English Only
Why English-only policy would not work?
What would happen to America if immigrants could not speak their native-languages anymore? The use of languages other than English stimulated a movement known as “English Only Movement” in the U.S, which has been a subject of great controversy. On one hand, the pro English only agree it would encourage immigrants who do not speak English to learn it; therefore, it would turn them Americans bringing the U.S together as a whole. On the other hand, the con side claims speaking English is not a requirement for becoming an American, and also that the U.S is an extremely diverse nation that has been culturally enriched by immigrants from around the world. Thus, establishing an official language in a country of immigrants as the U.S promotes a hostile environment for those speakers of non-native language. Likewise, official English violates the constitution of United States that says all people inside the country, even undocumented immigrants, have the right to freedom of speech and religion, the right to be treated justly, the right to privacy, and the other essential rights U.S. citizens enjoy. But unfortunately, there are people who, even knowing all that, do not respect it. In an article in The New York Times, Verhovek, Sam H., reports the words of Samuel C. Kiser, a judge in Texas, to a mother of a 5-year-old girl to whom she speaks only Spanish, "you're abusing that child and you're relegating her to the position of housemaid”. Certainly, this mother spook Spanish with her daughter expecting that she would not abandon her first language since she would obtain English. So, the judge’s act was drove by pure racism, and was not under the law. Even though, proponents of a national language assume it will provide a common means of communication among people, when a common language is imposed by force of law, it not only contradicts the country’s own laws, but also stimulates disagreement, disunity and
What would happen to America if immigrants could not speak their native-languages anymore? The use of languages other than English stimulated a movement known as “English Only Movement” in the U.S, which has been a subject of great controversy. On one hand, the pro English only agree it would encourage immigrants who do not speak English to learn it; therefore, it would turn them Americans bringing the U.S together as a whole. On the other hand, the con side claims speaking English is not a requirement for becoming an American, and also that the U.S is an extremely diverse nation that has been culturally enriched by immigrants from around the world. Thus, establishing an official language in a country of immigrants as the U.S promotes a hostile environment for those speakers of non-native language. Likewise, official English violates the constitution of United States that says all people inside the country, even undocumented immigrants, have the right to freedom of speech and religion, the right to be treated justly, the right to privacy, and the other essential rights U.S. citizens enjoy. But unfortunately, there are people who, even knowing all that, do not respect it. In an article in The New York Times, Verhovek, Sam H., reports the words of Samuel C. Kiser, a judge in Texas, to a mother of a 5-year-old girl to whom she speaks only Spanish, "you're abusing that child and you're relegating her to the position of housemaid”. Certainly, this mother spook Spanish with her daughter expecting that she would not abandon her first language since she would obtain English. So, the judge’s act was drove by pure racism, and was not under the law. Even though, proponents of a national language assume it will provide a common means of communication among people, when a common language is imposed by force of law, it not only contradicts the country’s own laws, but also stimulates disagreement, disunity and