Is English the 'official language' of the U.S.?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Alone with John McCain

Exclusive interview by Jorge Ramos on Univision

[...]

Jorge Ramos: Senator, the platform of your party says, and I am quoting, "we support the adoption of English as the official language of the United States..." Do you agree with this?

John McCain: ... Look, it's fine with me if English is the official language, because it is our official language, it is.

Jorge Ramos: But, do you support English becoming the official language?

John McCain: If you want to call it official, it already is official, official or unofficial, it is our language...

http://www.univision.com/content/content.j...p;cid=1669256#p

[Peikko 1,575]

Someone needs to alter his medication. The current dosage is clearly not working.

[jundp 191]

It would be nice for any of our politicians to know that we don't have an official language....

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

From the same interview. Well, did he or didn't he? Obfuscation great success!

Jorge Ramos: You voted for the construction of the wall between Mexico and the United States.

John McCain: I didn't vote for, I am not sure what you are talking about... I say we can secure our borders with walls and/or fences in urban areas, and then virtual fences, vehicle barriers...

Jorge Ramos: But, you did vote for the wall.

John McCain: I didn't vote for an..., I don't know what you are exactly what you are referring to. What my plan was, and what our proposal was, that we secure our borders, and we can secure it, not necessarily with walls and fences. Although that is important in populated areas, in the deserts of Arizona vehicle barriers, cameras, and sensors, all of those things, can be used.

[desert_fox 32]

This is the US of A. We speak English here. If you want to come to this country, learn our language. If I decide to live in your country someday, I will learn yours. That way we dont have to print ballots, etc. in 15 different languages.,

The majority of Congress voted for a border fence, that is how it came into being. This baiter (i.e. reporter) is asking questions he already knows the answer to.

[jundp 191]

No disagreement, desert fox, but the fact is, we don't have an official language. We have a de facto language, but no official one. Which I think is kind of weird.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This is the US of A. We speak English here.

Sure, but it isn't the 'official language'. It's a clear question with a clear answer and yet, McCain can't get himself to say it.

The majority of Congress voted for a border fence, that is how it came into being. This baiter (i.e. reporter) is asking questions he already knows the answer to.

That's what reporters do, dumbass. They ask the questions for the benefit of their audience, who may not know

What's really funny is that the reporter probably knew the answer but it sure sounds like McCain's not too sure

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

While English is not the official language it is the one the majority speak to some degree. I just wish everyone, including the one's that were born here would learn to speak it properly. I'm always embarrassed when I understand foreigners speaking English as a second language better than I understand native speakers.

[desert_fox 32]

While English is not the official language it is the one the majority speak to some degree. I just wish everyone, including the one's that were born here would learn to speak it properly. I'm always embarrassed when I understand foreigners speaking English as a second language better than I understand native speakers.

I agree completely.

Bill Cosby has repeatly spoken of this to minorities that share his race.

I remember when I learned spanish, I had to go back and understand English grammar before I had any understanding of what they were teaching me in Spanish.

You need an official language to even have a court system, or run a school. All we can do is make the resurces available to help people learn English. It aint that difficult compared to some foreign languages, and I even tend to think that English is one of the easier ones except for some irregularities in the past tenses, and the different sounds that a vowel can take on.

[IAMX 3,055]

Baaaaaahahahaha. McCain on Univision?

I love his justification of voting for the retarded border fence:

-I didn't vote for an..., I don't know what you are exactly what you are referring to.

I, er, uh.. forgot. Border fence? Wuts that?

I cut pork, but want to waste billions on a border fence.

I swear every time that man talks he kills brain cells. Just put him in a retirement home already before he potentially gets elected and ruins the country.

[akdiver 3]

A reasonable definition of "official language" is the language in which laws and court decisions are published.

Using this standard, it's pretty clear that English is this nation's official language, regardless of whether or not it is called such, and regardless of what poliical agenda one may have.

[Aubrey 10]

A reasonable definition of "official language" is the language in which laws and court decisions are published.

Using this standard, it's pretty clear that English is this nation's official language, regardless of whether or not it is called such, and regardless of what poliical agenda one may have.

Sure... English is so "official" that multiple states have federal election ballots in other languages.

[akdiver 3]

that multiple states have federal election ballots in other languages.

Which is a damned shame.

Does anyone else see the BS involved in requiring the ability to speak and write English as a condition of naturalization, and then providing the associated materials in a language other than English?

Just another reason why people vote Republican - even if they are not Republicans.

[IAMX 3,055]

A reasonable definition of "official language" is the language in which laws and court decisions are published.

Using this standard, it's pretty clear that English is this nation's official language, regardless of whether or not it is called such, and regardless of what poliical agenda one may have.

Sure... English is so "official" that multiple states have federal election ballots in other languages.

Indeed. This never made sense to me. To get a diploma, you need to know English, need to pass English literacy exams, and of course pass English courses which includes reading English books, and creatively writing in English. To get citizenship, you need to know English (unless disabled). You can't get a further education here unless you know English, because all degrees at U.S. universities and state colleges require.. more English.

So really not knowing English here is a hindrance upon the person to ever make it anywhere.

It would be insulting, no matter which country you went to, if you refused to speak or learn their native language. Somehow here we cater to that, which only brings conflict.

Just another reason why people vote Republican - even if they are not Republicans.

.. which has nothing to do with rationality.

Edited September 14, 2008 by SRVT

[bora bora 1]

that multiple states have federal election ballots in other languages.

Which is a damned shame.

Does anyone else see the BS involved in requiring the ability to speak and write English as a condition of naturalization, and then providing the associated materials in a language other than English?

Just another reason why people vote Republican - even if they are not Republicans.

I don't really mind it being in Spanish seeing as Puerto Ricans that live in the mainland can vote.