Should the United States designate English as the official language and make it a requirement for citizenship?

I believe that English should be the national language, however, I worry that this will only further contribute to our ethnocentrism. More important than establishing a national language, I believe learning a secondary language should be mandatory in schools. All of the "this is 'merica, we speak English" rhetoric is merely limiting our children. There are many benefits to knowing more than one language. I wish I had been made to learn Spanish in school as this would greatly increase the ease with which I could travel and navigate in many other countries.

I don't think this should be an issue. My grandmother does not speck English very well but her native tongue is Portuguese. Does that make her any less than any of us. No, that is not American. It doesn't matter what you speak. There are towns speak Portuguese only in the New England area. I have ever heard anyone complain about that. This is also the case with Creoles.

Even better yet we have territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin islands that primarily do not speak English, although some may have a modified version of it.

It just seems to be this always becomes an issue with Hispanic speaking Americans. I don't have an issue if they don't want to learn English. It is their choice to doom themselves to a life of hardship and low wages. Honestly we know why this is an issue. I don't think it takes an act of congress to correct this.

It is funny how so many think you can just legislate a solution to a problem. If this were gun control they would not be saying that one bit. After all how did that Prohibition workout?

I voted yes and I believe that if you want to be in this country that you need to learn to speak, read and write English and all documents, government forms, contracts, applications, ect be only in English.

Here is a fact. English is the professional language of the world. ALL International pilots speak English. Because it is universal it makes life easier to do business. You can say that it is an economic necessity. Kind of like the Euro to the Deutsch Mark.

SFC William Swartz Jr Excellent!!! And you are correct. Pandora's Box has been opened

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely, a immigrant should at the very least know how to speak English before being granted residency. Residents testing for Naturalization should be fluent in reading, writing and their ability to articulate the English language. We spend too much tax payer dollars to cater to people that want the rights and benifits assocoated with being here in the United States that do not want to assimilate to our way of life. With the threats we face today I believe that it should be illegal to speak any other language in the United States other then English.

Speaking any other language should be outlawed and subject to criminal prosecution. If you do not like what I have to say my wife of 11 year's is from Mexico. She does not speak Spanish anywhere othe then in the house. She took my name and as proud as she is of where she came from our children who also no how to speak Spanish only do so at home. My wife will be the first one to tell you that she is now American and loves our country!

We went through the immigration process which took 6 years!

I believe no one should forget where they came from or not be proud of their heritage. But, I feel here in the United States we all should speak English and live as Americans do proud of our red, white and blue...one more thing...I speak Spanish fluently and will tell anyone that in Mexico a place that I have spent a lot of time in that once you get past the boarder area there are no signs in English on the Coata or Libre...no one speaks English and the government in other country's don't cater to people who are not from there...Speak English!

Information on the English Language Amendment to the US Constitution at the link.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/english-language-amendment . This sounds like a good idea. Our multi-national culture should be held together by a common language.

I'm thinking Klingon or Romulan might be more fun :)

Absolutely all official documents should be only in English to include drivers license applications and test and the wearing of islamic women wear ie... burkas and shira law outlawed in The United States.