General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: OMG Get a load of the guy's reason for wanting English as the official language [View all]Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)So the election ballot guides should be published in every language on earth to prevent this possibility then? Think of the expense. Taxation without representation hardly applies as an argument since the option to learn English is always available, and I'd say learning English should absolutely be a requirement for living in this country to prevent Balkanisation. I'd even say it's vital in order to inform oneself sufficiently to be able to cast an intelligent vote in any case. "Community Leaders" for various immigrant groups are against it, at least in part I suspect, because they prefer their people not to be able to educate themselves from other sources and to retain victim status.
Sorry, but this opposition to English as the national language has always puzzled me. I say this as an immigrant from a non-English speaking country who votes Democrat and who is fluent in multiple languages. Virtually all other immigrants from similar backgrounds that I have spoken with have agreed with me.
Making English the national language would only apply to transactions between the government and the people. I don't think anyone wants to criminalise people speaking to each other in any language other than English. That would be fascist.