For service, speak English!

We are overdue for a constitutional amendment that will declare our national language to be English. I have written before on the notion of ESL as discrimination, and it seems that this is a topic that should be pounded on regularly.

My position is simple. English is the language of commerce in America, English is the language of power in America, English is the language of success in America.

To coddle immigrants with courses offered in their native languages is not only expensive, but does them a disservice, as it delays their coming to grips with their new language. We should make it a national priority to teach all immigrants to be capable, not merely functional, in English. This should be accomplished as rapidly as possible after their immigration. To do otherwise is a racist act that holds them back from success in their newly adopted country.

In many countries, English is being taught to young students anyway, so this would amount to reinforcing their earlier studies. For those from countries where English is not taught, such immersion would remove from their path barriers that would otherwise make it impossible to rise above the status of a manual laborer.

To those who say that it would be unfair to force English instruction on immigrants, I say nonsense. Wake up and smell the coffee. Do we truly welcome immigrants? Or do we want them here only to care for our gardens, clean our houses, and serve us horrible fast food? If we honestly respect the people who come here, then we should be doing all that we can to help them find success here. We would do no less for our families and friends.