Never a Monolingual Country

“This is America. When ordering please speak in English”, owner Joey Vento of Geno’s Steaks puts up a sign in the window of his restaurant. The proclamation reminds people of a well-known discussion on making English the federal official language of the U.S. The debate of whether making English the federal official language has last for over 100 years in the history. There have been many powerful supporters from the government. Early in the 1870s, California became the first state that approved English as the official language in the state, followed by Wisconsin and Illinois. Moreover, in 1907, president Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “We have room for but one language in this country, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house.”(James Crawford, U.S Language Policy, 1997) Even though over about twenty states have recognized English the official language autonomously (Language Freedom and Restriction: A Historical Approach to the Official Language Controversy, James Crawford, 1990) and amounts of authorities and politicians advocate the policy, however, from my perspective, it is better to not set English the official language for three main reasons: it contradicts basic American value of freedom, equality and multiculturalism; it will cause talents drain on every field and it will lead to a more severe discrimination problem.
Why did not the founding fathers of the United States set up an official language in the constitution for the country, for the people? This is a question which first came up to my mind instantaneously I got involved in the discussion. I think many ask the same question at the...

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...ng of immigrants from different places in the world but also give opportunities to them to work and contribute to the nation; the antiracists have been making every effort to attempt to solve the discrimination problem little by little for more than fifty years. When we look into the future, the nation will strive to become a more free, equal and multicultural America; the nation still need outstanding people from all over the world to work for his further development; the nation will continue focusing on reducing discrimination until complete harmony will be reached among races. In a word, the nation will never ever abandon the three traditions regardless of time. However, the existence of official language will break the rule. Therefore, it is not English should not become the official language but an official language is inappropriate for a country like America.