"Think about countries around the world where multiple languages are/have been the norm. Multi languages mean multi cultures, multi customs, multi religion, multi areas where these different cultures congregate and live...the word conclave comes to mind."
Come on Pilgrim, that has been the case since before 1776. Not everybody in the 13 Colonies spoke English, not all them were Christian. We survived as a country. As far as the Multi Area part, until very recently that held true with Boston, North End (Italian) Cambridge (Liberial), Brookline (Jewish) South Boston/Dorchester (Irish) Roxbury (First Jewish then Black). The US didn't implode neither did Boston.
There have always been multiple languages to a certain minimalist degree. In fact many times, one was looked down upon even by one's family if the English was not used properly or frequently enough. I can almost hear, "You are in American now son, speak English and be proud!". The key here is that everyone's unltimate goal was to learn English as soon as possible. Not like today where we expect those who speak English to learn the immigrant's language and use signage and schools and other means to make it so immigrants don't have nearly so much incentive to learn English.
"Most of these types of countries eventually end up in (at best) political conflict and (at worst) physical conflict. Even the partial breakup of Canada has been threatened with Quebec seceding and forming it's own country."
This hasn't happen in the history of this country and I doubt it will ever happen.
You have your head in the sand. It's already happening in many of the major inner city environments.
"One of the biggest reasons that the US has prospered as it has, is that people CAME (mostly past tense now) here to be Americans, speak the language and become part of the melting pot which makes ONE country. In a melting pot, everyone blends in together for the common good."
You are talking as if that transition from immigrant to citizen happened in an instance and not over time. It is like talking about the good old times. Just like you are complaining now, we had people complaining then. I am sure someone back during the huge Irish immigration into the US felt the same way but after TIME those Irish became incorporated into the Melting pot, to the point that few Whites can claim to be "pure" Irish or "pure" Italian or etc...
The big difference is that the Irish spoke English ( a form anyway), and could function in our country. We didn't need to adjust to them.
"By promoting multiple languages, pandering to different ethnic groups by making signs and advertisements in multiple languages, we are promoting divisiveness and will eventually pay a big price. With multi languages, there is no 'melting pot', only a pot full of rocks that are constantly bumping into each others' differences."
It is very hard for a person coming to this land to learn English overnight, it takes time. My Dad and Mom came to the US in 1968, were they not suppose to work because they only spoke Spanish?
Yes it does take a while and it will take even longer if we keep bending over and making our citizens adapt to them. Your parents came knowing that they would have to learn the language, knowing it would be tough, but they wanted it anyway...and I bet they were proud that they did accomplish this. Now we're saying not to worry, you don;t need to become one of us, we'll become more like you.
"Ironically, the language issue is probably the easiest 'problem' of immigration to solve."
Actually it is the easiest to solve over time. What you seem to be glancing over is unless you immigrant from a English speaking country, language and learning the language can only be solved with time.
Yes, and a lot longer time is what you and others are advocating by placating the immigrants.
With no common language, there will be no US.
I agree with your last statement, no common language there is no US.
Then why are you advocating that we splinter ourselves language wise?
BTW, I lived in Germany for almost 3.5 years and I never went around expecting them to cater to me and my English. I learned as much German as I could, as quickly as I could and spoke it as often as I could. I considered it my duty and it showed the German people that I had respect for them and their customs.
I resent the Hell out of our school systems making us accomodate the immigrant before we take care of our own traditions and ideals.
Come on Pilgrim, that has been the case since before 1776. Not everybody in the 13 Colonies spoke English, not all them were Christian. We survived as a country. As far as the Multi Area part, until very recently that held true with Boston, North End (Italian) Cambridge (Liberial), Brookline (Jewish) South Boston/Dorchester (Irish) Roxbury (First Jewish then Black). The US didn't implode neither did Boston.
There have always been multiple languages to a certain minimalist degree. In fact many times, one was looked down upon even by one's family if the English was not used properly or frequently enough. I can almost hear, "You are in American now son, speak English and be proud!". The key here is that everyone's unltimate goal was to learn English as soon as possible. Not like today where we expect those who speak English to learn the immigrant's language and use signage and schools and other means to make it so immigrants don't have nearly so much incentive to learn English.
"Most of these types of countries eventually end up in (at best) political conflict and (at worst) physical conflict. Even the partial breakup of Canada has been threatened with Quebec seceding and forming it's own country."
This hasn't happen in the history of this country and I doubt it will ever happen.
You have your head in the sand. It's already happening in many of the major inner city environments.
"One of the biggest reasons that the US has prospered as it has, is that people CAME (mostly past tense now) here to be Americans, speak the language and become part of the melting pot which makes ONE country. In a melting pot, everyone blends in together for the common good."
You are talking as if that transition from immigrant to citizen happened in an instance and not over time. It is like talking about the good old times. Just like you are complaining now, we had people complaining then. I am sure someone back during the huge Irish immigration into the US felt the same way but after TIME those Irish became incorporated into the Melting pot, to the point that few Whites can claim to be "pure" Irish or "pure" Italian or etc...
The big difference is that the Irish spoke English ( a form anyway), and could function in our country. We didn't need to adjust to them.
"By promoting multiple languages, pandering to different ethnic groups by making signs and advertisements in multiple languages, we are promoting divisiveness and will eventually pay a big price. With multi languages, there is no 'melting pot', only a pot full of rocks that are constantly bumping into each others' differences."
It is very hard for a person coming to this land to learn English overnight, it takes time. My Dad and Mom came to the US in 1968, were they not suppose to work because they only spoke Spanish?
Yes it does take a while and it will take even longer if we keep bending over and making our citizens adapt to them. Your parents came knowing that they would have to learn the language, knowing it would be tough, but they wanted it anyway...and I bet they were proud that they did accomplish this. Now we're saying not to worry, you don;t need to become one of us, we'll become more like you.
"Ironically, the language issue is probably the easiest 'problem' of immigration to solve."
Actually it is the easiest to solve over time. What you seem to be glancing over is unless you immigrant from a English speaking country, language and learning the language can only be solved with time.
Yes, and a lot longer time is what you and others are advocating by placating the immigrants.
With no common language, there will be no US.
I agree with your last statement, no common language there is no US.
Then why are you advocating that we splinter ourselves language wise?
BTW, I lived in Germany for almost 3.5 years and I never went around expecting them to cater to me and my English. I learned as much German as I could, as quickly as I could and spoke it as often as I could. I considered it my duty and it showed the German people that I had respect for them and their customs.
I resent the Hell out of our school systems making us accomodate the immigrant before we take care of our own traditions and ideals.