I agree that if you voluntarily come to a country you should make the effort to learn its language! Not doing so just makes you seem lazy and ignorant.

And although this article was mostly talking about the increasing number of Hispanics coming to America who have not learned the language, people also need to realzie that us Americans are just as much at fault. Countries all around the world have signs posted both in the native language and in English because of the fact that many Americans did not make the effort to even learn simple phrases in that language.

Kiersten H.,

Have you thought of the fact that some people do not want to come to this country? That people have been forced to come here because of one reason or another? Other countries speak multiple languages. The U.S. should welcome and support other languages.

I think, in all honsty, that to this debate there really isn't a good answer. I know, that was so very helpful of me to say, but I sorta think both sides have a point. I mean, the main language of the U.S. is english, and in 2007 (I got this from the U.S. Census Bureau) 20% of people spoke a language at home other than english.

       This does create a chasm between people, and every one speaking the same language would be just dandy. It would allow for current non-english speaking people to have assess to opportunities not available them right now. It would most likely allow children to fit more at school and other places, if they can all speak the same language, and allow them to learn better, with a better grasp of the langauge.

      But on the flip side, how much would it cost to first start a program big enought to get every non-english speaking person into it, and any whom don't wish to learn would either have to forced, which I find morbid propect, bribed, slightly better, or punished into it. None of which is all that pleasent sounding. Then, of course, there is also that we would loose a large amout of culture. Many phrases, sayings, and even words in America are derived from langauges other than English.

      So, I guess what I'm getting at here, sorry 'bout the rant, is I think there really isn't a good choice. Between and rock and a hard place, is right about where this debate stands. Sorry again about my long winded rant, more or less like a dog chasing it's own tail.