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Should English be decalred official language by law

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by pirc1, Nov 1, 2005.

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Should English be the only official language?

  1. Yes, make English the official language

    48 vote(s)
    44.4%

  2. No, allow government to use other languages

    20 vote(s)
    18.5%

  3. No, but make learning English a requirement

    26 vote(s)
    24.1%

  4. I could care less about this

    14 vote(s)
    13.0%
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  1. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    I can see the points from both sides, but I am leaning towards declaring English the official language.


    link

    Lawmakers Speak Out Against English-Only Bill
    Oct 31, 2005, 05:05 AM EST Email to a Friend Printer Friendly Version

    COLUMBUS (AP) -- Opponents are speaking out against a proposal to declare English as Ohio's official language -- even before the bill is introduced in the Legislature. State Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Fairfield, has said he will introduce his Ohio English Unity Act, which would require state agencies to produce records only in English, by the end of the year.

    Opponents say the law which supposedly is intended to unite Ohioans under one language could instead divide immigrants and native-born Americans. Julia Arbini Carbonell, president of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, said the legislation disrespects immigrants. She calls it "a bill about intolerance."

    Benson Wolman of the Equal Justice Foundation in Columbus said the legislation could conflict with an amendment of civil-rights law that requires government agencies to ensure that people who don't speak English well are receiving services. He says the law probably would be challenged in court.

    The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs has been working with Combs to develop a bill that does not persecute people who are trying to learn English, said Ezra Escudero, executive director. Expanding language instruction, promoting multiple-language skills and bolstering funding to groups that help immigrants are better alternatives, he said.

    Posted by AEB
     
    #1 pirc1, Nov 1, 2005
  2. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
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    No, I don't think it should. I think having voter's materials in particular printed in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, or any other langauge prevelent in populations only helps democracy. Making English as the official language would allow these kinds of things to be in only English. Whether someone has learned the language or not should not prevent them from having a say in who governs their lives.

    The anger at not speaking English is a bizzare thing to me. Afterall the only people hurt by it are those that live in the U.S. and don't don't speak English. It doesn't harm me in any way if somebody can't speak English. I am able to speak English and my options aren't limited.
     
    #2 FranchiseBlade, Nov 1, 2005
  3. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    The counter point is that if you speak English, you will be making 50% more in wages on the average, so learning English is good for these immigrants. Another point is why should Spanish or other language be used by government when other languages such as Russian are not, is it fair to require a certain groups of immigrants to learn english but not others?
     
    #3 pirc1, Nov 1, 2005
  4. bnb

    bnb Member

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    Would this measure mean all official documents must be available in English (which would be ok by me), or that they cannot be available in another language too (marginalize the marginalized?)

    what would be the benefit in forbidding official documents in other languages?
     
    #4 bnb, Nov 1, 2005
  5. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    yes.

    harry potter has spoken
     
    #5 TMac640, Nov 1, 2005
  6. HayesStreet

    HayesStreet Member

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    I don't have a problem with official documents being in another language to help facilitate integration of immigrants into our society, so I would not be in favor of this ohio bill. However, I do think there should be a requirement to learn English. I don't see a benefit of being 'tolerant' to immigrants recreating enclaves of their former home state in the US. If you want to live there, stay there. If you want to live here you should make the effort to integrate and language is the basic currency of that integration. Language requirements are not rare for other countries, including most of the supposedly 'tolerant' EU.
     
    #6 HayesStreet, Nov 1, 2005
  7. underoverup

    underoverup Member

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    You should start this same thread again with a poll.
     
    #7 underoverup, Nov 1, 2005
  8. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    Guess I can do that and see how people vote in the pole.
     
    #8 pirc1, Nov 1, 2005
  9. nyquil82

    nyquil82 Member

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    yes!!
     
    #9 nyquil82, Nov 1, 2005
  10. nyquil82

    nyquil82 Member

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    no!!!
     
    #10 nyquil82, Nov 1, 2005
  11. bnb

    bnb Member

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    I think it's pretty cool that you misspelled 'declared' in both your thread titles ;).

    Maybe a new poll is in order: should english spelling be decalred an official law on the bbs???
     
    #11 bnb, Nov 1, 2005
  12. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    That is what copy and paste are for, copy mistakes from one thread to another! :eek:
     
    #12 pirc1, Nov 1, 2005
  13. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Member

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    I am not in favor of making English the official language.

    That being said, if you live in the US and can't speak perfect English, you're in for a rough road in any kind of business/professional career.
     
    #13 bigtexxx, Nov 1, 2005
  14. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    No, but schools should ensure that everyone is fluent in English. Bilingual programs have been failures from what I have read.
     
    #14 Mr. Clutch, Nov 1, 2005
  15. thadeus

    thadeus Member

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    I don't know. Should your MOM be declared the official language?
     
    #15 thadeus, Nov 1, 2005
  16. nyquil82

    nyquil82 Member

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    How dare you attack the president! Another desperate move of resorting to petty insults by the liberals.
     
    #16 nyquil82, Nov 1, 2005
  17. No Worries

    No Worries Member

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    If English is the official language, can we beat the living sh*t out of those who can't speak English especially the Mexicans? "Your honor if they had only spoke English to me I would not had to work them over with my tire iron."
     
    #17 No Worries, Nov 1, 2005
  18. hotballa

    hotballa Contributing Member

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    yes, make it the official language. there are people who have been here for years who never bothered to learn the language. having everything in English would maybe force them to make some sort of effort at learning the language.

    And please don't say "these immigrants work so and so hours and have kids to raise." Cry me a river. When we first came here my parents worked 14 hours a day, and still went to a 2 hour English class 3 times a week. Plus they had 4 kids to raise.
     
    #18 hotballa, Nov 1, 2005
  19. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    Yes it should
     
    #19 tigermission1, Nov 1, 2005
  20. Xenochimera

    Xenochimera Member

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    well you spelled "declared" wrong so yeah it be a law, otherwise we would see a lot more posts with wrong spellings or grammars. my self included.
     
    #20 Xenochimera, Nov 1, 2005
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