Santorum tells Puerto Ricans to speak English if they want to be a state.

[useful idiot]

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Says the Canadian. Did you look that up in wikipedia?

You do know that Puerto Rico is overwhelmingly English speaking, right?

No it's not, dude...

[useful idiot]

I don't understand why this is a big deal, aside from the fact that it was foolish of him to say it if he wanted to win this primary (which he wasn't going to anyway). The idea that a group of people should integrate if they want to become full members of a given country is hardly radical, I'm sorry. It's not as if Puerto Rico is bilingual, that would be a different story. It isn't. It's largely uni-lingual, and that language isn't the one spoken by the vast majority of Americans.

I support PR statehood wholeheartedy, I think it would be beneficial for both the mainland and the island, culturally and economically. However, the idea that they should become a state without a major push towards bilingualism on the part of the citizenry there is just silly. I have yet to meet a non-elderly immigrant, illegal or legal, who hasn't made the effort to learn English. It's bizarre to think that Puerto Ricans wouldn't want to learn English if it better helped them integrate. The problem is at the moment the English programs in their schools are similar to the Spanish programs in American schools; woefully inadequate and with hardly anyone coming out fluent.

BTW, to those who think English is widespread in PR, I suggest you visit sometime. I spent a summer there a few years ago (I have an uncle that lives there), and I can assure you it isn't.

[useful idiot]

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My anecdotal evidence suggests precisely the opposite. Are you gaging it by what they choose to do among themselves, or what they use when working with an English speaker?

Most of them who speak any English speak very rudimentary English. Yes there are people there who are fluent in English, but they're a minority. The ones who are, or are near-fluent, are almost always people who have lived on the mainland or work in the service industry.

Santorum comments:

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If he was wrong why aren't there people jumping up and down saying "Hey almost everyone here speaks English!"?