America has traditionally been referred to as a “melting pot.” This symbolism makes reference to the fact that America is a nation composed of many diverse ethnic groups. In fact, it is likely that every group of individuals residing on the face of the earth has some representatives living in the United States.

Ironically, even though the U.S. is primarily a nation of individuals of immigrant origin, its citizens have a tradition of been concerned about the most recent immigrants “coming in and taking over.” Individuals seem especially concerned about the language that newcomers speak. Benjamin Franklin had the same fears in 1753. Robert King quotes Franklin as having said:

Those [Germans] who come hither are generally the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own nation … they will soon so out number us that all the advantages we have will not, in My Opinion, be able to preserve our language, and even out government will become precarious.

Considerably later, Theodore Roosevelt echoed Franklin’s views:

We have room but for one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nat

Interestingly enough, many immigrants and minorities tend to favor such legislation also (O’Beirne 21). In 1993, San Francisco conducted a survey regarding this issue. The results indicated “that ninety percent of Filipino, seventy-eight percent of Chinese, and almost seventy percent of Hispanic immigrants supported official English” (21).

Bilingual education not only promotes the learning of English, but it does so without sacrificing the original language. However, some individuals report that after learning English in schools, they have difficulty speaking Spanish, and hence difficulty speaking to their parents (Headden and Bowermaster 39). Nonetheless, immigrants are anxious to learn English.

doctors in state hospitals must speak to patients in Slovak, even if another language would aid diagnosis and treatment. Some 600,000 Slovaks – more than ten percent of the population – are ethnically Hungarian. Even staff meetings in Hungarian–language schools must be in Slovak. (The government dropped a stipulation that church weddings be conducted in Slovak after heavy opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.) Language inspectors are told to weed out “all sins perpetuated on the regular Slovak language.” Tensions between Slovaks and Hungarians who had been getting along, have begun to arise.

ionality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house (King).

There are many Republicans, particularly in the west who do not favor such a bill (King). Governor George W. Bush from Texas has adamantly stated he is opposed to such legislation (King). Of course, it would be political suicide to recommend this in a state that is heavily populated by Hispanic-speaking individuals -- individuals who form a growing number of Republicans (King).

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