The Knowledge of English is Imperative for Immigrants
What is the American identity? America developed from immigrants who laid the principal foundations upon which this nation was born. And now immigrants must still help progress this nation; however, true progress can only be achieved by those who have a firm grasp of the language of their new country. A common language forms unity. The American identity and economic infrastructure relies on a united country and will be compromised if there is a lack of communication and cohesiveness within the country. For the nation to have the best chance of economic success in America, immigrants coming to the U.S. need to learn English for development of an American identity for themselves.
A shared …show more content…
America is an asylum where people can seek refuge. America is a cornucopia of resources and wealth. America is a country where all of its citizens come together to help push this great nation forward. To reap all of these benefits, an immigrant must fully assimilate into society with the first step being the learning of English. Crèvecoeur, a French writer who lived in the United States during the time of the revolution, wrote “What is an American,” an excerpt from Letters from an American Farmer that highlights the ideals and foundations for the American identity during that time period. Crèvecoeur claims, “ We are a people of cultivators, scattered over an immense territory communicating with each other…united by silk bands of mild government, all respecting the laws... We are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained”(Crèvecoeur 23). Crèvecoeur paints an ideal picture of America with the presumption that everyone will speak English. Communication would not be possible across the vastness of territory without English. When there is a gap between communication with the American society and the immigrant, the same benefits of the American identity cannot be given. The melting pot of the nation only works when all the individuals from different nations learn speak the same language so they can be “melted into a new race of men”(Crèvecoeur 84). This new race has all the wealth, land, and …show more content…
The funds are being dedicated to the supplication of immigrants when they should not need to. Anne Fadiman, an award-winning author who wrote The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, uses her book to highlight the focal point of Lia’s medical troubles stems from the lack of communication between the Hmong parents and the doctors. Looking at a larger scale, the language barrier due to non-English speaking immigrants does not only pose a threat to American doctors but to the American economic system as a whole. An exorbitant amount of time and money is being spent into helping this one little girl even though it could have been prevented right when it started if the parents could just tell the doctors about Lia’s seizures. The extra amount of money that could have been saved could be invested into getting the needed medicine and medical equipment. Instead, the taxpayer’s dollars are being spent to bring in expensive ineffective interpreters. Moreover, the non-English immigrants are acting as a parasite on the taxpaying Americans, feeding off of their dollars without anything in
What is the American identity? America developed from immigrants who laid the principal foundations upon which this nation was born. And now immigrants must still help progress this nation; however, true progress can only be achieved by those who have a firm grasp of the language of their new country. A common language forms unity. The American identity and economic infrastructure relies on a united country and will be compromised if there is a lack of communication and cohesiveness within the country. For the nation to have the best chance of economic success in America, immigrants coming to the U.S. need to learn English for development of an American identity for themselves.
A shared …show more content…
America is an asylum where people can seek refuge. America is a cornucopia of resources and wealth. America is a country where all of its citizens come together to help push this great nation forward. To reap all of these benefits, an immigrant must fully assimilate into society with the first step being the learning of English. Crèvecoeur, a French writer who lived in the United States during the time of the revolution, wrote “What is an American,” an excerpt from Letters from an American Farmer that highlights the ideals and foundations for the American identity during that time period. Crèvecoeur claims, “ We are a people of cultivators, scattered over an immense territory communicating with each other…united by silk bands of mild government, all respecting the laws... We are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained”(Crèvecoeur 23). Crèvecoeur paints an ideal picture of America with the presumption that everyone will speak English. Communication would not be possible across the vastness of territory without English. When there is a gap between communication with the American society and the immigrant, the same benefits of the American identity cannot be given. The melting pot of the nation only works when all the individuals from different nations learn speak the same language so they can be “melted into a new race of men”(Crèvecoeur 84). This new race has all the wealth, land, and …show more content…
The funds are being dedicated to the supplication of immigrants when they should not need to. Anne Fadiman, an award-winning author who wrote The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, uses her book to highlight the focal point of Lia’s medical troubles stems from the lack of communication between the Hmong parents and the doctors. Looking at a larger scale, the language barrier due to non-English speaking immigrants does not only pose a threat to American doctors but to the American economic system as a whole. An exorbitant amount of time and money is being spent into helping this one little girl even though it could have been prevented right when it started if the parents could just tell the doctors about Lia’s seizures. The extra amount of money that could have been saved could be invested into getting the needed medicine and medical equipment. Instead, the taxpayer’s dollars are being spent to bring in expensive ineffective interpreters. Moreover, the non-English immigrants are acting as a parasite on the taxpaying Americans, feeding off of their dollars without anything in