"I'd like to see English made the official language of the government of this country"

And I'd like to see Texas eradicated from this country completely. But you know what, Obama has the only working time machine available. And he uses it to go back and start wars and economic depressions during the Cheney years.

GOP boilerplate. Rightwingers have been frothing over this for years but do nothing about it.

expressed frustration with the fact that directions on store products are written in multiple languages.

Why the fark would anyone care as long as English was present?

Relatively Obscure: expressed frustration with the fact that directions on store products are written in multiple languages.

Why the fark would anyone care as long as English was present?

Because real 'mericans are scared of things they don't understand

I realize this falls into the "different time, different place" box, but the millions of people who emigrated here and went through the citizenship process had to pass a written and verbal test in English, and recite a pledge in English. English was (and still is) the language of business in America, and at least back then, a lack of proficiency was a barrier to entry at all, much less success over the long run.

Seriously, most any other major country has an official language. English may be the global business language, but if you emigrate to Germany, they'd expect you to learn German. Why is it uncouth to ask the same of those who emigrate here?

Grand_Moff_Joseph: I realize this falls into the "different time, different place" box, but the millions of people who emigrated here and went through the citizenship process had to pass a written and verbal test in English, and recite a pledge in English. English was (and still is) the language of business in America, and at least back then, a lack of proficiency was a barrier to entry at all, much less success over the long run.

Seriously, most any other major country has an official language. English may be the global business language, but if you emigrate to Germany, they'd expect you to learn German. Why is it uncouth to ask the same of those who emigrate here?

And AFAIK, that's still the case here.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:

To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must pass the naturalization test. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and Civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.

I like how these morons really think we need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare ...

He's just pandering to the racists that were shocked when he suggested that messkins are human beings.

I have no problem making English the official language as long as people have full access to interpretation in whatever language they speak for due process rights and the like. And as long as we don't go all French or Quebecois and start banning the use of other languages. I know a lot of people in the US are constantly afraid of everything and vote to reflect their constant fear, but come on. Afraid of languages? As long as at least one option or label is in English, what do you really care?

WorldCitizen: I have no problem making English the official language as long as people have full access to interpretation in whatever language they speak

And this will not include redneck or any form of Texas-like slang. If you can't speak real, Yankee English (we did win, by the way) then don't get your panties in a bunch because you're not speaking English either, yahoo.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: Seriously, most any other major country has an official language. English may be the global business language, but if you emigrate to Germany, they'd expect you to learn German. Why is it uncouth to ask the same of those who emigrate here?

Because even if English is the official language, nothing will change. What would happen? Government officials will get forced to only speak English? How is that constitutional?

It won't magically make everyone in America speak English. Companies will not change their phone policies. A portion of their consumers speak Spanish or another language, so why would you create more hassles for your company and consumer by removing the option to change languages.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: I realize this falls into the "different time, different place" box, but the millions of people who emigrated here and went through the citizenship process had to pass a written and verbal test in English, and recite a pledge in English. English was (and still is) the language of business in America, and at least back then, a lack of proficiency was a barrier to entry at all, much less success over the long run.

This was overcome by how well you could bribe the official administering the proficiency tests, and by the rest of the crowd drowning you out while taking the oath. Which, incidentally, sounded like the garbled half-ass of various actual English dialects, people mimicking the noises, and hum-along that it was.

We would do well to yet again remember that we are a scion of Rome, and to recall that "sealed borders" are an illusion, then as now, and the herald of a fallen empire.

HawgWild: I like how these morons really think we need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare ...

kxs401: expressed frustration with the fact that directions on store products are written in multiple languages.

It's like the companies who make those products want to sell them to as many people as possible... Why do republicans hate capitalism?

Obviously the answer to restrict companies from selling to immigrants. That's the free market at work. The only way to keep our freedoms is by dialing them back a bit, and the only way to free capital, is to keep people from having or spending it. Ultimately, we will only truly be free, when we have no taxes, no government, and the land, the capital, and the means to production are all safely out of the people's hands. Without taxes, we wouldn't have an EPA, no Department of Education, and we could then trust our policing and military matters to those with more experience and trustworthiness, the corporations. Only when we hand over all our capital and rights to these tireless captains of industry, can Glenn Beck and Michelle Bachmann's Free America be realized, and the faster that folks realize this, the better.

Reading? Writing? Math? Those are over rated skills that keep one from truly becoming one with Jesus, and they distract you from your labors. Better to hand that over to someone else, more qualified. Only when we have a class of folks that can administrate and oversee labors, bound by capital investment, can we achieve the freedom that our Forefathers dreamed of...

