Should English be Law
From the article "Should English Be the Law" Robert D. King disputes the controversial issue of linguistics in the U.S. Mr. King's views on immigration and nationality will be analyzed. The pros and cons of a multi-linguistic country are discussed along with the negative effects on countries that currently operate under a multi-linguistic commonality. English as the official language is becoming more of an issue in modern day society. "Since there was no need to legislate English as the official language, our constitution is silent in the issue" (King, 239). The idea of English as the official language was first proposed in 1975 as an amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (King). "In 1981 Senator S. I. Hayakawa introduced to the U.S. senate a constitutional amendment that not only would have made English the official language, but prohibited federal law as well as state law to require the use of the language" (King, 240). The legislation was unpopular and did not pass through the 97th Congress. Mr. Hayakawa's view were forgotten and in submission until 1986, when ten states passed official language initiatives. The votes were substantial enough to gain the attention of Congress.
I believe that language disputes are a problem in our society that should be address on a federal level. Respect for the individual along with a strong sense of national pride and a deep rooted history gives the United States the qualifications for a "unique otherness" amongst its citizens. The language barrier causes a lot of tension among civilians and those who govern them. However, in an average case with a multi-linguistic society, as long as the country has what King refers to as a "unique otherness" or a strong national identity, blood shed can be avoided (King 246). "History teaches a plain lesson about language and governments: there is almost nothing a free country can do to force its citizens to use a certain language" (King, 247). King points out that the problem may solve itself over time, but in today's culture the solution is highly unlikely to come about. Despite our language differences, the U. Language has been known in many different societies to be the main cause of division among several world nations. This "unique otherness" is what in King's eyes sets us apart from other nations in the same situation. For example, Palestine and Israel mandate the use of the Hebrew language successfully. "After the first World War, it came to drawing the boundary lines for various countries and it was principally language that guided the draftsman's hand" (King 244). "Few of today's immigrants will see their first language make it to the second generation" (King, 248). Yet, blood has been shed and wars have erupted because of the differences among the people speaking a common language.
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Acceptance Essays
