Eclectic

~SOAP BOX~

I’m not necessarily as concerned with the statement about the “official language” but the statement that it should be the “only one”. Am I the only person who finds this both really upsetting and really concerning? I’ll admit that when friend in my first German class made a comment on how (at the time) I wasn’t planning on taking any more languages and how that reflected how American students largely don’t seem to care about knowing another language fluently but just use it to satisfy a college or high school requirement, I was just like “WHATEVS”. But, now, with German seeming like the class that I go to when I need academic comfort (i.e. I don’t understand another class or I’m having difficulty with an assignment and I go to my German homework and will even do extra because I just find it fun), I find it sad that I was ever strongly opposed to learning a language in the first place.

Now, I’ll also admit that I don’t have a very strong opinion with regards to illegal immigrants probably mostly because I don’t feel directly connected to the issue (I know that there are economic impacts and factors and whatnot, but at this point my economic cognition is naively limited to OMG I’M SO BROKE #COLLEGEKIDSTEREOTYPE) and I need to educate myself more, but I don’t like the idea that America is a place about restrictions or this assertion of absolute dominance on our soil. (This pertains to a lot of different subjects, I know, and I also know that I need to learn about all of these subjects more thoroughly, but for this post I’m just ranting about this particular issue.) English doesn’t need to be the only language in order to feel stable and having both Spanish and English on directions doesn’t mean anything bad to me. It feels like Americans are only interested in being American citizens, rather than citizens of the world. That’s a cheesy term, but I agree with it. I agree with the idea that we are not just this isolated country and so understanding and engaging with other countries is just plain smart and forcing them to learn “our” language is very elitist. I also agree with the idea that aligning with just what we are used to in America isn’t productive and it’s frighteningly rigid. Our definition of “American” needs to change as people change and in this case, being open to foreign language is not America giving in to “non-American” proliferation, but embracing the change in population dynamics and needs. This might all be undermined by my ignorant status of white-girl-at-liberal-college-so-I-think-I-know-stuff and I’d actually love it if people would tell me their points of view. I don’t promise that I’ll change my mind, but I promise to appreciate your personal experience and subsequent insight. 

Edit: Wow, that’s a block of text. (Also, not-so-secretly hoping that Becca agrees because I kind of see her as like the social activist of my tumblr friends and so I feel like I need her approval for this newish venture of mine. APPROVE OF ME, BECCA. PLEASE.)