before we start talking about others. I also notice this thread targets towards other nationalities in latter parts of it. In the very first post she started off as saying hispanic persons and to a certain degree I can identify what was said because of where I live(which also has a large Hispanic Community)......that was my point. So, with that being said...I think the orginator of this thread understands where I am coming from with respects to my reply. kthnx!

Originally posted by ChaosDST
Many of us are not specifically targeting Spanish speakers. We're talking about ANYONE who comes to AmeriKKKa and dwells here w/o speaking and understanding, atleast functional, English.

AmeriKKKans have poor grammar as well. My parents were ALWAYS very strict about grammar. This is why I'm so anal about grammar...and choose to speak poorly at times

I noticed a bit of poor grammar in the original post that started this thread. However, we're specifically talking about persons who are not native English speakers.

Even AmeriKKKans with poor grammar (which 95% of AmeriKKKans have from time-to-time---regardless of level of education) have English speaking skills.

So, with that said...why shouldn't those entering the country be expected to achieve the same?

[Gyrl7]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ChaosDST
Well, the "AmeriKKKans for proper grammar" campaign could take forever. In the meantime and in between time, non-English speaking, newly immigrated individuals should be taking English courses.

[/QUOTE

I don't think at anytime I ever indicated that non-English speaking persons shouldn't be taking English courses!

[beauty_6049]

I work in the travel industry and I come across many people who speak Spanish. It bothers me that when I ask them if they speak some English, they refuse to communicate. I know some Spanish but I feel that if you travel in the U.S., then you should be able to understand and speak some Spanish. I often get upset when foreigners, not just of the Spanish language, but others use their native tongue in front of U.S. citizens when they are working as a service to the community, i.e.,clothing stores, restaurants, etc. I feel that is rude and disrespectful!

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by Gyrl7
I don't think at anytime I ever indicated that non-English speaking persons shouldn't be taking English courses! [/B]

I never said you did.....

[Gyrl7]

Originally posted by ChaosDST


I never said you did.....

Great, and I don't know about you, but am kind of done with this topic already!

[Black_Butterfly]

I know that this may seem off subject, but last night my roomy and I ordered pizza, stuffed crust supreme, the norm at HBU. The pizza guy spoke no English. On top of that the order was wrong. Not only did he not speak English, he could not read English either. I believe at some point, immigration has to be denied. I understand that the situations in other countries are not up to the level of the U. S, but something has got to give. At some point these individuals are dangerous to society. If you speak no English, and read no English... HOW DO YOU DRIVE!!!!!. I say that because a Hispanic person hit my car, and spoke no English what so ever

However at the same time I am saddened, because all these individuals are trying to do is make a better living for their families. I was angry, but at the same time still gave a $3.00 tip because he obviously needed the money.

[tahitian3]

You know, as African people, we were FORBIDDEN to speak our language on the plantations of this racist American society. Many times, if caught speaking to each other in our native tongue,or performing some ritual native to us, our tongues were cut right out of our mouths, our hands were chopped off, or we were beaten horribly.
My beef with this whole issue is that, everywhere you go, instructions, signs, ingredients, whatever, have the english version on top and then the Spanish version (or French) below.
It seems as if AmeriKKKa is more accepting of minority individuals who are more like the white side of America (lighter skin, straighter, longer hair, etc.) There have NEVER been any attempts to make us Africans feel more "at home" by allowing us to continue on with our language and traditions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE were never given any sort of accomodations!!!!!!!!!

[lovelyivy84]

I have mixed emotions about this thread.

On the one hand, I agree that for practical reasons, a functional knowledge of English is necessary, and should be mandatory for those working with the English speaking public.

On the other hand, the argument just sounds so xenophobic. I think that's because it has been used so often as a way to cover up or excuse prejudice in majority people when speaking of immigrants. The argument seems tainted, even when it's perfectly valid.

Plus as someone whose family is comprised of immigrants of maaaaany nations, I feel for them. I know EXACTLY why they move to this country and I can't fault them for doing whatever they have to do, even if they don't have the skille we would like them to have.