Obama Supports a Bilingual America: The Controversy Heats Up

A bilingual America; it is not a new idea. Nor is it a new controversial debate. Nor is Barack Obama the first American politician to voice support of a bilingual America. Also, the Spanish language is still the preferred choice of a second language for bilingual supporters. The idea of a bilingual America first heated up for this generation about 10 years ago, resulting in the passage of Proposition 227 in California and the Executive Order 13166 . The passing of these mandates were met with mixed results and the current backlash against Barack Obama's support shows that the debate has yet to be resolved. From federal enforcement of local governments to provide alternative prints of documents and tests in foreign languages to allowing non-English speaking Americans to vote in presidential elections, the argument still has a long way to go before everyone's interests or concerns are met.

The debate is simple at its surface; English is the standard language in America, if foreign people want to participate in citizenship, they must learn the English language.

Things become fuzzy fairly quickly when population demographics are taken into account. Spanish speaking people are the fastest growing minority in America and the Census projects them becoming the majority in a not-too-distant future. Therefore proponents of a bilingual America and Barack Obama have made an attempt to prepare Americans for the apparent inevitability of a future Spanish speaking majority language.

But the major issue is whether or not Americans want to learn a second language. The resounding response is currently a negative one, as it always has been. Detractors of a bilingual America often relate the fact that even current bilingual actions do not make sense, such as the need of multiple languages on voting ballots; why have it when only American citizens can vote and English is a requirement of citizenship?

Some however wonder why this is even still a debate. English speaking Americans will not always be the majority. The Census has pointed out the trend for decades. Politicians and Educators have known for almost a full generation that a bilingual society was emerging in America. So why is Spanish still not mandatory in public schools? Why not add an extra hour, or even just thirty minutes to the school day to fit in Spanish courses?

Then, from the detractors the argument shifts the other way; why haven't politicians done more to make sure American citizens and non-English speaking minorities who aspire to citizenship are immersed in English language courses?

Barack Obama may not have fully understood what kind of worms were going to come out of this freshly opened can, or maybe he did. What is apparent, however, is that the issue of a bilingual America is far from satisfied. For those people interested in learning Spanish just because it sounds like a good idea to you, there are plenty of online sources to get you going. The same goes for anyone who could use a little English language booster. Who knows, maybe the freedom of personal choice will simply make the debate a non-issue.