Should Immigrants to the USA learn English?

[Mushet]

No one is arguing that immigrants shouldn't learn English. They shouldn't be forced. Besides, it's not like not knowing English prevents them from working. It has been said enough in this thread that non-English speaking immigrants hold jobs, every day. And they pay taxes. I've seen the tax forms in as many languages as the colors of the rainbow. Services in the US are given in several languages other than English.

Not learning the language of the country you immigrated to is an immense failure in terms of assimilation. When a nation starts to become filled with people of foreign cultures not only does it erode the native culture, but it helps fuel immense racial and cultural tension. I'm
getting tired of hearing the same old "Diversity is good! Hooray for multiculturalism!" crap. The truth is diversity and multiculturalism are not good nor healthy for a community. I mean seriously go to any modern day American city and you will be able to clearly see this. The government should offer free and compulsory language and assimilation courses for our immigrants, which we should keep to a limit.

I don't see how multiculturalism isn't good living in Los Angeles every day...

[Libertarian California]

For one, integration does occur over time. Encouraging it. Not forcing it. It's as simple as that.

I'm aware, however, those communities aren't inherently bad.

No one's saying they're inherently bad, but if people don't integrate it can lead to racial tension.

Just look at Yugoslavia. It was a nation of multiple ethnicities and they all hated each other. Eventually the nation dissolved into the cesspool you have now.

What? Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia were multicultural paradises!

Hell, Sudan and South Africa are/were pretty vibrant and diverse, too! All of those different cultures and ethnicites, working together for the common good!

[Luziyca]

They shouldn't need to, but should be recommended. In a few decades, Spanish will probably overtake English anyways, and French may also enter the scene outside of a few kilometers along the border with Quebec.

[Norstal]

Not learning the language of the country you immigrated to is an immense failure in terms of assimilation. When a nation starts to become filled with people of foreign cultures not only does it erode the native culture, but it helps fuel immense racial and cultural tension. I'm
getting tired of hearing the same old "Diversity is good! Hooray for multiculturalism!" crap. The truth is diversity and multiculturalism are not good nor healthy for a community. I mean seriously go to any modern day American city and you will be able to clearly see this. The government should offer free and compulsory language and assimilation courses for our immigrants, which we should keep to a limit.

Erosion of what culture? American culture? A culture that is an amalgamation of many different immigrant cultures?

And I have said it several times already. Immigrants should learn the language of the country they emigrate to. But forcing them to is not the way. If anything, what that, compulsory education in English, may do is force them into isolation out of anger.

All these immigrants from Mexico prevents me from making the U.S into a satellite Chinese state. Damn immigrants!

[Nationes Pii Redivivi]

I have, and I agree with Milton Friedman that we should not have the minimum wage at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca8Z__o52sk

You should hear what Rothbard had to say on immigration, if you want to have a battle of the Austrians.

Friedman, however, is not an Austrian.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

For those focusing on the job issue, I would like to call your attention to this section of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

[Norstal]

Not learning the language of the country you immigrated to is an immense failure in terms of assimilation. When a nation starts to become filled with people of foreign cultures not only does it erode the native culture, but it helps fuel immense racial and cultural tension. I'm
getting tired of hearing the same old "Diversity is good! Hooray for multiculturalism!" crap. The truth is diversity and multiculturalism are not good nor healthy for a community. I mean seriously go to any modern day American city and you will be able to clearly see this. The government should offer free and compulsory language and assimilation courses for our immigrants, which we should keep to a limit.

I don't see how multiculturalism isn't good living in Los Angeles every day...

Alberto's.

That is all.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Erosion of what culture? American culture? A culture that is an amalgamation of many different immigrant cultures?

And I have said it several times already. Immigrants should learn the language of the country they emigrate to. But forcing them to is not the way. If anything, what that, compulsory education in English, may do is force them into isolation out of anger.

All these immigrants from Mexico prevents me from making the U.S into a satellite Chinese state. Damn immigrants!

A pox on them?

[The Scientific States]

No one's saying they're inherently bad, but if people don't integrate it can lead to racial tension.

