The Huffington Post – Jack Jennings
The ability to speak other languages is sorely needed for our national security and economic success. Yet, speaking another language is viewed unfavorably by many Americans who fear a weakening of our national character. Consequently, this unique strength is daily losing its vitality…Today, we are duplicating a serious error of the past by not appreciating this gift of languages and using it to help the country. In the last century, immigrants believed that they should not teach their children the language of the country of their origin because somehow that would keep them from becoming real Americans…Let’s be clear. Every child in the U.S. must learn English, and every adult who is not proficient in English ought to be encouraged to learn it. English is a bedrock of our society, and also a world language. That said, there are enormous advantages to a society in which many individuals also know other languages…If more Americans were to retain the language of their families’ origins, America would be stronger, not weaker. It should not be shameful to know the language of your parents; it should be a matter of pride.”(more)