Brushfire of Freedom
The Conservative Cowboy
The government incurs costs when a high a percentage of the population does not speak English. Many government forms now have to be offered in two different languages. The cost of printing as well as the amount of inventory on hand increases when you have to have two different types of the same form. This is one of the reasons many companies and government services are turning to the internet. Having a separate site in another language is much cheaper than having hard copy forms. The offices also need to staff employees that speak multiple languages. If the Government does not cater to these individuals then they are facing litigation against them which is also very expensive.
All of these items would be very simply solved if the Government mandated English as the official language of the United States. That would not take away the right to speak a native language in the home simply require that English be fluently spoken by all individuals. This would create a situation that would make it much easier to interact within our culture, on a business as well as a personal level.
Businesses must also conform when an immigrant does not assimilate into a culture. As a business the most important aspect is customer base. If the business is in an area that is predominantly immigrants that speak a certain language or have different values they must conform to the population. This is not always a bad thing; this adaptation promotes the diversity that is so important in this country. The problem arises when they are forced to conform so much that they alienate the rest of the population. Businesses should be able to mix the wants and needs of the immigrant population with the current population. This mix of goods and services allows the culture as a whole to grow. This assimilation was a very important part of our history.
Looking back in time when immigrants would come over to start a new life in America they were forced to assimilate because the businesses and the society as a whole would not allow for anything different. Not only did society force them to assimilate but the immigrants themselves wanted to assimilate. They realized that they left their country of origin to become American, not Italian American or Mexican American or Japanese American, simply American. America provided these people with opportunities that they could never encounter in their old country. With those opportunities came the responsibility to blend in to the current culture, and with that blending create a newer American Culture. Fast forward to the present and the immigrant’s ideals have changed. Instead of the immigrant conforming to the current system today’s immigrant wants the system to conform to their needs. They want all of the opportunity without any of the responsibility.
Stay tuned for part 3 next week where we are going to talk about the greatest proof that there is a lack of assimilation in this country.
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