Just look at Yugoslavia. It was a nation of multiple ethnicities and they all hated each other. Eventually the nation dissolved into the cesspool you have now.

What? Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia were multicultural paradises!

Hell, Sudan and South Africa are/were pretty vibrant and diverse, too! All of those different cultures and ethnicites, working together for the common good!

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

[Pilotto]

First off, you admit that it is a handicap to not be able to speak English. So, when we are selectively choosing who gets to come here, why don't we try to accept people without this handicap. And you seem to thing that whether or not you speak English should be the only criteria. Why would it be? There are lots of other things to consider as well. You want to accept people who are likely to be highly functional members of society. That is very difficult, nearly impossible, if you do not know English.

Why should we selectively choose? As I asked you earlier, you act if citizenship should only be given to a select few, but you never answered that post.

Either that, or I never saw your response.

Are you advocating for open borders? That would cause lots of problems for the United States, namely all of the extra labor would severely depress wages and, as a result, significantly lower the standard of living. I think we can all agree (or at least most of us can agree) that would be a bad thing.

[Viritica]

No one's saying they're inherently bad, but if people don't integrate it can lead to racial tension.

Just look at Yugoslavia. It was a nation of multiple ethnicities and they all hated each other. Eventually the nation dissolved into the cesspool you have now.

What? Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia were multicultural paradises!

Hell, Sudan and South Africa are/were pretty vibrant and diverse, too! All of those different cultures and ethnicites, working together for the common good!

Your satire. I love it.

[Libertarian California]

You should hear what Rothbard had to say on immigration, if you want to have a battle of the Austrians.

Friedman, however, is not an Austrian.

Anarcho-Capitalists revere him nonetheless.

[The Scientific States]

Why should we selectively choose? As I asked you earlier, you act if citizenship should only be given to a select few, but you never answered that post.

Either that, or I never saw your response.

Are you advocating for open borders? That would cause lots of problems for the United States, namely all of the extra labor would severely depress wages and, as a result, significantly lower the standard of living. I think we can all agree (or at least most of us can agree) that would be a bad thing.

Not at all. I don't see how you got that idea from my post. I'm all for legal immigration, and I'm all for not deporting illegals, but instead giving them a pathway to citizenship, if they wish(maybe a temporary visa until they get documented), but you're correct about open borders. Open borders are bad, legal immigration is healthy for a nation.

[AiliailiA]

That's what I'm saying. It's beneficial for the person, but if done doesn't learn English, that's their choice, and it often has a negative impact on themselves, but it doesn't effect the economy, or the community, like some have suggested.

It seems to me that, since we only accept a very limited number of immigrants each year anyway, why would we want to accept those that are not willing to learn English? In order to be able to adequately function in American society, you need English. And, since there are always way more people applying for citizenship than we ever accept, we can afford to be picky. Why would we select someone that doesn't know English over someone who does?

They might have a lot of money. Or be extraordinary at something like mathematics, or a sport that doesn't require speaking English.

[Viritica]

What? Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia were multicultural paradises!

Hell, Sudan and South Africa are/were pretty vibrant and diverse, too! All of those different cultures and ethnicites, working together for the common good!

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

The problem arises when people identify themselves with their ethnic country rather than the country they actually live in.

[America Libertaria]

Not learning the language of the country you immigrated to is an immense failure in terms of assimilation. When a nation starts to become filled with people of foreign cultures not only does it erode the native culture, but it helps fuel immense racial and cultural tension. I'm
getting tired of hearing the same old "Diversity is good! Hooray for multiculturalism!" crap. The truth is diversity and multiculturalism are not good nor healthy for a community. I mean seriously go to any modern day American city and you will be able to clearly see this. The government should offer free and compulsory language and assimilation courses for our immigrants, which we should keep to a limit.

Free? Yes. Encouraged? Yes. Compulsory? No.

Immigration shouldn't be kept to a limit, not only does it benefit our economy, it benefits them. They move to America, often through dangerous methods, just for a better opportunity. If they want to be here that badly, let them in.

