Hello, Wonderful Socratic Seminarians!
I want to continue to hear your thoughts on immigration and the English Only policy. Please reply to this post with your reflection on today, your new ideas, or the thoughts you never got to share. Thank you (to most of you) for being excellent participants in our first (but not last) Socratic Seminar Fishbowl. I appreciate you sharing your opinions!
Looking forward to learning more,
Mrs. Davis
What about Canadians? They try to come here too.
ReplyDeletei think any immigrant should now enough of our language to get by. I mean if we have to learn Spanish and other languages in high school now, why don't they have to learn ours?
ReplyDeleteI think that they should need to know our language, but they survive without knowing it, so i don't. think it is necessary to make them learn it. And in response t the canadians, most of them speak english, so it isn't as much of a problem. Finally, is Seminarians a word?
ReplyDeleteYou just said you think they should, then you don't... I'M CONFUZZLED.
ReplyDeletewhat about Cubans then?
ReplyDeleteI think that any immigrant should have to know English because it's hard to get anywhere in the US without knowing any English, that's like going to Japan and not knowing any Japanese, you just end up getting lost and not accomplishing much.
ReplyDeletecubans don't usually speak english (the official language is spanish), thus it makes more of a problem for those who are trying to employ them or things like that. Im not saying that they need to learn english, im just saying that it would help them if they did, so it should be their own decision.
ReplyDeleteunless you come in a godzilla costume. then you accomplish scaring them.
ReplyDeletewhat exactly does that have to do with anything else?
ReplyDeletedont you think canadians are a bit odd though, (eh)?
ReplyDeletesneaky lucario said you won't accomplish anything. knowing what i just said, you will accomplish something.
ReplyDeletecanadians are definitely odd, no offense to anyone who may or may not be canadian. Odd or not they usually already know english, so they dont have as many problems when they immigrate here.
ReplyDeleteyou are making valid points... so what happens when an Arabian comes here. A lot of people would accuse them of being terrorists, how do you think that can deal with that?
ReplyDeletemany mexicans are accused of being theives or gansters or things like that and they seem to get along in the end.
ReplyDeletewell, some mexicans would actually take that as a compliment, where almost NO arabians would take being called a terrorist a compliment. and besides, the only mexicans i've seen accused of that are those that act shady, or carry weapons around.
ReplyDeletei think that if you come to the us then u learn english. that is just how it is. i mean we have going with that for so long and it works y do we care now? (i have alot of family in canada. they put ketchup flavoring on there pop corn and it is rlly good.)
ReplyDeletethat is true, but you see a lot less people from the middle east around here than you do mexicans, so people probably dont take as much time out of their day to randomly accuse an arabian of being a terrorist.
ReplyDeletehaley just pointed out a good example of cultural differences. Canadians apparently put ketchup flavoring on popcorn, Asians put soy sauce on their rice, and Germans make really good chocolate cake :D)
ReplyDeleteBut when they do see one, they act nervous and scared because they think they're terrorists! I have to see more than 10 examples of someone not doing that around an Arabian.
ReplyDeleteand americans do some of all of that (except maybe the ketchup) so it goes to sho that there are enough americans who have something to do with the cultures that immigrate here that the immigrants dont need to learn english because the others in their culture can help them out
ReplyDeleteBen - who said I couldn't make up my own words? It makes sense, doesn't it? ;-)
ReplyDeleteOk, so our stereotypes affect how we feel about certain immigrants over others?
arabians arent really all that much terrorists here though. they stand out, which is part of the rason people are afraid of them. that and the one large terrorist attack they have ever done.
ReplyDeleteyes the stereotypes do make a difference.
ReplyDeleteit's basically a mixing of cultures which is what this country is, but all those people managed to figure out English, so why can't immigrants do the same?
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are HUGE in this country. Like my Arabian example.
ReplyDeleteimmigrants can figure it out and many of them do. it is really just a select few who never learn english. there are also those bilingual one who use english at home and when they are with other spanish speakers but use english when they need to.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with bilingualism, (is that a word?) My mom can speak English and Tagalog, and besides, it's more funner that way!
ReplyDeleteapparently seminarian is a word, just not how you used it Mrs. Davis.
ReplyDeleteDefinition of SEMINARIAN
: a student in a seminary especially of the Roman Catholic Church
i think bilingualism is a word, and it is better than just one language. Where is tagalog from?
