Reply #92: I'm having a problem with these arguments

[neoteric lefty]

Should immigrants learn the language of the land? Yes, they should.

Is it their moral obligation to do so? Of course not.

If someone decides not to linguistically assimilate, then that should be their choice and their problem. Hopefully, they realize that it is much harder to live in a land without knowing the language. However, when people say that the same person has an obligation to everyone else to learn the language, I get creeped out. Does a racist have an obligation to everyone to be inclusive? Does an idiot have an obligation to everyone to smarter? Does a Republican have an obligation to everyone to know his or her facts before opening his or her mouth? :)

In this country, you have the freedom to learn as much or as little as you want. Just like you have the freedom to shop somewhere else if you are unhappy with the sales clerk at a particular store. We should give immigrants the tools to learn the language, and should require students to learn (if for no other reason, it is cheaper to do so in the long run). However, this moral obligation argument is opinion. Nothing more.