an official language?

[robguitar]

If you were born in the U.S. you were taught ENGLISH in school.

If you immigrated to the U.S., learn the language that everyone else who was born here had to learn.

Rock on.

[Melchisedec]

I definitely believe English should be the official language and that those who come to America should respect our country by learning the language. I would learn Japanese if I moved to Japan and I dont think America should be an exception. When I came here I knew nothing but spanish and over the years have perfected my english. It upsets me when I see family members or anyone for that matter who have been living here for years and have made no or little attempts to learn english. Its almost insulting really. I love my grandma with all my heart, but she has been living here over 50 years and can only say just a few words. However I do feel it would be good for Americans to learn a second language.

[philothea]

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Nov 2 2005, 10:29 AM']I definitely believe English should be the official language and that those who come to America should respect our country by learning the language. I would learn Japanese if I moved to Japan and I dont think America should be an exception. When I came here I knew nothing but spanish and over the years have perfected my english.
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I had no idea. You write very well!

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Nov 2 2005, 10:29 AM']However I do feel it would be good for Americans to learn a second language.
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This is true.

Edited November 2, 2005 by philothea

[Socrates]

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Nov 2 2005, 10:29 AM']I definitely believe English should be the official language and that those who come to America should respect our country by learning the language. I would learn Japanese if I moved to Japan and I dont think America should be an exception. When I came here I knew nothing but spanish and over the years have perfected my english. It upsets me when I see family members or anyone for that matter who have been living here for years and have made no or little attempts to learn english. Its almost insulting really. I love my grandma with all my heart, but she has been living here over 50 years and can only say just a few words.  However I do feel it would be good for Americans to learn a second language.
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Well stated.

[Maria]

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Nov 2 2005, 12:29 PM']However I do feel it would be good for Americans to learn a second language.
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I'll second that. In Europe, just about everyone knows at least one other language (or that used to be the case), and they find that Americans are arrogant, assuming that they can go anywhere and be fine with just English. There's something... polite about learning other languages, esp. if you're going to have anything to do with people from that country. (Mind you, I was fine in Germay for WYD with only my English, French and a dozen or so words of German.)
And besides, learning another language helps form the mind.

[Socrates]

[quote name='Maria' date='Nov 2 2005, 06:14 PM']I'll second that. In Europe, just about everyone knows at least one other language (or  that used to be the case), and they find that Americans are arrogant, assuming that they can go anywhere and be fine with just English. There's something... polite about learning other languages, esp. if you're going to have anything to do with people from that country. (Mind you, I was fine in Germay for WYD with only my English, French and a dozen or so words of German.)
And besides, learning another language helps form the mind.
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This is a seperate issue from that of official languages.