Nearly half of 50 states have passed a law making English their official language. Other states have also considered passing English-only bills that brings a huge polemic in Congress and public. The history of English-only laws starts as early as 1906 when Congress had voted a law that required immigrants to speak English if they want to become the citizens of the United States of America. Since than many laws have been introduced to Congress in favor or against English-only bills that affect all immigrants and their future generations. The nation is divided on this issue. Public support has exceeded 65 percent in some opinion pools.1 English-only is no longer a fringe movement.

There are many different opinions about whether English should be the official language of the United States of America. U.S. ENGLISH and ENGLISH FIRST, two national groups spearheading this legislation, started small in the mid-1980s. Drawing support mainly from direct-mail contributions, they have grown steadily in budgets, staffs, and influence. H.R. 123 the leading "Language of Government" bill in the 104th Congress, boasted nearly 200 cosponsors.

U.S. ENGLISH, Inc. is the nation's olde

English First is based in Springfield, Virginia--just outside the Washington, D.C. Beltway. This location allows English First easy access to Congress to advance their lobbying goals. English First's aggressive lobbying staff is relied on by Members of Congress for information and assistance. The were the only pro-English group to testify against bilingual ballots in 1992 and the only pro-English group to lead the fight against bilingual education in 1994. Over 150,000 concerned Americans have joined English First. They believe this nation of immigrants must be able to talk to each other. They believe that the English language unites America. They are tired of seeing the government use their tax money to divide Americans on the basis of language or ancestry.

One thing we can say with certainty: Language diversity has always been with us. As early as 1664, when the island of Manhattan was ceded from the Dutch to the British, 18 different tongues were spoken there, not counting any of the hundreds of Native American languages spoken in North America at the time. In the 1790 census, German Americans accounted for 8.6 percent of the population - a proportion comparable to that of Hispanic Americans, 9.0 percent, exactly two centuries later. Certainly, there are more languages spoken in the U.S.A. today than in 1790. (The 1990 census reported 323 - surely an undercount.) But this is a quantitative, not a qualitative, change.

separatism in people. If the United States wants to keep its democratic values and status, it should never allow establishment of such a law.

to the economic and cultural benefit of our state and the nation, whether that proficiency derives from second language study by English speakers or from home language maintenance plus English acquisition by speakers of other languages. We should promote the spirit of diversity-with-harmony represented by the various cultures that make up the fabric of the American society.

Some topics in this essay:
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