We continue to have a large influx of Mexicans into the US. Is anyone concerned that Spanish may become our second language, or even our main language?

Hey check out Constitutional Debate - this one was raging awhile back.

In retrospect, your question is a bit different. You're talking a second language rather than one unifying language. Oops.

I guess most of my opinions are summed up in the other debate, anyway & I'll avoid being repetitive here.

I'm able to read, speak, and write Spanish with no small degree of fluency. However, I refuse to use it for the very reason that ignorant immigrants feel they are entitled to see, "Se habla espanol" everywhere they go.

Hell, my boss is Brazilian and is always speaking Portuguese. Every time he starts, he gets an earful from me. Even if the tub o' lard is my boss, he still gets a tongue lashing.

Sorry, I didn't notice this subject on the debate site or I wouldn't have started it as a new topic.

It does surprise me that people get so excited about Mexicans speaking Spanish. Some people get downright nasty about it and treat the Mexican people badly. I think it's uncalled for.

The reason why people, myself included, get uppity about Latinos speaking Spanish is the arrogance in not speaking the language of the home country.

For those of you who think I am an evil Republican, know this: Hablo ingles y espanol con soltura. So, now that I've moved this aside, I'll tell you: I've made the effort to learn Spanish. Where is the effort to speak the superior language of the superior hosts to the inferior beings?

John, I think they will learn English, but it will take time. The Mexicans I come in contact with do speak some English. They know that life here will be so much easier for them when then can speak our language.

I've noticed that there are several English classes being offered around town and many Mexicans attend these classes, but it isn't always possible for them to do so.

My father's family spoke German only, for several years after they arrived in this country. My grandparents finally learned English from their children who, of course, learned it in school. They dropped the German completely at the beginning of WWII.

About being an evil Republician. I don't mind your being evil. :-)

(over on Lucky Charms I said I was Irish, not a lie, half Irish, half German)

I think that Spanish is already the second most spoken language in the US, isn't it? I can't think of another language that is spoken more (ebonics aside ).

As for Spanish becoming our main language-- I'm not going to say it'll never happen, but the likelyhood is very slim.

It would take a Constitutional Amendment to make it so. That requires quite a few near-impossible hurdles to be jumped.

We have to get either 2/3 of both Houses of Congress to pass the bill, or have 2/3 of the states apply for an Amendment Convention at which time the Amendment would be proposed. Then, the Amendment needs to be ratified by 3/4ths of the states before becoming adopted. There are 6 amendments that have never been ratified.

Just my two cents...

Mike

If you wish to live in this nation, a basic knowledge of our language should be MANDATED. I've no problem with speaking Spanish. I've a problem with apathy and ignorance of our ways.

It's bad enough that we cannot teach young people (one of them being me, yet I am not ignorant) our ways. Why, then, should we take in immigrants, who so far are worse than young apathetic teens?

I know learning another language takes time, but I get angry at how easy it is to not know English in this country. There is a point where helping immigrants become adjusted becomes enabling immigrants to be ignorant.

I'm a "man of few words" so I guess this explains why I could not say that earlier.

If americans start speaking spanish, well I really don't care. As long as the transtion is smooth, go spanish . I have no partucular fondness for english (except it's the only language I know, I studied Spanish for a while...). America doesn't have a national language, this is good, we don't need one. Americans aren't defined by laguage, we're defined by ideas and actions, that what's important.

While Americans may not now be defined by our language, we once were. Read Federalist Paper II, Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence by John Jay.

John Jay saw us as "one united people - a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principals of government..." It would have never occurred to our forefathers to enact a national language amendment because it was not necessary.

The question is, has the necessity arrived?

Aside/sort-of-related-question: Our forefathers never had the intention to become a "melting pot." Does anyone know from where that phrase originated?

YES YES YES YES YES. From viewing the situation in Quebec, I can tell you the indignant ignorance does not die over time. The French residents REFUSE to speak English. For the occasional tourist, the French road signs and French language sink dreams of visiting that smog-infested fairyland.

RE: Melting Pot origin

Found on another website:



Mike

i am personally against making a desicion that we wouldnt even be considering if it werent for almost 8 million illegal immagrants living in the US.