English Spoken Here
To The Editor:

As an American and a concerned citizen I'm very troubled we do not as of yet have an official language, which I believe ought to be English. I believe we need legislation that addresses this issue which I think needs to happen. The United States is a nation of immigrants, just like our borough of Queens which is known as the international borough. We are a nation that is proud of our cultures and traditions and that I believe are the things that make us a great nation with much diversity. As such I think we need to have an official language for we need a strong central language to unite all citizens. I also think this would help immigrants connect and succeed in America. Declaring English the official language is essential and beneficial for the U.S. government and its citizens. Official English unites Americans, who speak 322 languages (based on [the] 2000 Census) by providing a common means of communication. It also encourages immigrants to learn English in order to use government services and to participate in the democratic process.

There now is legislation [pending] in the House of Representatives, known as H.R. 997, to make English the official language and I would like to ask my [fellow] Queens residents to write their Congress-man or woman to vote yes on this bill.

Remember what President Theodore Roosevelt said, "We have only one flag and therefore have room for one language, the language of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the language of the Declaration of Independence".

[On this] I rest my case.
Sincerely Yours,
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose