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English as a National Language
Should there be a national language? The answer in my opinion is definitely, YES!
Let's speak to what makes a national language so important.
1) A national language will benefit all people in the USA. Everyone
will benefit because there will be no cast system based upon language
after the first generation immigrants are schooled. True, those who have
newly immigrated into the USA may not know the language as well as one
might like but they can learn a rudimentary English. Enough to vote or
perform other tasks where, with help from others they can succeed.
2) The country will benefit by bringing all people together with a
common language so they can communicate ideas. Without a common language
communication is difficult at best. The USA needs a top notch workforce
who can communicate efficiently. Other countries are blessed or cursed,
depending upon your view point, with a more or less common language. Take
Japan for example. They communicate and function as a cohesive group,
in part, due the their ability to communicate in the same language.
3) The USA is blessed with one of the most diverse cultures in the
world. The USA has, in the past, been able to accommodate the influx of
immigrants because the immigrants came with the expectation that English must be
learned. If we look at 2 cultures who thrive well in the USA, Korean
and Vietnamese, one will see these immigrants have the expectation of learning
English. That is not to say, they don't expect first and second
generation children to learn their own cultural language. These
particular immigrants understand the importance of a unifying language
to better themselves and the country they live in.
Most importantly, I don't see these 2 cultures backing away from trying to bring the best of their own culture with them. The Chinese
seem to have brought the best of their culture with them as well. I see
dragon dances on the Lunar New Year. Festivals of Chinese culture and
private Chinese backed schools teaching Chinese. Yet the Chinese as the
Korean and Vietnamese learn English.
By the way, there is something unique about the thought process of each different language. Those who speak Spanish seem to arrive at different conclusions than those who speak Korean or English. When trying to compete in the World Market a diversity of ideas helps drive more robust innovation. As a melting pot the USA has been able to benefit from the influx in the diversity of thought from its immigrants since the countries inception.
4) Education for the masses is simplified with a common language. Massachusetts tried to teach in various languages depending upon the base culture of the student. They found the concept of having many different languages in the school system disruptive to the education process and to the society as a hole. So paraphrased from a quote by former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney.
Teaching in one language is
easier than trying to teach the same subject in multiple languages.
Again that is not to dismiss the other languages. Each culture should
pickup the teaching of their culture and language to their children. The responsibility of the USA is to bring together everyone without
discrimination into one cohesive nation. A unified language base is
required to do this.
5) The USA is historically an English speaking country. The majority of individuals speak English. For the most part English is spoken as a second language in the
rest of the world. There are some obvious other languages that are also
held in high regard. Spanish is widely spoken throughout the world as is
Chinese. The USA needs to pick a national language. I think English should the the language of choice due to its current status as dominate in the USA and its prevalence in the world.
6) Whether the requirement for a national language should be a
Constitutional amendment or just a law is up for debate. I prefer the
idea of a Constitutional amendment because an amendment shows all people
the importance of the concept. Also an amendment is harder to change.
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My Political Opinion 