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with being bilingual, but I think if you are going to live in our country, then you should speak English everywhere except at your house with your family.
ReplyDeleteTagalog is the native language of the Phillipines. I'd say about 25% is Spanish (Como es tas? Uno, dos, tres...) the rest is our own language!
ReplyDeleteIm just throwing this out there, but what if you were mentally impaired and had enough trouble learning one language, so you didn't really want to add a second language.
ReplyDeleteIf you were mentally impaired, then they would simply put you in Special Ed classes, where the pace is slower, and you have time to learn.
ReplyDeletelol, I feel like me and Ben are the only ones having a long conversation...
ReplyDeletethat may be true, but as an adult?
ReplyDeletewe are just having a long conversation!!!! only six different people have commented
ReplyDeleteas an adult, I think they would just hire you for simpler jobs, nothing that would require you to think outside-the-box.
ReplyDeletethat makes sense, but it still doesnt address the fact that most simple jobs=english
ReplyDeletewell as an adult with mental disabilities they probably shouldnt be moving to a new country in the first place
ReplyDeletewell, why would you come to this country if you are mentally impaired? it puts you in a major disadvantage from the start.
ReplyDeleteBoth of those last comments make sense. but mental disabilities here vs. mexico, cuba, middle east, i would choose here. we have a lot better care.
ReplyDeletechances are, if you live there with mental disabilities, you're already dead...
ReplyDeletetrue
ReplyDeleteBut u couldn't understand what they said if they were speakig spanish and u only understood english!
ReplyDeleteI think we should have someone here that could help them in someway, or there would probably be some exception for them.
ReplyDeleteIf they were an adult with mental disabilities, they would most likely not be moving to another country, unless they were coming for medical help, in which case they would most likely not have to pass any English tests.
ReplyDeleteimmigration--if they come here illegally i see that as invasion,and should be met with nonlethal force at first,but if it keeps happening it should be met with LETHAL force,because its no less than invasion
ReplyDeletelanguage--this is where im not as serious but im still serious,because i like speaking other languages and i easily learn them,but the people are coming to OUR country,disrespecting US,and trying to make US change to fit THEIR needs when THEY NEED TO RESPECT OUR COUNTRY AND SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.
p.s.--i am very politically minded,i mean absolutely no offence to anyone,it's just how i am
I agree. It is an invasion when they come into our country illegally. And they do need to learn English to come into our country. They shouldn't change us, when they're coming into our country.
ReplyDeletethat's why we should follow my Great Wall of U.S. idea.
ReplyDeleteWhere are we going to get the supplies and labor needed for this wall Shane?
ReplyDeletewe could do a if you want to go accross, you have to help build policy.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that just make it easier for them to sneak across? I mean if they are working on the border wall, they could just run right into America.
ReplyDeletethat is kind of what i mean. make them work for a couple of days, then let them run off. if you have paid workers as well, that kind of policy would build the wall in a few years, rather than the few decades it might take otherwise.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think they would want to build the wall if they know it would mean no one would be able to cross after they build it. And where would we get the money needed for the supplies, and to pay the people?
ReplyDeleteOkay, before I was so rudely interupted in class by the bell, I was going to say that in school they have a program called ESL, or English as a second language. This has been very helpful with immigrant students. Even though the parents aren't getting this education directly, their kids, I think can ask for extra handouts for their parents to use.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good way to help people learn English, but they still need to learn English when they come into this country since we are an English nation.
ReplyDeleteWell here's all I really wanna say.
ReplyDeleteJust because you are an immmigrant does not mean you always get the low ranking jobs. It's your choice to be determined to work and study hard to get good jobs. I beleive learning english is beneficial to immigrants, because it will help them with jobs.
In my opinion, if we made a law stating English was the only language we could use, they might take out our foreign language classes. Then, people that WANT to learn another language (if they are visiting it or maybe moving there because of the military) wont have the opportunity. And also, how exactly are we supposed to communicate with other countries? I understand it may be mandatory for them to learn English, but what if that changes? How are we gonna buy/sell anything if we don't speak the same language. It isn't a law now. We still have communication. But, what about the future when we take the places of our leaders now? The past has showed that we depend on other countries. How is this supposed to work?
ReplyDeleteI feel that the "English Only" policy should not be put into effect. The United States has too many different cultures inside its bordes for it to have an official language. The "English Only" policy does not target one specific language, but numerous languages. So this means that the policy would actually tear the nation apart into, not only two,but many parts.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that if the government chooses that every legel immigrant should learn English because it would benifit the communication between them and others around them, then the government should provide the classes and resources to teach those legal immigrants.
