I think anyone emigrating to any other country should learn the local national language. Regardless of where there are emigrating too or from! And that comes from an English man who emigrated to Norway.

I am one of those Americans who feel that those who emigrate to the U.S. should be required to learn English. As I can only speak for myself and I am not illiterate, my answer is no.

Many Americans are illiterate, but they can still speak and understand spoken English. If immigrants got even that far it would be a huge improvement. They can work on reading/writing later.

No because at least we can understand what they're saying or half way understand! :D

Hypocrisy is a wonderful hobby, I practice it myself rather regularly! :) (For the record, I do not think immigrants should be required to learn English. But that's a bit off topic here). Yes, it is sort of hypocritical for someone to insist that others learn the language when their own command is pretty weak. But I don't think it's an effective tactic to call this behavior ignorant and hypocritical -- it's a divisive approach. The immigrant language issue is a hot-button because of another division (based on ethnicity or national origin), so piling on a division based on hypocrisy doesn't help -- it's just adds one more split into "us" and "them". One of the hardest arts to learn is to be an agent of healing on divisive issues. Group A has their view, group B has their view, and the two have polarized completely and are slamming each other against the wall. What good can come of this? Nothing, of course. But we do it everywhere. How do you stand up for what's right without reinforcing these divisions or adding new ones? I think in order to do that, you have to be very well grounded in a fundamental but esoteric truth: all divisions are artificial. My opponents aren't an alien life form... they just hold to different views than I do. Underlying the division caused by that difference, there's a unity of being... to recognize that unity and stay connected to it is challenging, because we're very tempted to grab onto our view and just start slugging. If I can argue while remaining connected to my opponent, something worthwhile can happen. Otherwise, all I'm doing is contributing to the hostility and suffering in the situation. So I think that approach is worth learning and worth practicing. I still fail at it a lot, but when it succeeds it's magic.

I don't see where the two are even related. Yes, people who immigrate should learn to speak the language of their new country. Yes, Americans should be properly educated. (I don't believe that being illiterate means one can't speak the language, it refers to reading/writing ability). No, this view isn't hypocritical.

No! Because I don't think they're talking about learning English grammar (Which is what so many Americans are lacking on). I think they're referring to conversational English, so that they may speak and understand the language that everyone here should be speaking.

I agree it is hypocritical! Almost everyone I've heard voice that sentiment have some of the worst english I've ever heard! LOL.. Personally I think America should be moving toward multi- if not bi-lingualism.. It makes perfect sense to me to have Spanish taught along side English in areas bordering or near Mexico and French taught along the north-east part of the border, and etc...

Most Americans that want immigrants to "learn English", are referring to their ability to speak conversational English. The fact that some of these same Americans may well be illiterate themselves, has no bearing on this particular view, as illiteracy doesn't refer to the inability to speak the language. This in turn, would remove the question of hypocrisy. English is my second language. My ability to speak, read, and write English is necessary for me to function in the world that I have chosen to live in. Many of my relatives, however, speak no English and have no problems functioning in the world that they have chosen. As far as illiteracy is concerned, I speak five different languages, but am only literate in three. My illiteracy in the other two, doesn't negate my ability to function in the realms in which these languages are a necessity. I believe that one should learn to speak the host country's language if it brings functionality to their world. If the person is in a situation in which learning to speak the language has no bearing in their lives, then why bother?

I don't think that makes it hypocritical, as they (the immigrants) can't speak the English language. If you are a natural born citizen of the US, then you most likely speak the language. If the government makes them (the immigrants) learn to read, then good for them. They are making sure they have a chance in this new opportunity.

No I do not. I think requiring them to learn English shows they have a desire to be part of our country. It also prepares them to become part of our larger community and helps them prosper quicker which is good for all of us. The fact that this country has native morons is really irrelevant.

as for all kinds of official stuff, be it legal, commerce, civils contracts, education, etc. i think each country must declare one or two sanctioned languages, the most common in that certain nation...and as for illiteracy, it should not be the argument not to demand an official language, on the contrary, it should be more of a reason to better any nation's education programs, based precisely on whichever the official language is...

Literacy has nothing to do with speaking English. Until recently, ALL Americans spoke English (no matter how badly or "slangy" it was). Note I did not say anything about readin' or 'ritin'. Since the beginning, the US has been a "melting pot" of immigrants, and ALL of them (again, in the past) learned at least SOME English. And those who became successful learned it well. See http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2o_auth_ops_immigrantamericans.shtml and http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2o_auth_ops_reamericanvmexicanflag.shtml for more of what I think about this.

LOL.... That's funny and a good point.

ummmm yeah