ANSWERS: 12
  • The last time I saw the new citizens being sworn in they gave their oath the official language they would use is English.
    • Linda Joy
      Good point! But what if it's not a citizen but a visiting relative? Probably a student studying here would know this much and tell a relative at least this much but what about migrant workers? I've served people who ordered by pointing to the menu. We got it done even though I still don't know how he wanted his steak cooked
    • Rick Myres
      I was addressing your words "since the US doesn't have an official language" lol. But I know about them having their difficulties with reading and speaking English. -:) 4:25AM 7/1/18
    • Linda Joy
      The US doesn't have an official language. It's just an assumption many Americans who don't know better just assume.
    • Rick Myres
      I never saw any debate about till now. I always had the idea we had one. Now especially at the swearing in ceremony on TV. They stressed we have one before they had them raise their hands to swear them in.
    • Linda Joy
      Show me! Show me, Mr. Missouri! show me your source and I'll show you mine! Hahaha! "The United States does not have an official language, but some state governments recognize specific languages. For instance, the state government of Louisiana offers services and documents in French, as does New Mexico in Spanish. There are many languages indigenous to North America or to U.S. states or holdings in the Pacific region. Hawaiian, although having few native speakers, is an official language along with English of the state of Hawaii. Alaska officializes English and twenty native languages." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States.
    • Rick Myres
      All I know is I saw and heard it on TV. So I am not going to debate what I saw and heard. Even though I already saw that online during a search. -:)
  • Yes, law enforcement should know how to give basic commands in multiple languages!! Russian, Chinese, Italian, Swedish, Swahili, Arabic and Australian.
    • Linda Joy
      I haven't learned how to do that yet! That's impressive to me! But I'm an egocentric American sometimes. I'm trying to do better. I should take a language my first year back to school. Hahaha that just reminded me of the old Rodney Dangerfield movie! I could take French and you could teach me the pillows talk to give thinker "something to talk about" .
    • Ice man
      You didn't read my whole answer, did you?
    • Linda Joy
      Yes.
    • Ice man
      Yeah, I didn't think so, but it's good of you to admit it.
    • Linda Joy
      I did read it and I don't appreciate you calling me a liar! I don't claim to know what languages are 'most popular' or which ones they should know. But I'm NOT A LAIR!
    • Linda Joy
      Why what?
    • Vittorio 'Sam' Manunta-Lowell
      Why should they, everyone understands handcuffs!
    • Linda Joy
      Have you ever been in handcuffs?
    • Vittorio 'Sam' Manunta-Lowell
      Once, I was arrested for nonpayment of ticket. Later We discovered that some Hispanic cashier wrote my name using B instead of V for my first name!
  • Each nation should have its own official language. People who visit other nations should know some of the languages of the nations they visit. I was born in Japan, and I have lived in the USA several times, including now. I learned English before I came tot he USA. Cops doo not need to know many languages.
    • Linda Joy
      I prefer we remain open and inclusive. The US is a 'melting pot. We are a the best diversity has to offer. People who want one race one language one culture should go to the place they can have that and leave us to be what we are.
    • Roaring
      I agree with your comment Linda Joy. Our countries greatest quality is that we are not specifically defined by one ethnicity or religion. to add to the dialogue, the more educated the police are on different ethnicities, particularly in the community they are serving, the more effective/respected they will be at their work. A huge problem is systemic prejudice(racism) that allows an officer to shoot an unarmed black man/minority in the back with little to no accountability/consequences.
    • Linda Joy
      Thank you for agreeing diversity is one of our strongest assets, but I believe everyone in America now has the same opportunities to progress. And the facts are that police kill more whites than blacks (or any other race) that blacks are more likely to kill another black than all the police shootings combined, and blacks commit more crime per capita than any other race. I'm not racist. These are simply the facts. Blacks need to start living up to their potential to be upstanding respectable citizens before most people are going to respect them as such. That said, I think every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and no one regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, looks, intelligence or any other stupid reason should be bullied or blamed for what someone else did. Including blaming white people for what their ancestors did! Or thinking all blacks are criminals.
    • Archie Bunker
      Oh boy, here we go with the "shooting the poor black folks..."