I believe that those who immigrate to the United States should learn how to speak English. Why? Well I believe that those who immigrate to the U.S. would have a better living if they learn the English language because they would not have a hard time finding a place to live, go to the bathroom, find work, and many more things. If you don't know how to speak English, you do not have as many opportunities as those who are able to speak English in the U.S. If you are an immigrant, learning English would not be a bad idea. You will probably be more successful in the future. Also I do not think that being bilangual is a bad thing. It is good to know other languages, but those who come to the U.S. and don't want to speak English should be required to learn the language. I do believe that they should be given a good amount of time before they have to learn the language. They don't even have to learn the language fully. They should at least know enough to have a conversation with a fellow American citizens. Many immigrants who come to America learn English, and I believe that they should do this because it will only help them more.
ReplyDeleteI think that illegal immigration should not be allowed in the U.S. and that we should try to do something about this. I disagree with the Arizona law thing that says that they are allowed to check your papers based on what you look like. I do believe that we should try to build some type of barricade around the U.S. where there are boardering countries. This would at least help more than what there is now. Maybe an electric fence that says DO NOT TRESPASS or you will get SHOCKED. It can be anything that prevents illegal immigration.
These were my thoughts on immigration and the English language being the primary language of the U.S.
I posted mine in the WRONG place. Then I fixed it:)
ReplyDeleteA good way for people to learn the language is to give them time frames like Sabrina said. But anyway, I'm kind of 50 50. I see the major points of both sides. For english only, I understand it. What I got from that was since other countries are their own country, they have their national language. So it would be pretty unfair that we don't get our own national language because of other peole that don't know how to speak it. I don't know how to speak Arabic, but that's not stopping them from having their own language. There's also the choice of Bilingual. I would like it if we were bilingual because it's something different and the people who don't want are either just scared or prejudice. But America should be oopen to other languages. Let's say you commited a huge felony and you were to be kicked out of the United States. No, you remember that you learned some Spanish, French, German, and a little Arabic. You have all these different choices and countries where you could start all over again.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm on the fence with this. I can't really choose sides.
I agree with your comment Taylor. I think that the citizens of America should be the ones to learn foreign languages. As a nation, we do not want to closed ourselves within our borders from the rest of the world. By doing this, we would lack what mostly all students in other progressing countries have, the ability to communicate with foreigners. This is a very ipmortant skill that should not be dismissed.
ReplyDeleteI still think they should know at least a little English.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they would progress by understanding and speaking English. I just do not believe that it should be forced upon them. I am talking about legal immigrants. The illegal immigrants should not even be considered in this matter, for that is another problem altogether.
ReplyDeleteI Have Nawt Read AnyThing Any Of Ya'll Wrote. But Im Just Gonna Put Out There That We May As Well Stay How We Are As A Nation Divided InTo Many Different Languages. Those Who Come Legal Or Nawt Make Thier Way Fine ThroughOut Our Country Speaking Thier Language There Are Reasons Why When You Call SomeWhere Like Lowes :P That You Can Press 1 For English And 2 For Spanish We've Pretty Mutch Made Our Country Divided And Theres No Point In Changing Itt Now.?
ReplyDeleteWell, immigrants coming to the U.S. has its pros and cons as well as the English only rule. Like, immigrants coming here legally and illegaly is still just overcrowding, or overpopulating, the U.S., but when they learn the English language and get some type of degree, they could get better jobs than Americans that only know one language. They also take up all the jobs that people won't do. As for the English only rule, it restricts cultural diversity, and leads to arguments about the main language in the U.S., but on the bright side, it would prevent overcrowding and Americans would have more land space, more jobs, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm just gonna add on to this by saying that immigrants do things other people don't wish to do, and I'm fine with that to be honest as long as they do what they are supposed to do and obey the laws. Because we all deserve the right to life liberty and happiness citizen or not its our devine right as human beings. that is all.
ReplyDeleteI still hold my position on the language discussion. I don't think imiigrants should be forced to learn english, but it would be extremely beneficial to them and us regarding day-to-day life.Regarding the spanish language in America though, it's becoming such a dominant part of our life english-speakers would be benefited in some ways by knowing a bit of spanish, but not completely agreeing with Ellie and saying we need to learn spanish instead of them learning our language.
