We the undersigned agree that English should be the National Language of the United States of America.
The oath of citizenship should be administered in English only.
People wishing to become American Citizens should be required to learn, speak, read and write in the English language.
Instruction in the history and culture of the country would help to close the division that is arising from all the different ethnic groups now inhabiting our country.
Dear Mr President,
I have lived in this country all my life. I attended grade school, high school, where I studied Latin, and college where I studied Spanish. My grandparents on both sides (maternal and paternal) immigrated to this country. My mother's grandparents immigrated from Ireland. My dad's parents came from Sweden. In order to become citizens they learned English, in fact my grandmother lived to be 86 yrs old and was still asking her grandchildren to correct her shopping list. My dad would speak to my grandmother in Swedish, but when I asked him to teach me the language, he said. "You are an American and you will learn English."
I was married twice and widowed twice, raised a son to speak English. My first husband was the son of Swedish immigrants, and my second husband the son of Hungarian immigrants. Both had parents who learned English to become citizens, and both Jack and Stephen spoke English.
I have worked all of my life, until the past year when I have been unable to secure employment because I do not speak Spanish. I complained to the EEOC when one employer called to set up an interview and told me I was qualified for the position of Medical Referral clerk, but she had one more question, did I speak Spanish. When I told her no, she told me not to bother coming in. I told her I had 20 yrs experience in medical offices and did not believe that I needed that language to fill out medical referrals. I told her I had experience in the required Medical coding, anatomy, and diagnoses that would be needed. Her answer was simply that everyone in the office speaks Spanish.
What happened to Our Civil Rights? I believe the Civil Rights bill covers this type of discrimination why isn't it enforced?
I have been told by some employers that English has never been declared our National Language and in time Spanish would be declared our National Language since and this is a quote "I (English speakers) am a minority".
As an American, who loves the English language, I do not want this to happen.
My Irish ancestors had this happen in their country and Gaelic is considered a dead language. Do not let this happen in our country, please.
Respectfully,
Marilyn Seregely