    • Army Veteran
      @ LJ - "People who want one race one language one culture should go to the place they can have that and leave us to be what we are." - This sounds remarkably close to "segregation" as I described it once before. As stated at that time, "segregation" doesn't have to mean "racism" and yet, to mention the word, that's the only concept people are able to embrace. What you said can be accommodated in this country "to remain inclusive" - which you also favor (although "all-inclusiveness" the way it's being practiced today is a politically correct concept and not healthy for this nation). Large cities are already doing it with their ethnic neighborhoods and the concept works remarkably well. Many ethnic businesses in these neighborhoods (restaurants immediately come to mind) cater to outsiders without using guns and chains - and outsiders who venture into these areas and use their resources do so respectfully and without the threat of violence. We could expand that concept anywhere.
    • Linda Joy
      So let them segregate themselves if that's their choice, just don't force it on everyone else. I didn't say they had to leave the country to get what they want. Just don't screw with our laws to suit your personal agenda (not you specifically, but the ubiquitous you all out there.) Let others have their rights and personal choices as well.
  • it might not be a bad idea
  • The guns they have are a universal language. Its pointed at you,you put your hands up and kneel down.
  • Why? If you want to come to this country, you're expected to know the laws. That means the police officers' commands also. It's under the general principal of "ignorantia juris non excusat." Remember, the police do not have a duty to protect individuals.
  • No, I think people should have a basic command of English in the US. It doesn't matter if it is the "official" language of the nation or not. It is the language we use for everything.
  • Other countries try to accommodate the suspect as much as they can - but only for the moment at hand. They might inquire if any of their fellow officers speak English or whatever other language is at the core of the issue. If not, the suspect is S.O.L. Other countries don't have a catch-and-release policy just because of a language barrier, and they don't soften their practice of the rule of law to accommodate outsiders who don't understand the language. When you go to other countries, you're expected to obey their laws - why should the US be any different? Should we accommodate every language in the world? Should we also allow non-US citizens to vote in our elections? When was the last time you voted in a Czechoslovakian election? Do you think they would allow it? Look at everything around you - the Republican form of government we've enjoyed for the past 250 years is crumbling before our eyes and we're close to being powerless to stop it. Why do you suppose this is so? It's because we have become the world's "homeless shelter" and have allowed outsiders to come in and remodel our country to suit their desires rather than accepting what was offered to them when they came here. We're even electing them in our elections - GOOD GRIEF! Why don't we just sign over the deed and get it over with? "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". Where do you propose we draw the line - and, more importantly, WHEN? Should we wait until the official burning of the Bill of Rights?
    • Linda Joy
      China already bought the U.S. anyway. I'm glad I'll be dead soon and the kids who made the mess can clean it up or deal with it.
  • The US does have an official language, it's English. How many languages should be taught? Some people can't learn unfamiliar pronunciation which could lead to the command still not understood. There are many reasons that the idea is impractical.
    • Linda Joy
      Cite your source that English is the official language of the US. And its not impractical, its used in bilingual states and works well there.
    • Linda Joy
      "The Federal government allows Americans to speak any language they want. This right is protected in the Constitution. Many scholars assert that English-only laws would violate due process and equal protection under the law. The US Constitution allows for states to declare official languages.Oct 13, 2020" Why Doesn't the United States Have an Official Language? -https://acutrans.com/why-doesnt-the-united-states-have-an-official-language/
    • Army Veteran
      (error)
    • notyouraveragedummy
      Linda, bostjan64 said it better than I. I would, however, change "Criminals who don't speak English" to "People who don't speak English". In addition to things I mentioned in my original post, there is an expense involved in such training. There is also a problem that people who suit the job of police officer might not have the natural ability to learn another language. I can tell you the story of my cousin David who wanted to become a state trooper like his brother but could not until feminists fought to change the law regarding height requirement to qualify for that job.
  • English is the official language in 31 states, and is the de facto official language for all business done at the federal level (for example, legislation is only written in English). I think cops sometimes have a hard enough time remembering the laws they are supposed to be enforcing and, evidently, sometimes remembering when it is appropriate to shoot someone or not, so I don't think making them repeat everything in multiple languages is going to be practical. Criminals who "don't speak English" will just get more creative with the language that they do understand until no interpreter can be found. Somplace like Switzerland, which has four official languages, still has de facto primary language depending on region. For instance, in Zurich, where almost everyone speaks primarily Swiss German, the police are not going to shout things at you in Romansh. If you need an interpreter, though, they will give you one.
  • No if you cant speak the languge piss off go back to where you came from. Why do you want to be in the country you cant show enough respect to speak the language? Is what grandpa should of said unfortunately my grandfather was too busy with dick in his mouth constantly he was a traitor that gave the country away. My country is full of jippos that wog on in languages I have no idea what they are saying.

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