ReplyDeleteYeah. People are still people no matter what race they are. Everyone deserves equal rights. That's why Americans and others are here in the states in the first place. Religious tolerance, freedom, and a chance to succeed.
ReplyDeleteEhMaGawd Andre, (I Think.Assshhhrreee?)That Is So How I Feel ;) Yuu Cut Us Open We All The Same, We Deserve The Same Rights And Privelages If We Each Live As We Shuld ;)
ReplyDeleteBut I do believe they should learn English not entirely but just enough to hold simple conversation and simple understanding.
ReplyDeleteWow, you guys should be on CNN. Join the debate team or something. lol, jk. Anyways, I'm with those who think that immigrants SHOULD learn English. I don't think that it should be forced upon, but learning the nation's dominant language could only benefit you. PLUS, if they do learn English, then that could make them bilingual which is just another example of a benefit they could have. It's great to have cultural diffusion and all that stuff, but on the other hand, that's not always going to get you a job. It's important to know English. Then again, I do see & understand both sides of the argument. So, I guess as long as everyone's legal and happy, then it's 'sall good, right?
ReplyDeleteIm Happy With The Way It Is. Lol So I Showed My Mom This &d It Seems We Hav Very Different Opnions ;) So Now We Are Debating (Actually Arguein.<The Whole Civilized Debating Thing Doesn't Work For Me.)
ReplyDeleteOkay, for the many people who are saying that the immigrants must learn English in the United States, & the reasons why people from other countries come here, I agree. But we shouldn't exactly put some crazy law or just shock em & put them up to the same level like us when it comes to laws. If I came here from some other country & I didnt know what was right and wrong over here, why should I already get in trouble??
ReplyDeleteThe way to make it fair is to put them in a timeframe. If the time they're living here is exceeded & they dont gain anything from being here (Language, Laws, jobs, getting by), THEN it's enough to put the judgement up onto our level.
& yeh if ur bilingual thats even better (@ KatarainaKartubi)
ReplyDeleteokk. everyone in Davis's first period will understand (hopefully) what i mean. **NOTE** No offense this is my opinion and i am sorry if i offend any of you. It would be easier for us Americans to learn Spanish since Latinos reproduce so quickly. English has too many rules and exceptions Spanish would just be easier for us to learn.
ReplyDeleteahhh, there's your explanation. i was waiting. lol
ReplyDeleteyeahh Shane, we ran outta time. ohh and plus countries with higher education tend to reproduce less often than countries not with higher education who reproduce often.
ReplyDelete@elaine c
ReplyDeleteI sort of understand what you are saying....and no offense taken because i am white. haha. but i don't necessarily think WE should have to learn their language when we don't do anything wrong (we do... but you know what i mean). English is harder to learn. but i think if they truly want a better life, they would be willing to do anything to get that better life (i.e. learning our language).
i agree with taylor i dont think it would be right to make people who already know english to have to learn another language just because the immigrants are to lazy to learn english
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tayler on that, I see what you're saying, but do you really think the entire country would be willing to change from English to Spanish? English is harder, but it is already in place here in America, and it would be hard to change.
ReplyDelete@will
ReplyDeleteYOU HAVE KNOWN ME FOREVER AND YOU SPELLED MY NAME WRONG!! I AM YELLING THIS BECAUSE MY VOICE IS STILL WEAK AND I WISH I COULD YELL (NOT AT YOU....JUST IN GENERAL) :)
I am kinda on the fence over each topic. I do agree that English should be the dominant language in America. It would be much easier to communicate, and transfer information. Again, I agree with it being bilingual. If you force people to learn English, you would be taking away their freedom. I'm not supporting either side, both have strong agruements, and it difficult to decide which one to agree with.
ReplyDeletei still like my wall idea.
ReplyDeleteTo me, i think i should stick with my topic, the MAIN one. I also think that most of you agree, IF THEY CAME HERE THEY SHOULD FOLLOW OUR RULES. They can't come in thinking that everything will go there way. And that is how we are making it, we are making kids learn their language, teaching us their way of life. I understand that some people like to learn that stuff, so it could be optional, not forced. Anyway what i am trying to say is that they came here, and they will follow our rule. Our contry, our rules.
ReplyDeletethe giant wall would definitely work, but it will still be hard to build.
