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Building Unity Among Americans
Posted by Randy | June 02, 2011
English is the official language of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is not, however, the official language of the United States. In fact, the U.S. is one of less than a dozen countries in the world without an official language.

Requiring the use of English does not mean that our society does not value the preservation of cultural heritage.  However, the ability to communicate in one standard language in the workplace, in our schools, and in official settings not only improves our efficiency as we carry out our daily activities, but it more importantly builds unity among citizens and creates a sense of national pride. That is why I have consistently advocated for making English the official language of the United States:

English Language Unity Act
I have cosponsored legislation, H.R. 997, which would establish English as our nation’s official language. This bill requires all official functions of the U.S. to be conducted in English, establishes a uniform language requirement for naturalization, and places an obligation on representatives of the federal government to encourage individuals to learn English.

National Language Act
I have also cosponsored a bill, H.R. 1164, that requires that all official business, including publications, income tax forms, informational materials and public ceremonies where an oath is administered, to be conducted in English. This bill also repeals bilingual voting requirements.

Weigh in: Do you support making English the official language of the U.S.?
Comments
Users are solely responsible for the opinions they post here and their comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Congressman Forbes.
  • Frank Wagner commented on 6/2/2011
    For most of our history it was not necessary to have an official language because people coming to the USA wanted to be part of this country's vision and left their language behind them. English should not only be the official language but it should be a requirement for those wanting to have citizenship. Also, we should not burden ourselves with the costs associated with accomodating those who cannot or will not learn English.
  • C M commented on 6/3/2011
    "Whoever controls the language controls the culture. Words have incredible power because they set the agendas of whole nations! ... It is not bullets that win wars, it's words... Making words mean what you want them to mean is the first step in controlling the minds of men and from there, their actions... If you divide a people's language, you can divide their will... Unify their language and you have unified their power!" (Dennis Peacocke) WORDS CONVEY IDEAS: liberty, justice, republic, representation, individual, and IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCE. Language is governed by the rule of law, by internal structures that hold meaning and identity. Without the rule of law in every area of our national identity--including an official language, the twin evils of tyranny and anarchy will conspire to divide and overthrow our Republic. Bear in mind that our linguistic identity is not only attacked by foreign invaders but by internal corruptions, perversions and ignorance, as well. Therefore, we not only need proper American English to be our official language, but we need to see to it that teachers are masters of it and that the principles and precepts of it are effectively mastered by each generation.
  • First Name Last Name commented on 6/3/2011
    Yes! Make it official that English is our national language. Until recently, it hasn't been necessary to have a National language. It was just a given, that if you live in the USA, you speak English! I get so angry every time I call some automated system I'm greeted with the message "Press 1 for English, and 2 for Spanish." This is not Spain, Mexico, or Latin America, OF COURSE I Want English! My great-grandparents learned English, it's not too much to ask current immigrants to this country to do the same.
  • James Simmons commented on 6/3/2011
    One language, English ... that legal immigrants should have to learn before coming here.
  • Katherine Howerton commented on 6/3/2011
    I think if you live in the Untied States of America or you moved to the United States of America to persue a better life you MUST learn and speak english. That is our official language period. I do not believe we should have ANY other language written on forms, doors, spoken on phone messages, etc... but ENGLISH!!! If you don't speak the language go back to where you came from! And on a seperate note, if you don't like public prayer or the word GOD spoken on written go back to where you came from! America was formed on Christianity and we are a Christian nation!!!
  • First Name Last Name commented on 6/3/2011
    English as the office language of the United States? ABSOLUTELY!
  • Freedom, by the way Last Name commented on 6/3/2011
    Absolutely I support both bills. I've been waiting my entire life for congress to declare English the official language. It is ridiculous that ballots are printed in any language but English--and that the taxpayers pay for bilingual ballots. Regarding Libya, I am very glad the the House is FINALLY taking President Obama to task about this illegal war. I fail to understand what Libya has to do with our national security. America does not have the money right now to help "spread democracy" , get rid of dictators and nation build, especially in regions of the world where democracy will take decades & trillions of dollars to take hold--if it ever succeeds at all. If our security is not at risk, we shouldn't be participating in the Libya action at all
  • Phillip Staten commented on 6/3/2011
