Honor immigrants and diversity
My entire AP Chemistry class was taking a well-deserved break during class after taking the AP test, when a classmate of mine showed a few of us a letter his family got about how the United States should be an English-speaking country. It told how Americans shouldn’t have to adapt to the various languages its people and immigrants speak. But I think the U.S. shouldn’t only be an official or exclusive English-speaking country, but one that accepts the diverse cultures and languages its citizens have blended into everyday American lifestyles.
Individual freedom means that individuals have the right to do what they want, as long as it does not hurt an innocent bystander and follows the law. The right to equality is one of the foundations of the Constitution. When walking into a restaurant, a store, or a government building, one should have the right to read menus, advertisements, or documents that are written in their native language. No one should have to feel that his or her culture should be rejected. Everyone can choose whatever language they speak, and not have to defend their choice to speak a language that is not English.
This letter reminds me of the Nativist Movement in the 1920s when Americans discriminated against many immigrants who voyaged to the United States. Immigrants, who have gone through the long process to become citizens, should not be distanced from society and should be treated like any law-abiding Americans. Many of my own family members and friends’ family members are recent immigrants or have emigrated from another country. Confusion is part of the immigrant experience because entering into a different country where the cultural differences are large is hard. It is a hard transition for an immigrant to adapt to a new country that may have different sceneries, different governments, different cultures, and different ways of life. An immigrant’s cultural identity is blended in with this American way of living, when most of the time it is more free and democratic. Feeling lost or losing a sense of who you are is not part of this better life that many want. One has the right to communicate in whatever language is comfortable for them. By not giving immigrants the option to have official documents and other papers in their native languages tells them to choose between their cultures, that a part of their culture is not welcome.
Some argue that the U.S. should only be an English speaking country to be unified. However, being an American is not an ethnicity. It is purely a label. I am an American, but I am also Chinese and I identify myself as a Chinese American. To make America not a multilingual country is forcing many to choose between their cultures. All Americans are either immigrants, or descendants of immigrants. The hardships that we all face, especially now with the economy, are what unify Americans—to get ourselves back up on our feet and remain resilient.
The U.S. is a country founded by immigrants and has a diverse population. This should be honored by educating children and adults about these different cultures and languages to erase any ignorance of what is in their surroundings. If these languages were not spoken as much, then they would simply be forgotten. The diversity that is in this country should be showcased with the multiple languages the people speak. End of story. Fin de l’histoire. Fine della storia. Final de la historia.