Why is Barack Obama opposed to making English the official language of America?
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Immigration.htm
Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government.
Proponents recommend voting YES because:
Right now, the polling shows that 91% of the people in America want English as an official language, and 76% of Hispanics believe English should be an official language.
Why iz Barack Obama opposed ta making English da official language o’ America?
Why does it really matter? It’s the de-facto official language anyway, a bill isn’t going to change that one way or another. This seems like such a non-issue to bring up.
Live in America, speak English…
plain and simple…
Live in Saudi Arabia…
speak Arabic!
Obama Presidency= Press 1 for Arabic Press 2 for Spanish press 3 for Farsi If you speak English hang up and learn either 1,2 or 3.
Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government.
Voting YES would declare English as the national language of the Government of the US. Unless specifically provided by statute, no person would have an entitlement to have the Government of the US communicate or provide materials in any language other than English. If an exception is made with respect to the use of a language other than English, the exception does not create a legal entitlement to additional services in that language. If any form is issued by the Federal Government in a language other than English, the English language version of the form is the sole authority for all legal purposes. Nothing in this amendment shall prohibit the use of a language other than English.
Proponents recommend voting YES because:
Right now, the polling shows that 91% of the people in America want English as an official language, and 76% of Hispanics believe English should be an official language.
Opponents recommend voting NO because:
I believe the American people understand in order to succeed in our society, immigrants need to learn English. But the amendment would do a number of things that are problematical. The first is that it is contrary to the provisions of law that exist in many States. For example, in New Mexico, you have in their State Constitution, a provision that says that many of the documents within that State have to be provided in both English and Spanish. The same thing is true for the State of Hawaii. I believe this is a States rights issue, and those constitutions of those States ought to be respected. I do not believe it is a matter we ought to be imposing here from Washington DC.
Also, this amendment would undo an executive order conceived by President Bill Clinton and implemented by President George Bush. Both recognized it is important that people who have limited English proficiency receive the kinds of services so they can understand what is going on in terms of the interface between the Government and themselves.
Reference: National Language Amendment Act; Bill S.Amdt.1151 to S.1348 ; vote number 2007-198 on Jun 6, 2007
America is a diverse, multicultural, tolerant country. It isn’t necessary to punish people for not being able to speak English, not speaking English is its own punishment. Many immigrants have trouble with English, but their kids speak it perfectly.
Also the Southwest states and California used to be part of Mexico. When we took them over, we signed a treat promising that Mexicans–and their descendants–could continue to speak their own language.
Making English the ‘official language’ won’t really solve anything. It won’t make people speak English who aren’t able to already. It will just make small-minded, mean spirited xenophobe nativists like you feel a little better. Why should Obama do that when you weren’t going to vote for him anyway?
YES IT SHOULD BE