Should English be Our Preferred Language in America?

And I think other countries feel the same way. We took a mission team to Greece once, and one of the ladies who lived there became very irate with one of our team members who didn't know any words in Greek. She basically felt the same way you do, but with her language.

 

Likewise in Mexico. (En México también.)

 

Yes, it should.

 

Why isn't this thread moved to the politics forum? It has nothing to do with Baptist

 

Good point.

 

"You are an American, you use English!" is how my Dutch grandmother put it while refusing to teach me to speak Dutch. This was in the 1980's when the knowledge of a second language was becoming valuable. She didn't buy it for an instant! When her parents and elder siblings immigrated from the Netherlands at the turn of the century they believed learning English was a part of becoming American. Those who refused to learn were looked down on as "holding on to the old country" and not wanting to "be" American.

I think Gran was on the right track. (though, she could still have taught me!)

If someone wants to immigrate to this country to be a part of this country, they need to be willing to learn at least enough of the language to make themselves understood. And right now, English is that language. If they want to speak something else at home, fine, so be it. However, it is illogical to attempt to accommodate the many languages of the world. (hence AL's 12 language driver's test)

Rbell, did you know how many languages the driver's test came in before Tim James' commercial?

 

My grandfather spoke English, German, and Pennsylvania Dutch (German). But he expected his kids to master American English.

 

Maybe the title of the thread should read, "Preferred language in Baptist America."

 

"Should English be Our Preferred Language in America? " I would make it the required language for business and school. We could eliminate all the extra pay for translators and dual phone menus not to mention the dual printing of all gov. paperwork.

As to the child of two illegals being a citizen, it is or should be under question. I think it states that if the couple are under the juristiction of the usa, and illegals that break our laws are not really under the juristiction of the usa. (Might be a different word, do not remember.

We have had people killed by police because they could not understand commands from the police officers.

 

Just curious, do you have English classes in your church to help them learn English?

Should we Christians consider learning Spanish or another language so we can witness to them in their language?

 

Although the English skills of many native-born Americans is poor, that does not excuse legal immigrants from making an effort to learn. No one as RD2 said, expects them to become English majors, but they should have the ability to say more than "Which way to the social security office, por favor?"

 

The church's response in ministering to immigrants has nothing to do with the govenrment's response to coddling them, and allowing them to engage in behaviors that are not safe (e.g., driving on highways on which they cannot read the signs).

 

The Holy Spirit's option is to allow tongues so everyone can understand.

 

Again I say, there are native born Americans who can not speak, read, or write basic English. Why let them be Americans until they can?

Forget being English majors let alone teach English.

 

The onus is upon the immigrant to integrate themselves into our culture, NOT for our culture to bend for the immigrant.