ReplyDelete@ Alexis, Taking away the freedom isn't really a big issue because in case you haven't noticed this isn't an entirely free country (don't get me wrong we are compared to other countries), but I mean we have so many laws and other restrictions, we aren't really FREE.
ReplyDelete@ Ben and Shane. I think the wall would work, but how are we gonna build it? We can't really afford it or the labor or the time it will take!
ReplyDelete@ aaron
ReplyDeleteagreed. but the fact still remains that they dont respect our rules all of the time (most do though), and it is the same for us as well, americans sometimes break mexican laws once they cross the border.
@Aaron Logan
ReplyDeleteWell said Jew(not offensively) :)
@ rachel
ReplyDeletedidn't we already have this discussion. if immigrants want to get over illegally, we let them in exchange for say, a weeks labor on the wall,then they are home free. they will flock over to help. money could be povided by the government as well as private donors. if it all works out, it could be finished in a matter of a few years.
and just to be clear with the wall people can still travel to mexico.
ReplyDeleteI just can't really see that working out. I mean what if they were a terrorist. They could do their work, go over and now we have a terrorist in our country, that we LET IN, just to build a wall.
ReplyDelete@Ben B.
ReplyDeleteThat could lead to problems. Legal issues (even though they broke the law), what if they sabotage our wall and we don't realize it, or the people hired to watch the illegals could abuse them out of anger.
then along with labor, and abbreviated legal immigration that takes days not years. along with police/border patrol watches.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you on that, To become a citizen shouldn't take years. Then not as many people would be sneaking over.
ReplyDeleteokay, so if we shorten the legal process and build a wall, it will almost completely remove the problem
ReplyDeletewhat about housing them while they do the work? and feeding them? and paying people to watch them? that is a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteI agree that them sneaking in is not right.....but i don't think we should go that route. That is my opinion.
yeah that is a better fix..... sorry im slow.... im still commenting on the labor idea:)
ReplyDeletewhat about housing inside the wall. it can be a sort of in between while they are waiting on legal immigration (that is much faster) and feeding them, im not sure
ReplyDeletethat sounds complicated......and risky.........and expensive
ReplyDeletethe complicated and expensive yes, but risky?
ReplyDeleteI don;t think using the immigrants to work on the wall would work, but I do think a wall would be a good idea. I also think shortening the legalization process would help a great deal with the issue.
ReplyDeleteya.....how do we know pablo doesn't have "friends" with him waiting till it gets dark. (not offense intended; trying to state a point)
ReplyDeletewhere else would we get the labor though? i think that the labor may be the determining factor in the shortening of the system, it would be like service to your new country to become part of the country.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that America should ever invest in a wall. I hate to be a killjoy, but wouldn't this make us just like China or Berlin? Communist countries that would very much like to be isolated from the world?
ReplyDeleteTayler if you read my previous comment I said the same thing. We can't really trust anybody to work on this wall when there is gonna be one person who's trying to bomb the country! I'm sure there is a less risky way to find the labor.
ReplyDeleteit isnt isolation if it is just protection from "invasion" (read austin's post) , and if we let them in legaly and continue trade with countries, we arent being isolated
ReplyDelete@ The Dukke Can you think of a better way to stop all these illegal immigrants from coming into the country. I don't think it would make us like Berlin at all, because it is between us and Mexico, not in the middle of the country. @ Ben do you sit next to me in Wellness> You never talk.
ReplyDelete@rachelb32
ReplyDeleteya
@Ben B. ; @TheDukke
i think a wall would cost too much. our ecomony is already going down the tube. we have too much debt as it is. we need a cheaper fix.
that is true, i rarely talk.
ReplyDeletemaybe the wall would boost the economy though i havent taken economic, but doesnt more jobs= better economy
ReplyDeleteI think that we should learn spanish. Theres no use in tracking down millions of immigrants just to teach them english, when they will just deny learning it anyways. SO we have to go about another approach. Since we are already learning spanish as an elective, maybe making spanish required for graduation could work. I mean they are already here and the time and money it would take to make them learn english would be alot. Sonce we already offer spanish programs, naturally we should learn it. Yes it is sorta of like saying, "hey you came here when you werent supposed to, and yeah, we'll conform to you" but something has to be done, whether we like it or not, a common language must be established. And right now spanish is looking more and more effective
ReplyDelete@ Tayler, you are right, but I don't think anyone has a cheaper solution. We could use the military and set up bases along the border, but I really think a wall would be the best way to keep people out. That or an electric fence, but that is evan more expensive.
