TEN REASONS WHY WE SHOULD MAKE ENGLISH THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE US

Ten Reasons why we should make English the Official Language of the United States

"History has blessed [the U.S.] with all the freedom and advantages of multiculturalism. But it has also blessed us, because of the accident of our origins, with a linguistic unity that brings a critically needed cohesion to a nation as diverse, multiracial and multiethnic as America. Why gratuitously throw away that priceless asset?"  –Charles Krauthammer, Time Magazine, June 4, 2006

1.  To stipulate that although government may use other languages, to be legally binding and authoritative, e.g., "official," it must act or communicate in the English language.

2.  To clarify that whenever there is a conflict in meaning between government laws, regulations, or pronouncements issued in more than one language, the English version is the authoritative one.

3.  To clarify that unless government decides to provide it, no one has an entitlement or right to government services or documents in a language other than English.

4.  To recognize the historical fact that the United States has been an overwhelmingly English speaking nation since it was created and that its constitution and foundational documents are in English.

5.   To recognize that while the people United States value and respect diversity, they want to preserve English as their common language and therefore immigrants have the responsibility to learn English.1

6.   To conform to the majority of the states (27) that already have made English their official language.

7.   To respond to the will of the American people, 85 percent of whom believe English should be our official language, according to a June 2006 Rasmussen Reports survey.

8.   To conform to the rest of the world: Eighty-five percent of the UN's member nations have official languages. Fifty-two (52) of those nations have adopted English as their official language.2

9.   To avoid the costs, burdens, and conflicts that arise in nations like Canada or international organizations like the European Union that attempt to conduct business in more than one official language.

10.  To bring the federal government into conformity with national institutions like the U.S. Army and the federal court system, who for practical reasons have decided to operate in English.
  

[1] This finding almost replicates a March, 2006 Zogby International survey that found 84 percent of likely voters wanted to make English the country's official language.

[2] Twenty-seven of those nations, mostly in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, have made English their only official language.
http://www.proenglish.org/issues/offeng/10reasons.htm