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that teach English as a second language have a long waiting list.

When a crime has been committed, police detectives' advocate to "follow the money." In other words, find out who stands to gain from the result of the criminal action. This is good advice in other situations. Often I see people advocating more bilingual services. My first reaction is to wonder why that person has an interest in keeping some of our population operating as second class citizens. Is it because their livelihood is dependent on a segment of the population not being able to participate in the American dream? Is it simply racism? Or, is it simply easier to identify those we wish to subjugate by letting them think that learning English is not necessary? Becoming proficient in English is necessary. The only way for a person to take full advantage of the economic opportunity in the United States is to learn to use English.

Nothing better illustrates the "follow the money" philosophy than the dispute in Oakland, California over the recognition of Black English as a second language. It should be obvious to anyone that the only reason for their action was to obtain additional government funds designated for bilingual education.

At the time I wrote this article, thirty states had passed laws declaring English their official language. Mikhail Gorbachev said it best when he observed, "Though representatives from many ethnic groups came together in the United States, English became their common language. Apparently this was a natural choice. One can only imagine what would have happened if members of each nation moving to the United States had spoken only their own tongues and refused to learn English." If anyone doubts the wisdom of this observation, just consider the chaos in nations such as the Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. It is time we take a close look at what has made this country great. We are a melting pot and the sauce bubbling around us is our bond of a common language.

President Theodore Roosevelt, expressed the feelings of many today when he said, "Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country." We offer every citizen an educational and economic opportunity that is unsurpassed anywhere else in the civilized world. It is time that we stand up and say "Yes we expect you to learn and use English." This is not Pakistan, or Mexico, or Afghanistan, or a hundred other countries from which our people have escaped. This is the United States of America and as citizens of this great country, we speak English. I for one, do not want to be a hyphenated American. My family has been melting here for more than 300 years and no form has enough room to write English-German-French-Irish-Sc ottish-Native American. When asked for my ethnic background, I always check other and write in American.

Congress has attempted to make English our National Language and has failed. It seems ludicrous to many Americans that this should even be necessary. Yet apparently we require it. To that I can only say, do the legislation and let us get on with the business of keeping this country the greatest democracy on earth.

Learn more about this author, V J Webb.
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