For one thing, the US has never had an official language. English is obviously the most widely used there, but contracts and official documents written in other languages are also completely valid.
At least in California plenty of government paperwork is available in a variety of languages. For example you can take a driver’s license test in 32 languages.
It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`, i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay for with their taxes.
>It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`,
I don't know if that has an argument fallacy like ad hominem, would we call this "ad etymology"?
>i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay
Shut out? They came of their own volition to a nation known to primarily speak English, did not learn English or have a means to communicate in English, and that's on us if we don't bend a knee? I can tell you any american living in France, they're gonna find situations where businesses say straight up (in French), speak French or I won't help you. I guess those poor Americans were just getting shut out
"To promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement, it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.
Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States."
I admit that I was unaware of that order, as I currently live overseas and don’t follow US news that closely.
However, the order opens with the line “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,” and I know of no law or constitutional clause that grants the President the power to designate an official language.
I could easily be mistaken, as there are a lot of laws on the books and this isn’t my field of expertise. Usually, though, an executive order will cite the relevant authority so that everyone understands where the power comes from; this one doesn’t.
It’s also mostly symbolic, aside from rescinding a previous order— None of the executive agencies are directed to halt producing or processing non-English documents, for instance.
> On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14224 to symbolically designate English as the official language of the United States for the first time.[2][23] The U.S. Congress has never passed legislation declaring an official language at the federal level,[24][25] but English is typically used by the federal government and in states that do not have an official language.
