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 07-10-2008, 12:45 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 54 |  English: The official American Language? What do you think?
I caught Lou Dobbs on CNN this evening, and he was discussing the topic of making English the "official" national language. He quoted a poll which puts this idea at about a 90 percent approval nationally and his own poll (run during the show) the idea came in at 94% in favor.
I have my own feelings, but I'd like to know what you all think. If it's the will of the people, shouldn't English be the National language?
Yes or No? (or maybe?)
-Peter __________________
"The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."
-Thomas Jefferson
NRA Member
Last edited by live2offroad; 07-10-2008 at 12:52 AM. | 
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| 07-10-2008, 12:48 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 3,252 |
Yes...although since this debate first surfaced in the 1970's my Spanish has improved... __________________
Guns Have Only Two Enemies-Rust and Politicians
"The United States Constitution (c) 1791 - All Rights Reserved"
If Guns Kill, Do Pencils Mis-spell Words?
Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body - USMC
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" | |
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| 07-10-2008, 12:57 AM | #3 | Call Me Doug Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: It's because I actually HAVE those skills! Posts: 21,258 |
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1919
I am going to vote for hell yes English should be our national language...
JD __________________ "as for my Sword & Spear we will serve the throne, but NEVER that man who sits upon it" - Achilles - Warrior of Warriors
Quote:
Originally Posted by doctherock
Dillinger didn't have to let me try Cammenga Mags before I bought them; but he is a man of great character & a man who's word to me now is a good as gold. If he recommends it I know its good stuff.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ! | |
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| 07-10-2008, 01:11 AM | #4 | Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 54 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1919
I am going to vote for hell yes English should be our national language...
JD
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Damn fine quote!
-Peter __________________
"The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."
-Thomas Jefferson
NRA Member | |
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| 07-10-2008, 01:34 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,615 |
English should be our national language in government. English only for all official business. That said, there's nothing wrong with learning another language, or keeping another language alive in your home.
I wouldn't want people to think we hate the use of other than English. It mostly happened that way earlier in our history and I think we lost the ability to use more than one. My maternal grandmother came here speaking German a century ago, but by the time I came around, she didn't know a word of it. My little girl's mother speaks Tagalog, but for personal reasons, she'll never teach our girl. I think she'll lose something by not knowing it, but then again, it will keep her out of a language ghetto as it were, because all the Tagalog speakers I know generally spend time speaking among themselves and others around who don't know it aren't part of the group.
Too many of America's enemies here will use "English only" sentiment as a cudgel against us. Racist, bigot, and other epithets will - and already are - used about those of us who want to maintain the integrity of American culture. American culture is based on language and rule of law, not skin color, not racial group, not religion. By keeping those non English speakers in their own language ghetto, the opponents of English only perpetuate their power structure in the communities where English isn't spoken. Talk about racism and bigotry. We know those who speak English have a better chance at succeeding in life, but of course, they wouldn't need the "services" of those who currently oppress them would they? __________________
9x18=Makarov | |
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| 07-10-2008, 03:21 AM | #6 | Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 44 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1919
I am going to vote for hell yes English should be our national language...
JD
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like that quote. but tell that to the immigration country i live in.... *shakes head* alot of the immigrants i see and talk to here act like there better than non-immigrants. Not to say all of them do. But alot..... so throw that question up to all canadians including immigrants and youll get no's. But i think its a good idea
Last edited by Braeden; 07-10-2008 at 04:20 AM. | |
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| 07-10-2008, 09:44 AM | #7 | Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 5,550 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Braeden
like that quote. but tell that to the immigration country i live in.... *shakes head* alot of the immigrants i see and talk to here act like there better than non-immigrants. Not to say all of them do. But alot..... so throw that question up to all canadians including immigrants and youll get no's. But i think its a good idea
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We have family in Toronto and we visit them often, and it is clear to see that Canada is a salad bowl where the U.S. is (supposed to be) a melting pot. Multiculturalism versus a single culture. Personally, I prefer the latter.
American English should be the official language (unless we want to learn to spell funny...colour, theatre, centre).
For immigrants to do anything other than assimilate into their host country shows incredible hubris. If you love the old country, stay there. If you love the opportunities presented in your new country, assimilate. __________________
When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors; when you see that men get rich more easily by graft than by work, and your laws no longer protect you against them but protect them against you...you may know that your society is doomed. ~Ayn Rand | |
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| 07-10-2008, 08:17 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Largo, Fl Posts: 464 |
I thought it was!? If "We" decide to use a language OTHER than english for our national language, let's make it fun and pick one NOBODY knows, like Navajo or Zulu. That way we all have to learn a new language, not just the english speaking people. | |
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| 07-11-2008, 03:05 AM | #9 | Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 54 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by fapprez
I thought it was!? If "We" decide to use a language OTHER than english for our national language, let's make it fun and pick one NOBODY knows, like Navajo or Zulu. That way we all have to learn a new language, not just the english speaking people.
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Nope it's just the accepted use language...
I'm for the idea, I believe we are a Nation of many that try to stand together and that an accepted and unified use of language would make that easier..
-Peter __________________
"The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."
-Thomas Jefferson
NRA Member | |
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| 07-11-2008, 01:00 PM | #10 | Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Austin, Texas, by God!! Posts: 6,059 |
My favorite argument about being "Racist" for supporting English as the official language is:
Hispanic is not a Race, it is an Ethnicity. Hispanics are generally white (there are some Black Hispanics ie some Panamanians, Dominicans, Haitians etc.). Sorry, my brown brothers, you are white like me, get over it.
You may call me an Ethnist if you chose, but certainly not a Racist.
English 1st, 2nd and always. English is the most common language in international business transactions. When the French sign a contract with an American company, it is in English (most of the time). Shen a German company signs a contract with a company in Mozambique, it is in English.
There is no room in this country for a hyphenated American. Become an American or leave. I am not a Scottish-Welsh-Swedish-German-Blackfoot-American. I am an American. | |
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