    That many of our ancestors, mine included, came to this country and chose to speak English is and ought to be a source of pride. They were brave, to be sure. But their bravery was also coupled with fear, because many who came here embraced assimilation as the only escape from alienation. They came in search of freedoms which were, unfortunately, not so readily available to one who did not resemble Americans at the time. Bigotry and xenophobia ruled the day and could make life difficult, if not dangerous, for those who were not white, English-speaking Christians. The Great Melting Pot was more of a tossed salad, with isolated enclaves of Jews, Blacks, Serbs, Latinos, and many, many more. But I posit that our nation is stronger in its diversity than it ever was in its homogeneity. Ours is a better country now, though certainly one which can still improve. We welcome people of all faiths, traditions, ethnicities and languages, and rather than force them, officially or not, to conform, we encourage them to contribute their cultural distinctiveness to a greater American identity. Yes, many nations worldwide have codified official languages, but many of those same nations boast multilingual populations fluent not only in their official tongue, but in several others, particularly English. I contend that the language of Shakespeare and Blake, Hemmingway and Faulkner, Jefferson and Madison, needs no law to set it apart and to make it special to America. Its import will be forever entwined with our traditions and history, and is in no danger, now or ever, of losing any significance. Rather, just as we celebrate the heritages of those who came to America and called it home, can we not also celebrate their languages? What is so wrong about learning Spanish or Chinese or Zulu? Many of our public schools teach and require students to study a foreign language. This is not to inculcate extra-American ideas, but to expose students to the world's cultures in an intimate, personal way, and to make global citizens of them. We should all strive to be such.
  • Ron Ogletree,Sr. commented on 6/4/2011
    This should have been done many years ago. Different customs have made a more diverse and stronger country, but English should be our national language. It is not unfair to expect those who come here learn to speak the native of our nation. If we expect to stand for any pther standard then we are down grading our selves. Ron Ogletree,Sr.mberpr tarsi
  • Mary Saunders commented on 6/4/2011
    Communication is the first line of defense, concerning safety... English please... and by the way, as citizens we can boycott businesses that have bilinquil signs and pamplets in their stores. As the US well knows " he who controls the money controls the world." We as consumers and good citizens need to exercise our might and not shop in these stores Write a letter, in English, to explain to these global businesses that when they operate on American soil we expect them to conduct all business in English. We are not here to help them globalize and grow their profit margins. Let's withhold our money from these money barons and show some real courage!
  • Chuck Dunlap commented on 6/4/2011
    I fully support any move that help make us "one nation", and that includes a national language. People used to come to this country anxious to learn the language and blend in. Now many seem to expect that we must become more diversified, and more fractured as a culture. There must be room for tolerance, but there must also be an expectation that immigrants understand and respect the values that made this country great.
  • Ray Nowell commented on 6/4/2011
    It should have been done years ago - we publish most everything now in English & translate it in Spanish - Our official language has always been English since this country was founded - it didn't need a congressional vote 400 years of history proves that point
  • Homer Barnhardt Sr. commented on 6/4/2011
    Good work Randy. English must be the official language of OUR country;, and ALL should be required to learn this beautiful form of communication.
  • Thomas Griswold commented on 6/5/2011
    While I support this initiative, at the same time I hope that foreign language studies continue to be offered, and perhaps even required for high school graduation. That would seeem to be the best option all things considered. To support the observation of another constituent, time would be better spent cooperating, in english not in spin to act responsively to cope with the debt limit increase. Since the congress failed to act already and the republicans have forced the Treasury department to borrow from pension funds, which the public does NOT approve of, focus on this is a higher priority. That is now two important deadlines missed by this congress. That is not leadership
  • Alan Craig commented on 6/6/2011
    I support your bill to make English the official language of the U.S. English is a wonderful language by which the simplest and mundane concepts and sentiments can be well expressed as can be the most beautiful and elevated. And English is excellent for the purposes of science, technology, medicine, and finance. As a Mathematician who studied and used the language of mathematics throughout my career, I was always impressed with the beauty, stucture and power of English as the principal medium of communication. Look no further! This language has it all in abundance.
  • John Corrigan commented on 6/6/2011
    One need only look at the first one hundred years on congress to know the Official language. Find one official document that was written in any other language beside English and I will be humbled! But lets make it documented and say English if the Official Language!
  • John Hood commented on 11/16/2011
    The English language, with all of its quirks, should be the official language of the United States and its territories.
  • Manuel Talaiver commented on 2/3/2012
    One nation under God, indivisible, with English as official language, liberty and justice for all.
  • Terri Pryor commented on 2/3/2012
    It is unbelievable that this is even an issue...only in America! YES, English should be the official language of our country. Decrease government spending by printing documents, signs and more in ONE language...ENGLISH.
  • tony tony commented on 2/10/2012
    I lived in Switzerland for some time and if you know We spoke 4 different languages over there, Dutch, French, Italian and Romance, I never had any problem with that I learned a lot from all those different languages and Swiss people never ever tried to imposse any of those languages over the others, seems to me that americans are very insecure and somehow ignorants, learn another language!!!
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