Linguistic Logistics

People from different cultural backgrounds absolutely have a right to maintain their heritage no matter where they live. When it comes to the United States, the country truly is a "melting pot." It's an aspect that makes the U.S. great -- the ability to welcome people from all over the globe.

That being said, we're stuck at a crossroads when it comes to achieving real, clear unity. The two major political parties in this country are relatively split on the issue of the U.S. declaring an official language. Democrats like Nobel Prize winner Al Gore believe that putting legal statutes in place would be divisive and lead to further segregation. However, the lack of communication between various cultures living as one nation is, in a large part, due to our literal inability to talk to each other.

Some find it interesting, and possibly appalling, that Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the advisory board of U.S. English, an organization which supports making English the country's official language. Why, exactly?

The Governator is a perfect example of a naturalized citizen learning English (albeit speaking imperfectly) and becoming a major player on the political field. He did not abandon his heritage or his first language -- and it would be inappropriate for someone to feel that he should do so. However, he can now communicate with and reach out to the citizens of this country on multiple levels. Not only as a modern-day immigrant who achieved the so-called American dream, but as the Governor of California, one of the largest states in the U.S.

Language barriers only lead to further segregation because there's no sense of urgency for people to leave their own communities or interact with "outsiders." Some locales have street signs in alternate languages to appease people who have yet to learn English. This is simply unacceptable on multiple levels. That form of appeasement allows segregation to fester. The government should set English as a standard and then fund programs to help immigrants learn the language. It's not that they need to speak it perfectly, but a general understanding is important to making positive change happen.