Bring Our Country Closer

The United States has never had an official language. The “English-Only” movement began in 1981 when a man named Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa, an immigrant himself, sponsored a constitutional amendment to make English the official language. This is a continuing battle that should be taken seriously. The United States is primarily an English speaking country, therefore, we should declare it officially.

Coming from a family of immigrants myself, I know first hand that the United States is a “melting pot,” comprised of many different cultures and languages. In 1948 my grandmother moved to the United States from Colombia, this was also the year she learned to speak English. Immigrants in today’s society seem to be very different. Immigrants are living here for years and never learning to speak English, and never having to. The formation of sub-cultures is overwhelming, and the lack of integration into our society is dividing this country.

Declaring English as an official language of the United States would not take away people’s right to speak any language they want. Spanish is often the chosen language among my family inside and outside our homes. It would however, allow Americans of different backgrounds to communicate, understand each other, and overcome differences.