ReplyDeletebut the problem is, if we have to learn spanish, and they dont have to learn english isn't that limiting aour rights as citizens and not theirs as illegal (or legal) immigrants.
ReplyDeleteTrue...building a wall spanding across the border would be extremely expensive, but I'm sure that the government would jump on the idea to stop the flow of immigrants no matter how expensive it is because spending money on this one time thing would decrease 100's of thousands of dollars spent on controlling the borders.
ReplyDelete@rachelb32 Why do we need to stop them? They do good things for this country; they work hard to make their money, they don't do things that are illegal with fear of being deported, and oftentimes they work hard to support their families, which some Americans don't do themselves.
the problem with military is the war no if we set up border bases, its going to be the mexican american war all over again
ReplyDeletethe no should have been a now
ReplyDeleteand because of our spread out of troops, we will probably lose.
ReplyDelete@Ben B.
ReplyDeleteyes....but you have to factor in the cost to build the wall and support people building it by sheltering and feeding them. also what about the possibility of another natural disaster. a hurricane just hit carolina and there are more on the way.
WE should have shown more initiative when it came to strengthening the borders yes, but they are here now. It would cost us more money tring to throw them our than it would just letting them stay. Since they are here, we might as well show a little hospitality :P? lol jk. i hate that they came here unannounced, but they are sorta our problem now, and as far as i can see, us learning spanish is the wuickest and easiest way to go
ReplyDeletei scuk at debates <---- :D
ReplyDeleteIf English isn't atleast encouraged, the more immigrants that come in, then more language we will encounter, and then you walk into walmart, and your clerk might start speaking Spanish to you, or German, and you will have to tell them what language you need. CONFUSING!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Corey. It would be extremely easy for us to add Spanish into the high schools or even middle schools.
ReplyDelete@alexis
ReplyDeleteyes, i would much rather make english mandatory, but how do you propose we solve this? kick em out? make english a requirement for living here? have every person take an "english" test?
maybe mexico will help pay. it would help eliminate drug/weapons/people trafficking. and the wall can be designed to be storm proof. and corey is right, it would cost less to build a wall than roundup all the illegals
ReplyDeleteIm going to bed early. i feel yucky. good luck debating. night :)
ReplyDeletemy last comment was about the wall. i am a slow typer.
ReplyDelete@ ben
ReplyDeletegood idea, make mexico help, didnt think about that :D maybe in turn for letting them come here, make english their national language too. : /?
@Ben B. As much as I hate when America doesn't get involved in political affairs with other countries, I don't think we should get involved with Mexico's drug trafficking. I've heard plenty of stories on the news in which people's faces have been ripped off and stitched to soccer balls. If we get involved, drug traffickers might see random Americans as targets because they are getting involved.
ReplyDeleteI would wish getting punished by a Drug Trafficker to not even my worst enemy.. :[
why would they change to english, spanish works for them
ReplyDeleteMy internet just lost connection, so I'm lost, but @ bens last comment, I don't find it likely that Mexico is going to help pay to keep them out, but they might if we tell them it will keep us out of there.
ReplyDeletewell mexico owes us for letting their people just sneek in.
ReplyDeleteDECISIONS DECISIONS!
ReplyDeletewe go into mexico and break laws so it might as well keep us out as well
ReplyDeleteSorry to have to leave such an interesting discussion...but I have to go fold clothes.
ReplyDelete-_____-
but then again :O maybe its all a conspiracy! mexico wants illegal immigrants, so mexico will be less populated, so that the government can reproduce with aliens :O leading to the demise of the world. in that case stopping it is more important though D:
ReplyDeleteYeah. Since it will be half on Mexico, half in America, I guess it's right if they pay for it too.
ReplyDeletethat was a stupid brainstorming idea
ReplyDeleteactually i liked the conspiracy theory idea. it makes sense. sorta
ReplyDeleteit does....sorta
ReplyDeletethough i dont think that mexico would pay, even though i was the one who suggested it
ReplyDeleteI just thought of a cheap way to build a wall. We could plant trees along the border, then we would stop global warming too! haha
ReplyDeletelol brb
ReplyDelete@rachelb32
ReplyDeletewow......
only mexican lumberjacks would totally destroy the plan. but grass could be planted on to to beat up global warming
ReplyDelete@ mrs davis
ReplyDeletedo we lose pts for being kinda off topic?
or what about extra credit for extra posts?
haha if we get extra credit, then me and you should get like a 200 :P
ReplyDeleteI think that immagrants should learn English. By that i don't mean they have to learn every little thing but just enough to get by, because i do realize that English is a difficult language to learn.
