[Illbay]

They didn't teach my German immigrant ancestors in German -- only in English.

They haven't been here long, then. Entire communities in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas were established where German was the language used every day, including in the schools.

In fact, it was so typical that in the 1740s Ben Franklin complained about the Germans who came here but wouldn't assimilate, predicting that it would lead to the destruction of society, yaddayadda.

[MissouriForBush]

Thanks for the historical reminder, but I already knew that.

So what difference does that make? The point is, we can go two routes -- maintain English as our country's language or go the Balkanized route. I prefer English-only, myself. If I want to speak Spanish I will go to Mexico, where they bend over backwards to make sure that I am NOT entitled to the same privileges that they receive in the USA.

[FITZ]

In fact, it was so typical that in the 1740s Ben Franklin complained about the Germans who came here but wouldn't assimilate, predicting that it would lead to the destruction of society, yaddayadda.

Ben Franklin was a smart man. Back then people saw the dangers in having different groups of people unable to communicate. Where I live one-third of the population is unable to speak English. There is probably a similar, probably smaller number unable to speak Spanish. We need a common language just as Ben Franklin thought.