Please Press 1 For English!

[Neo-Logic]

Before: "Numero Uno Para Espanol" (Press #1 For Spanish)
Now: "Please press 1 for English"

Why do you and I have to press 1 for English, in America? Why do I pay extra as a consumer for bills and notices that have Spanish or other languages printed in the back?

Nothing wrong with multi-culture and multi-ethnic. I love that about America, and especially the Bay Area where I live. Nothing wrong with preserving languages and traditions.

But how are immigrants going to be encourged to assimilate the English language when it's so easy for them NOT to? Nearly everything has translated versions and printings with the costs passed onto the consumers. English speakers now have to press extra buttons and jump extra hoops for the convience of those who won't learn the English language. We're already supporting millions of illgal aliens with tax payer funds and social programs. America's become a sort of welfare department for our southerly neighbors.

Can we at least have English be the main language and that notion be promoted? Pretty please?

[Zephyr]

Because companies decide to have it that way. Would you prefer some sort of law forcing companies to use English as a default language?

[whereismynotecard]

Who cares if not everyone knows english?? Maybe we should all try to learn Spanish instead.

[Neo-Logic]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Because companies decide to have it that way. Would you prefer some sort of law forcing companies to use English as a default language?

Well we have laws requiring disclosures in multiple languages. So it can be done in reverse .... although a stretch.

Not really giving the immigrants a chance to be competitive if everything is in place for people to never really have to learn English.

I would be down with all the DMV writing tests being only in English. I would want my fellow drivers on the road to be able to understand caution signs and be able to communicate if they ever got into a car accident. Want to drive on the American roads? Learn basic English! After all, driving is a privilege, not a RIGHT. That's not the most unfair compromise.

[Zephyr]

If a driver can read the signs, that's the only English he or she will need to be a safe driver. "stop", "left turn", "one way". You could throw me in the middle of Russia and I could be a safe driver once I figure out what squiggly lines mean what. Speaking English should not be a prerequisite to driving if the driver can prove him or herself competent despite the disadvantage.

[Magic Man]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

If a driver can read the signs, that's the only English he or she will need to be a safe driver. "stop", "left turn", "one way". You could throw me in the middle of Russia and I could be a safe driver once I figure out what squiggly lines mean what. Speaking English should not be a prerequisite to driving if the driver can prove him or herself competent despite the disadvantage.

I disagree only because driving a car could easily lead to having to deal with police officers, and police can't be expected to be able to communicate effectively in languages other than English. (Some can speak other languages, but they can't be expected to is the point)

[Seyorni]

I say the UN should mandate all official communictions be conducted in Esperanto.

[TheKnight]

Originally Posted by Neo-Logic

Before: "Numero Uno Para Espanol" (Press #1 For Spanish)
Now: "Please press 1 for English"

Why do you and I have to press 1 for English, in America? Why do I pay extra as a consumer for bills and notices that have Spanish or other languages printed in the back?

Nothing wrong with multi-culture and multi-ethnic. I love that about America, and especially the Bay Area where I live. Nothing wrong with preserving languages and traditions.

But how are immigrants going to be encourged to assimilate the English language when it's so easy for them NOT to? Nearly everything has translated versions and printings with the costs passed onto the consumers. English speakers now have to press extra buttons and jump extra hoops for the convience of those who won't learn the English language. We're already supporting millions of illgal aliens with tax payer funds and social programs. America's become a sort of welfare department for our southerly neighbors.

Can we at least have English be the main language and that notion be promoted? Pretty please?

I always thought that the purpose of America was to allow people to come here and live as they choose to in peace. Not to be a "melting pot" neither to be a place where everyone assimilates.

That being the case, mandating that things be in English would violate a person's right to freely express themselves.

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by mball1297

I disagree only because driving a car could easily lead to having to deal with police officers, and police can't be expected to be able to communicate effectively in languages other than English. (Some can speak other languages, but they can't be expected to is the point)

Ah yeah, I can concede this point. Speaking the language can be pretty important. I still disagree with the idea that businesses should be forced to work with English as the primary language.

[whereismynotecard]

Originally Posted by TheKnight

I always thought that the purpose of America was to allow people to come here and live as they choose to in peace. Not to be a "melting pot" neither to be a place where everyone assimilates.

That being the case, mandating that things be in English would violate a person's right to freely express themselves.

What I liked about Toronto is that it is more like what America is supposed to be. There are so many different cultured people living there. You can hear lots of different languages just by riding the subway around the city. Whereas in the states, everyone is pressured to be the same as everyone else. I love Toronto.