Sadly, not for the native-born citizens though. You'd be saddened if you heard what passes for English with some people around here!
Posted on 06/22/2005 10:49:55 AM PDT by RWR8189
While much of the immigration debate focuses on who should be allowed to enter the United States, a bigger issue may be the question of how newcomers participate in American society.
Two-thirds (67%) of Americans say that those who move to the USA should "adopt America's culture, language, and heritage. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 17% believe immigrants should maintain the culture of their home country. Seventy-nine percent (79%) say immigrants should be required to learn English before they are allowed to become citizens. Fourteen percent (14%) disagree.
Sixty-four percent (64%) believe U.S. schools should teach all students in English. Twenty-nine percent (29%) believe some schools should offer courses in different languages.
Similar attitudes were found in a February survey showing overwhelming opposition to letting illegal aliens obtain drivers licenses or receive government benefits such as Medicaid.
Eighty-four percent (84%) of Republicans say that learning English should be required before citizenship is offered. That view is also held by 78% of Democrats and 73% of those not affiliated with either major party.
Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans believe that immigrants should adopt U.S. culture. Sixty-three percent (63%) of Democrats share that view along with 58% of unaffiliateds.
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
Our publications provide real-time information on consumer confidence, investor confidence, employment data, the political situation, and other topics of value and interest.
During Election 2004, RasmussenReports.com was the top-ranked public opinion research site on the web. We had twice as many visitors as our nearest competitor and nearly as many as all competitors combined.
Proficiency in English is already a requirement for citizenship.
ping
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Two-thirds (67%) of Americans say that those who move to the USA should "adopt America's culture, language, and heritage. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 17% believe immigrants should maintain the culture of their home country.Seventy-nine percent (79%) say immigrants should be required to learn English before they are allowed to become citizens. Fourteen percent (14%) disagree.
Sixty-four percent (64%) believe U.S. schools should teach all students in English. Twenty-nine percent (29%) believe some schools should offer courses in different languages.
"Eighty-four percent (84%) of Republicans say that learning English should be required before citizenship is offered. That view is also held by 78% of Democrats and 73% of those not affiliated with either major party."
So here's today's daily example of how Democrats hate America.
Which makes me wonder why we need election ballots in foreign languages.
Sadly, not for the native-born citizens though. You'd be saddened if you heard what passes for English with some people around here!
"Proficiency in English is already a requirement for citizenship."
Really? I attended a Kindergarten graduation yesterday and one entire class was made up of children who can't speak English. If these children can't speak English....I assume the parents aren't speaking English either.
Well, at least it's nice to know that 79% of Americans think it ought to stay that way.
Hope that number isn't in the 50s or less ten years from now.
I've been asking the same question for quite some time.
Sad, but quite true.
Now is a good time to propose this in Congress.
Any military base closed should be converted into a Immigration Center like Ellis Island was. Immigrants will go to the centers, and spend a year learning English and American culture. People arriving will be assigned jobs based on skills and will use those skills on the base to earn money.
This money will be spent on housing, food and other necessities. Immigrants can leave the base to go into towns to shop, enjoy entertainment or whatever. This will keep the local economy going.
At the end of the year, Immigrants will spend a year protecting our borders as border police. When that year concludes, they become citizens and good luck to them.
I know, it would be easier to just close the base and have the government pay the townsfolk.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/
"Welcome to the naturalization home page. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The general requirements for administrative naturalization include:
a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;
residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;
an ability to read, write, and speak English;
a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;
good moral character;
attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,
favorable disposition toward the United States."
It may be a requirement on paper but it is most assuredly not enforced.
You would think that illegal immigrants, also, would want to be proficient in English so they can fill out forms for government assistance.....Oops, I forgot, they don't need it.... English is not spoken in public facilities in the border states and Florida.
When I lived in NYC in the 80's I worked with a young Italian-American girl who commuted in from Brooklyn. She was constantly on the phone with her mother speaking only Italian. I finally asked her about it.
Turns out her family came from Italy to New York decades before but she was the first in her family to "leave" the neighborhood. No one in her immediate family spoke English. They didn't have a need to learn. They had all they needed within the neighborhood.
It was a big day when one of this girls friends was going to meet her in the City. She had to give instructions on taking the subway and she went to meet the train.
"Any military base closed should be converted into a Immigration Center like Ellis Island was. Immigrants will go to the centers, and spend a year learning English and American culture. People arriving will be assigned jobs based on skills and will use those skills on the base to earn money."
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Comments on what converted military bases might be used for in future "events?"
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