As much as I like the English language....

[novapsyche]

Senate Votes English as 'National Language': Bill Keeps in Place Multilingual Laws

Comments

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

I'm actually in favor of that. You can VISIT a country and not speak its language, but if you're going to be a citizen being able to communicate with your fellow citizens should be a requirement. I can't communicate very well with many of my neighbors (most of whom aren't citizens anyhow, I suspect) because they either don't speak English or speak it so badly that it isn't useful. That's just not right. If a country is to remain whole, its people must be able to speak with one another, and a national language is a standard for that. Is it racist? No. A language can be learned! Children of all races have to take 10-12 years of English language classes in school, and they're ALREADY citizens! Computers on the same network can't communicate without some kind of standard protocol, and that applies to people as well. This is the first step in establishing that kind of protocol. I'm all in favor of egalitarian treatment, but even that requires certain basics like language compatibility.

agreed and

[magicmaiden.livejournal.com]

I think if you are going to become a citizen of a country you need to be able to speak the language..more so..willing to speak its language. If you don't have that much respect for it, then why do you wish to become a part of it?

I also have watched folks get used and abused, paid ridiculously low wages, have few job options, etc BECAUSE they don't speak the language.

There are those who take advantage of them because of their inability to communicate and pay them low wages. I think these same folks may be pushing for the multilingual situation so they can keep folks in these jobs.

I am glad someone finally made a move to have a "national language". I am personally glad to hear it.