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Strawman? The comment that spurred the thread, and the majority of the posts, revolve around "speak English or leave"...simply saying "strawman" doesn't cut the mustard, you need to substantiate.

Yes Luis, the word is strawman. It is what you constructed in an attempt to lace up my jack boots because we disagree on this particular issue.

When you ask " Are you willing to monitor people to assure ourselves that they are speaking the Federally mandated language?" when I have mentioned no such thing, the intent is clear to me Luis.

You and every other American is guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and I will help you defend that right. Non citizens are not guaranteed a right to be American citizens without meeting certain requirements as set forth by the American people through their elected representatives.

My position is and will continue to be that, barring exceptional circumstance, applicants for citizenship must be able to speak rudimentary English, the language of this nation. After they are citizens they can speak in tongues if the mood hits them.

I would oppose English as a second language education and I would oppose any state referendum that bi,tri or quadlingualises the language spoken on official business in my state.

I am pro legal immigration and I judge people by the content of their character and their view of the world. Thats it.

Regards

The proficiency level of an applicant for US citizenship has been in place for years, no one (including me) is questioning that point...I had to pass that test along with my parents.

My argument is with the idea of passing any kind of a law mandating, or rather imposing, a common language on the citizens of this nation. You see, if such a law is passed, it impacts everyone.

As a free man, and a US citizen, if I wish to build a town, populated by like-minded people, where the language spoken is Bantu, that's my right as an American citizen, and neither you, nor your elected representatives, can tell me that I can't.

As an immigrant, once I have met the requirements to obtain my US citizenship, if I decide to build a town, and populate it with like-minded people who wish to communicate only in Spanish, that's our right, and neither you, nor anyone's elected representatives, can stop that from happening.

Now, for the strawman...if those duly elected public servants do pass an amendment to the constitution (as it's been suggested here over, and over) making English the official language, by default, it would make the use of a language other than English unlawful to use.

How would you enforce that amendment?

That's my point...sorry that you can't understand something that simple.