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I think we should have English as the official language.
I also think that we should limit and define what additional languages that government services will be provided in.
I've got no problem with Spanish being an official second language, but I think the idea that we can accommodate all the world’s languages is unrealistic and impractical.
I don’t think we should have bilingual or multi-lingual schools although I think schools should provide ESOL services for a well-defined number of years to those who need them. (I don’t think any students should be served by ESOL for their entire school careers, but mainly because it becomes a dumping ground although NCLB is helping with this.)
Could whoever mentioned laws and treaties that prohibited the US having an official language please name some? I know we’d have to repeal any current laws that are contrary to a new one, but the use of treaties made me think you meant something international.
As far as the historic arguments go, when we had the “melting pot” as our central immigration metaphor, we emphasized assimilation, and learning English was considered an American trait. As we’ve moved to the salad bowl metaphor, emphasizing multi-culturalism, I think the motivation to learn English is diminished. Because I firmly believe that being able to communicate with each other is a core national value, I don’t think separate language groups is a good idea. We need to speak the same language to be one national people.
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