ReplyDeletewe should! put a reallllllly big glass dome around america, eliminating the need for border control and stopping immigration, that way we can solve the problem now before it gets worse.
ReplyDeleteyeah i know i have done like 35. dont ask why i was counting
ReplyDeleteisnt english considered the hardest and most complicated? another reason why we should learn spanish
ReplyDeletethat is one of the few good points i have heard for learning spanish not them learning english. really i am for that
ReplyDeleteHaha I like the dome Idea. We'd be like little fish in a bowl! lol And yeah English is a hard language, but we shouldn't all switch over to Spanish. If they are coming into our country they need to learn our language.
ReplyDelete(im for learning spanish, just so yall know)
ReplyDeletethe dome is a good idea but unfortunately it would cost centillions of dollars to build and if someone broke it it would shatter and the falling glass would kill millions. a wall is much more feasible
ReplyDeletei wish it would be as simple as they should learn our language, but we have let this happen for too long, them learning english is almost impossible, if you consider immigrants we already have and the hundreds coming in every month.
ReplyDeletewhy are you for learning Spanish Corey? We already know English, if people want to come to our country they need to learn English to become a citizen.
ReplyDeleteway to be a pessimist ben D:
ReplyDeleteI know this is kinda of the subject of what y'all have been talking about. But why is everyone so against the whole bilingual idea.I understand your points about it being an english speaking country so you think everyone should be forced to speak english. But if its proven that bilingual programs work better, then i think we should give that a chance. Also if all of the sudden we make a law that is like " You speak English or you get deported" (i think thats the word) but if we make a law like that, all the immigrants (especially illegal ones) may join together and rebel, and possible try to over turn the government. Oh, and to solve the illegal immigrants problem, i think a possible solution would to have any illegal immigrant (that is already in the country) do like 5 years of military service and then they could become a citizen. And to help stop illegal immigrants from coming i definately think we should make it easier to become a citizen. And i think that immigrants should learn our language but we should provide them the time and resources to do it.
ReplyDeleteI know this is really mixed up and kind of confusing!
i is for it.
ReplyDeleteim ot a pessimist, i am a realist with really bad luck, so i tend to gravitate to pessimism
ReplyDeletei also think that bilingual is the best way to go, but not everyone wants to sit down in a classroom for a year to learn a language
ReplyDeletewe should detach ourselves from mexico, litterally, blow up the slim piece of land connecting us and consider it dealt with. then build a forest around the edges, or a string of volcanoes, to keep out any unwanted visitors.
ReplyDeletemilitary service is a good one thuogh. britain has a mandatoy two year service for all men, so to become a citizen is a good idea
ReplyDeletedestruction is not always the answer, ex. this case
ReplyDeletei should stop with crazy ideas. i like imani's statement! i shall testify.
ReplyDelete"within the crazy ideas, is the best one ever"-- Ben Begley
ReplyDelete:D
ReplyDeleteLeah, I am totally against you on the bilingual part. We are an English speaking country. We have pretty much always spoken more English than any other language. We can't change that because the illegal immigrants are getting out of hand. If we find a way to stop them from coming in, or make them know English to get in, eventually we are going to be all English. We don't necesaraly have to deport them, just stop new people from coming in. And what about other countries. If we go to Spanish and English, other languages will feel like they should have a national language as well. With English only you won't have this probllem.
ReplyDeletegotta go
ReplyDeletewe could... im out of ideas
ReplyDeleteall right i'm out of here too
ReplyDeleteI feel the immigrants cam speak what ever language they want at home, but in pulbic they should speak English. English is the dominate language so everyone should learn it.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I understand that English is the most dominant language and it would be easier for those coming here to learn it, but it shouldn't be forced on the people. It was their choice to come to America; let them decide how they would like to take advantages of the oppurtunities offered here. And, it's not like they purposely refuse to learn English. They are very aware at how beneficial it is, but they have other things to worry about. Priorities are priorities; it just depends on the person.
