Reply #18: No, it isn't the nature of this country

[supernova]

to be monolingual in the official legal sense, not historically, not in the present, and not in the future.

99% of the immigrants coming here know they have to learn English if they want to succeed, i.e. at least become middle class. How do I know this? I have taught ESL and at least around here, we can't have too many classes. People are clammoring for them even after working two sometimes three jobs just to get by. What American doesn't? ;-) Still, they come to class and dutifully do the homework. So, it's not for lack of interest on the part of immigrants, legal and non.

And if you wonder about the history of language in this country, check out my post from two years ago:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/supernova/48