Why do you think people should have to speak English in order to become a U.S. A citizen?

McNamara

English is the common language of American citizens and has been throughout America's entire history. Don't be a spoiled brat. If I ever decide to move to your country, I'll learn the dominant local language first.

I'm That Mexican

To not have a common language for society is tantamount to chaos. No good can come from disjointed or difficult communication.

abdul

Common language is one of the things that unite people. English has been the language of the US since the US began. Immigrants who want to come and live in the US should be able to function in English.

Ominous Cowherd

Because you cannot have a functioning society if people are not able to communicate with each other effectively.

Jeffrey

If you don't speak English you can't fully participate in the American culture and be successful. Why should the US government accommodate people who refuse to learn English? Do you think you would be granted citizenship in any other country if you didn't speak their language?

BST

I'm sorry. What language are you speaking?

Lisa A

OK. We can all be required to speak Lakota, or Algonquin. You pick one. We'll make that the official language. Because to be a society, we have to be able to communicate. To communicate, we have to be able to speak the same language.

Dreaded Rear Admiral

I guess not, but then the government shouldn't be required to cater to them in their language, either.

Jimmy C

In case you have not noticed, most people communicate in English, and in order to drive a car, understand road signs, apply for a job, fill out government forms, see a doctor, get insurance, rent an apartment or ANYTHING, you have to be able to communicate in English, which is why people should have to be able to speak the language.

Anonymous

It's a bit late now.

Anonymous

Thanks for confirming what I already knew; you're an idiot.

blubberbutt

Dictionary result for nation noun a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

hillbilly

That may have been then, but this is now; We couldn't do a thing if we could not understand each other, so learn English, or SHUT THE FRICK UP.

Caroline Gann

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF IMMIGRATING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY IS SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON A DESIRE TO SECURE A BETTER LIFE FOR ONE's SELF AND FAMILY EQUAL TO THOSE CITIZENS BORN IN THAT COUNTRY! BY REQUESTING TO IMMIGRATE A PERSON IS STATING BASICALLY THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS TO BEING A CITIZENS OF THAT COUNTRY AND THEY ARE WILLING TO DENOUNCE THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND ALL THAT IT REPRESENTS IN ORDER TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE CHOSEN COUNTRY! THEREFORE, AS OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS OUTLINE, IN ORDER TO BECOME A CITIZEN THEY MUST BE WILLING TO INTEGRATE INTO THIS COUNTRY S SOCIETY RATHER THAN EXPECTING THAT THE COUNTRY ALTER ITS PRINCIPLES TO MATCH THE CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES OF THE IMMIGRANT! IF THEY PREFER A PLACE THAT CATERS TO A VAST NUMBER OF CULTURAL BELIEFS, PRACTICES, AND LANGUAGES THEY SHOULD IMMIGRATE TO A PLACE RUN BY THE UN INSTEAD OF THE US! TEDDY ROOSEVELT WAS POSSIBLY THE MOST INTELLIGENT PRESIDENT IN REGARDS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIFIC LAWS AND PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION! BELOW ARE SOME OF HIS BEST QUOTES REGARDING IMMIGRATION! THESE QUOTES PERFECTLY ANSWER THE QUESTION OF "WHY IMMIGRANTS SHOULD HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH BEFORE BEING ALLOWED CITIZENSHIP?!" "ANYONE THAT SAYS THEY ARE AN AMERICAN BUT SAYS THEY ARE SOMETHING ELSE ALSO IS NOT AN AMERICAN AT ALL! THERE CAN BE NO DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE HERE! FOR WE HAVE ROOM FOR BUT ONE FLAG THE AMERICAN FLAG! WE HAVE ROOM FOR BUT ONE LANGUAGE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE! WE HAVE ROOM FOR BUT ONE SOLE LOYALTY AND THAT IS A LOYALTY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!" "EVERY IMMIGRANT WHO COMES HERE SHOULD BE REQUIRED WITHIN 5 YEARS TO LEARN ENGLISH OR LEAVE THE COUNTRY!" "THERE IS NO ROOM IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HYPHENATED AMERICANISM... THE ONE ABSOLUTE CERTAIN WAY OF BRINGING THIS NATION TO RUIN, OF PREVENTING ALL POSSIBILITY OF ITS CONTINUING TO BE A NATION AT ALL, WOULD BE TO PERMIT IT TO BECOME A TANGLE OF SQUABBLING NATIONALITIES!"

RICK

To prove they can function in US society However the elderly do not have to speak English or even take the test to become citizens

EdWinter

I don't. Anyone in this single official language country who doesn't speak the language is on their own as far as I'm concerned. IOW, it's their problem, not mine, whether or not they're citizens.

Anonymous

There is no official language in the US. Yes signs are posted in English but you can read them without knowing English in general.

They Pelted Us With Rocks And Garbage

You mean like mutes?

-j.

If English is not the official language of the US (and it isn't), then you shouldn't "have to" speak it in order to become a citizen.