And, indeed, if a pig had wings, it could fly. It'd need pretty big wings, though.

No they wouldn't. They'd just need to be going really really fast.

If the majority of American citizen were bi-lingual, fluent in both English and Spanish, there would be no logical reason to require all new Spanish-speaking immigrants to learn English before becoming citizens.

And, indeed, if a pig had wings, it could fly. It'd need pretty big wings, though.

It's not. But it's the language we speak here and, certainly, we should do everything reasonable in our power to encourage people to learn it. It's really a non-factor for later generations, as they always learn it, but it's to everyone's advantage to hasten it for those who immigrate.

So it's to everyone benefit that we all speak a common language, so ease communication among our fellow citizens. That I can agree with. That it is more efficient to have new immigrants learn English than to have all current English speakers learn a second language, I can also agree with.

I just don't like people treating English as somehow superior or more preferable by some inherit virtue. If the majority of American citizen were bi-lingual, fluent in both English and Spanish, there would be no logical reason to require all new Spanish-speaking immigrants to learn English before becoming citizens.

I'm asking why English in particular is a prerequisite for attaining American liberty.

It's not. But it's the language we speak here and, certainly, we should do everything reasonable in our power to encourage people to learn it. It's really a non-factor for later generations, as they always learn it, but it's to everyone's advantage to hasten it for those who immigrate.

Are you seriously suggesting that 300 million people switch to a new language -- away from the lingua franca of international business, incidentally -- because a few million immigrants have come in, mostly illegally, and not yet assimilated to that language?

No, I'm asking why English in particular is a prerequisite for attaining American liberty. I'm not suggesting that anybody change anything, I'm just asking for a better rationalization than "Everybody else is doing it, so you should too".

Is English somehow better for us as a society than Esperanto?

Or is it like the Metric/Imperial systems, where we choose to stay with what we know, rather than transition to something different, regardless of the merits of each?

Are you seriously suggesting that 300 million people switch to a new language -- away from the lingua franca of international business, incidentally -- because a few million immigrants have come in, mostly illegally, and not yet assimilated to that language?

Michael, In what possible reality do you live in that would question why it would be a good thing for a legal immigrant to this country to learn English?

It wasn't so much a moral question as a scientific one. Is English somehow better for us as a society than Esperanto?

Or is it like the Metric/Imperial systems, where we choose to stay with what we know, rather than transition to something different, regardless of the merits of each?

Here are a couple of quotes out of the guide to naturalization.

English and Civics
According to the law, applicants must
demonstrate:
• “An understanding of the English
language, including an ability to read,
write, and speak...simple words and
phrases...in ordinary usage in the
English language....”

and just for you Michael,

What if I cannot meet the English or
civics requirements? Certain applicants,
because of age or disability, have different
English and civics requirements.

...

Disability — If you have a physical or
developmental disability or a mental
impairment so severe that it prevents you
from acquiring or demonstrating the required
knowledge of English and civics, you
may be eligible for an exception to these
requirements. To request an exception, you
must file a “Medical Certification for
Disability Exceptions” (Form N-648). If
you believe you qualify, contact a licensed
medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed
clinical psychologist who will need to
complete and sign your N-648.

If not, it should be. I don't care what you speak at home, but if you are going to be a US citizen, you should know English.

I'm sure you'll make exception for the deaf, right? What about immigrants who are not capable of learning another language? And why English anyway, just because our initial colonies were British?

Now it is a moral good to disparage anyone who says that laws shouldn't be broken?

To call people racists or bigots because they disagree is about as biased as it gets.

It does require a special ability to read their hearts and souls though.

One of the requirements for citizenship for legal immigrants is that they learn English.

It is?

If not, it should be. I don't care what you speak at home, but if you are going to be a US citizen, you should know English.

One of the requirements for citizenship for legal immigrants is that they learn English.

It is?

I'm still looking for something other than MSM drivel. The fact that students do better learning English rather than being segregated into bilingual classes is not 'animus'. One of the requirements for citizenship for legal immigrants is that they learn English.

It is the left who tends to mix illegal and legal immigration into the same pot.

If that's true, then I should be speaking Hungarian. Guess my granparents wasted their time trying to join the "melting pot" that so inspired them to come here in the first place.

In California lack of any enforcement creates a situation where business owners are forced to break the law to stay in business. It's not just lower wages they pay to illegals, they also don't pay workers comp. or and benefits. The cost of health care often ends up being foisted on hospital emergency rooms. Much like a professional athlete, a business owner can follow the rules (and the athlete can not take drugs) and they will quickly find themselves unemployed.

There isn't any perfect solution, but you don't have to be anti-Mexican to want increased control of our borders.