Helps our economy by putting them to work where no one wants to work and immigration helps keep wages low, which isn't exactly a good thing. Those kind of jobs should go to the already unemployed Americans who need them. I may have talked about this in another thread before but I believe that if you are unemployed the Federal government should offer you a minimum wage job doing x to help the community.

[Lemanrussland]

I don't see how multiculturalism isn't good living in Los Angeles every day...

Alberto's.

That is all.

I see your Alberto's and raise you Tina's.

[The Scientific States]

Friedman, however, is not an Austrian.

Anarcho-Capitalists revere him nonetheless.

Probably because he's a economic right winger. I'd consider him neo-liberal, which is why I agree with him on some things.

[Norstal]

What? Austria-Hungary and Yugoslavia were multicultural paradises!

Hell, Sudan and South Africa are/were pretty vibrant and diverse, too! All of those different cultures and ethnicites, working together for the common good!

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

Or the fact that those places are poor and lack economic resources. Who knew poverty breeds discontent? It's almost like you get angry if you get hungry constantly or something.

[The Scientific States]

Free? Yes. Encouraged? Yes. Compulsory? No.

Immigration shouldn't be kept to a limit, not only does it benefit our economy, it benefits them. They move to America, often through dangerous methods, just for a better opportunity. If they want to be here that badly, let them in.

Helps our economy by putting them to work where no one wants to work and immigration helps keep wages low, which isn't exactly a good thing. Those kind of jobs should go to the already unemployed Americans who need them. I may have talked about this in another thread before but I believe that if you are unemployed the Federal government should offer you a minimum wage job doing x to help the community.

That's not what happens. I'm not going to deny the fact that a lot of times immigrants end up working low paying jobs, but it's not like that has to be what happens.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

The problem arises when people identify themselves with their ethnic country rather than the country they actually live in.

I fail to see why that is a problem. I identify with my country of origin and I live in the US. Just because a few may cause problems doing this doesn't mean that the practice is bad or that it will be inherently problematic.

[Libertarian California]

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

The problem arises when people identify themselves with their ethnic country rather than the country they actually live in.

Maybe identifying with one's ethnic heritage is a natural expression and denying it or pretending like it doesn't exist is what leads to clusterfucks like Yugoslavia.

[The Scientific States]

To be fair, some of those places were more religious divides.

The only real reason multiculturalism failed there, was because of existing racism that was very strong in those nations. We don't have that problem in the US.

Or the fact that those places are poor and lack economic resources. Who knew poverty breeds discontent? It's almost like you get angry if you get hungry constantly or something.

That too.

When things aren't going well, people always pick a scapegoat.

[Sibirsky]

Yes for fucks sakes yes!! I mean god damn they come to our country and yet we have to learn THEIR language if you want to speak Spanish stay south of the fucking border don't come up here and have it required we speak Spanish learn English or stay in your Spanish speaking country.

It's not your country. You don't have to learn any new language.

You should be required to learn some fucking manners, and basic decency.

[America Libertaria]

Not learning the language of the country you immigrated to is an immense failure in terms of assimilation. When a nation starts to become filled with people of foreign cultures not only does it erode the native culture, but it helps fuel immense racial and cultural tension. I'm
getting tired of hearing the same old "Diversity is good! Hooray for multiculturalism!" crap. The truth is diversity and multiculturalism are not good nor healthy for a community. I mean seriously go to any modern day American city and you will be able to clearly see this. The government should offer free and compulsory language and assimilation courses for our immigrants, which we should keep to a limit.

Erosion of what culture? American culture? A culture that is an amalgamation of many different immigrant cultures?

And I have said it several times already. Immigrants should learn the language of the country they emigrate to. But forcing them to is not the way. If anything, what that, compulsory education in English, may do is force them into isolation out of anger.

Oh no not another "America doesn't have any real culture" argument. Whether you like it or not Americans (not recent immigrants) are quite multicultural. I have more in common with an American from the other side of the continental United States than I do with an immigrant who lives down the block. To say we don't have any distinct culture is moronic.

also, if an immigrant is somehow angry over getting free language and assimilation courses so that they can assimilate into the country they immigrated to then they shouldn't be here at all.