No Hablo: Many Americans Are Grousing About Spanish Language Incursions

Rasmussen Poll Shows 85 Percent of Americans Favor "Official" English

June 18, 2006
By: Dave Rogers

What used to be just a mild irritant has blossomed into a full blown outrage.

It's the incursion of Spanish language into our society.

Make a cell phone call and the first thing you hear before leaving a message is a query apparently about whether you want to hear the message again in Spanish. The message starts "Para Espanol . . ." that means "For Spanish." And then for those who understand Spanish directions are given to access the message in that language.

The problem also has cropped up in retail. At Wal-Mart, for example, you must choose a language before you can scan your items into the crazily complicated "Self Check-out" system.

Americans more and more are buying into the George Carlin attitude: "If you're selling me a Big Mac, try to do it in English."

Eighty-five percent (85%) of Americans believe that English should be the official language of the United States, the latest Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 adults found.

Only 11%disagree and 4% are not sure about the "official language" provision, according to Rasmussen officials.

Last month the U.S. Senate voted 63-34 to make English the "national" language.

An official language would require all government publications and business to be conducted in English. The recently adopted bill does state that no one has "a right, entitlement or claim to have the government of the United States or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services or provide materials in any language other than English."

Making English the nation"s official language is favored by 92% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats, and 86% of those not affiliated with either major political party, the Rasmussen Poll reports, adding:

"It is supported by 91% of those over 40 and 78% of those under 40. There is little difference in the views of men and women or across income categories. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of white Americans support English as the official language along with 76% of non-white Americans."

According to Rasmussen, fifty-six percent (56%) of Americans now say that immigration reform is a "very" important issue in terms of how they will vote this November. Among those who say immigration is very important, 92% favor making English the official language of the United States.###