ReplyDeleteOh my. I agree with Leah, but again with Rachel. There is nothing wrong with being bilingual, it is a good thing, because it brings out different customs. Again, we are an English speaking country. I mean, if you are a immigrant, and you legally or illegally come into the country, almost everyone around you is going to be speaking english. You, as an immigrant, is going to be encouraged to speak english. Its almost speak english or suffer(not literally, but that might be how you feel). With almost everyone speaking english, your going to want to learn english, so you aren't isolated. Some people still speak there native language at home, or to family or friends, nothing is worng with that, but for communication with others in public buisnesses, or other stuff, english should be used. Yet again, a governetment official, who goes to other countries to represent our country, has to speak another language, so how do we encourage english only, if we have government officials who speak another language. Again, that can go the other way. With that representative going over to another country, and respecting them and their country, the learn the language, to make communication easier, which is why immigrants should learn english. If we are going to respect and learn someone elses language, then they should do the same for us.
ReplyDelete*sorry, kinda switched topics a lot. Hah
It is OK to be bilingual but it isnt needed and we really dont need to change because someone else is too lazy to be bilingual with the country of there dreams
ReplyDeletewow. we got 90 comments in like 1 hour. and most of it over my wall idea XD.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all not all of our representatives speak English, most of them has someone to translate for them. Also I do think that everyone that comes to America has to know English to live here comfortably or else they will be really confused almost all the time, but I also think that it is good for someone to know a different language(any language), just don't speak it in public areas, just with people like friends or family. What I think about the illegal immigrants, I personally think that they shouldn't have the rights like us legal Americans and I know how people say that illegal immigrants do the jobs we don't want to, but I know that there are Americans that don't have the education to have really good jobs and are willing to do the crappy jobs, it's just that all the illegals keep on taking all of them. Other illegal immigrants (not all, but a lot) aren't even here for freedom, but to sell drugs or weapons. Finally, about the English only policy why should we have to be a bilingual country when we have been an English speaking country pretty much since we came here in the very beginning. Why should we have to change to speak Spanish just because they do when we are primarily an English speaking country, just like we discussed in class today it's just like going to Japan and expecting everyone to speak English just for you, I think that's selfish.
ReplyDeleteI feel that we, as the people of America, should give the non-English speaking people a chance to prioitize and then if they CHOSE to speak English, so be it. I feel that we shouldn't rush, nor should we force the English lanugage on anybody. English is a hard language. For that matter, any language that you're trying to learn is going to be hard. Most people that are coming into America, legally or illegally, are mainly grown, or teenagers; and as grown people, or even teenagers, we are so used to our own language, we really don't feel the need to learn another language. So I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kamica about it being hard for non-English speakers to learn English; however, immigrants, illegal or otherwise, should know enough English to get by. They aren't being an active citizen if they can't communicate (in English) to others, like a taxi driver, waitress, cashier, or neighbor. We, as Americans, should also try to learn another language just in case we come across a scinario where we have to talk to someone in their native tongue and not ours.
ReplyDeleteI believe we should try to learn their languages also because then we also make them feel like they are important cause we will depend on them also BOO YAH!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Americans really should learn other languages just incase the need arises. Also, immigrants should learn Enlgish because, like amber said, if they dont know it then they'll have troubles with simple service jobs like cashier, waitress, etc.
ReplyDeleteAmericans should learn the language of the immigrants we are receiving. We opened our borders to immigrants, so we should stand prepared to welcome them. They should also learn english as well however, that way they can communicate with us, but we can still also speak our language. Learning other languages would probably also show hospitality to other countries, and more immigrants would immigrate legally rather than illegally, and the government could stop losing so much money to taxes.
ReplyDeleteAnd for Adam's Japan reference, this isnt about just one person going to Japan. This is about a whole people coming to our nation.
ReplyDeleteI Agree With Alot You Guysz.
ReplyDeleteWe Shouldnt Forcee Our Languagee Onto Othersz.
If You Put Yourself In Their Shoesz , Then You Wouldd Realizee That Lifee Isz Veryy Hardd For Them Alreadyy Andd That If Theyree Illegal , Not Knowingg Or Understandingg Thee Nativee Languagee Isz A Punishment .
- Blogg Yha Laterr : )
But that would b cavin in 2 them Jeff
ReplyDeleteCavin in too who
ReplyDeleteU SAID we should also learn their language 2 make them feel like we need them
ReplyDeleteCuz we should it would make us bilingual and smarter
ReplyDeleteWe should hav another
ReplyDeleteU just said we should learn another language so i was confused
ReplyDeleteSrry
ReplyDelete