Biggest non-issue ever. Not that I'm an advocate for official languages, but Switzerland has FOUR. They don't mind having three versions of everything- on consumer products, automated messages, signs, etc. So why the outcry against Spanish when we don't even have an official language? I can't really think of anything else besides racism. Spanish has been spoken in areas of this country for hundreds of years. It's just as legitimate a language as English. Maybe if we were all bilingual (and yes I do think that people need to be well-versed in English to have access to good jobs, education, etc.) this would be less of a problem. But God forbid someone has to learn Spanish and have the advantages of being bilingual.

/rant off
//speaks Spanish in case anyone wants to accuse me of hypocrisy

coco ebert: Biggest non-issue ever. Not that I'm an advocate for official languages, but Switzerland has FOUR. They don't mind having three versions of everything- on consumer products, automated messages, signs, etc. So why the outcry against Spanish when we don't even have an official language? I can't really think of anything else besides racism. Spanish has been spoken in areas of this country for hundreds of years. It's just as legitimate a language as English. Maybe if we were all bilingual (and yes I do think that people need to be well-versed in English to have access to good jobs, education, etc.) this would be less of a problem. But God forbid someone has to learn Spanish and have the advantages of being bilingual.

/rant off
//speaks Spanish in case anyone wants to accuse me of hypocrisy

I don't understand why anyone would willingly remain monolingual. There's no advantages to it, and it makes your world that much smaller.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: I realize this falls into the "different time, different place" box, but the millions of people who emigrated here and went through the citizenship process had to pass a written and verbal test in English, and recite a pledge in English. English was (and still is) the language of business in America, and at least back then, a lack of proficiency was a barrier to entry at all, much less success over the long run.

Seriously, most any other major country has an official language. English may be the global business language, but if you emigrate to Germany, they'd expect you to learn German. Why is it uncouth to ask the same of those who emigrate here?

See, you're confusing being against English as an official language with not wanting people to learn English here. Of course everyone living in this country should speak English (and have access to the resources to learn it), but that has nothing to do with making English an official language. We don't need it. Most first-generation people try to learn it and second-generation people all definitely learn it.

When it comes to official languages, there are plenty of countries where there are multiple official languages. My hubby and his mom (Swiss) speak both German AND French and it's not controversial to be taught French in the German-speaking cantons. So why is it controversial to teach English and Spanish in areas where Spanish is a major language? Would you be against making English and Spanish both official languages?

RexTalionis: HawgWild: I like how these morons really think we need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare ...

[29.media.tumblr.com image 466x700]

That was actually Joey who said that.

Let the market decide what language people speak.

GAT_00: RexTalionis: HawgWild: I like how these morons really think we need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare ...

[29.media.tumblr.com image 466x700]

That was actually Joey who said that.

You're right. This just reinforces the notion in me that I should watch the show again for the New Year.

RexTalionis: GAT_00: RexTalionis: HawgWild: I like how these morons really think we need a law to protect the language of Shakespeare ...

[29.media.tumblr.com image 466x700]

That was actually Joey who said that.

You're right. This just reinforces the notion in me that I should watch the show again for the New Year.

*raspberry*

DrewCurtisJr: coco ebert: Biggest non-issue ever.

So why are you against it?

I'm reacting to people making an issue out of English being an official language. I don't view "let's have no official languages" as an issue, it is the default and should stay that way.

bravian: RexTalionis: I don't understand why anyone would willingly remain monolingual. There's no advantages to it, and it makes your world that much smaller.

Your 50 years old and immigrated to this country with the rest of your family? You're not picking up a second language - at least not before you die.

/first generations rarely pick up the local language - this is hardly a new revelation
//biggest non-issue ever - its racism pure and simple

I am a first generation, but I see your point. However, I'm talking about Americans who seem to insist that everyone speak English rather than broadening their horizons a little.

"I'd like to see English made the official language of the government of this country," said a man who stood up during the question-and-answer portion of the event and expressed frustration with the fact that directions on store products are written in multiple languages.

Sweet merciful crap. Just when I think I've heard the stupidest thing ever said, I log on to Fark, click a link, and read the absolute stupidest thing ever said.

Yes, the fact that companies like to print instruction sheets with multiple languages so they can ship products to multiple countries without having to worry about which sheet is in which box is actually evidence of a plot by the thuggish PC thought police to force this guy to live in a multi-cultural North American Union and replace his dollars with Ameros.

I hope he gets hit by a bus. And I don't mean that in a exaggerated, hyperbolic Fark DIAF way. I literally hope he gets hit by a bus because anyone this stupid is obviously a danger to everyone around them.