Um, I wasn't talking about accents. (with a thick accent, yes, but they learned English), they didn't expect us to change things for them. The majority of the people speak English in this country, and in a democracy, majority rules (though most liberals and democrats seem to have forgotten about that). English should be the official language of the United States. It is only logical.
The same principle applies should an English-speaker relocate to French-speaking country. They should learn French. That should be the first thing one does when moving to a country that does not speak their language. Personally, I have no intention of going to France, so I am not going to waste my time going there.
The difference between British English, Australian English, Canadian English, and American English are not obvious enough; the differences in speech patterns remain comprehensible.
We've always spoken English.
Actually the original peoples of North America
did not speak English, they spoke many distinct languages in distinct language families that I'm guessing don't even fall into the Indo-European family. The first Europeans to make contact with the 'new world'
did not speak English. Columbus did not speak English. Neither did Magellan or Balboa. The Spanish were the first to colonize what we now call the Americas and set up the infrastructure (you know, topple governments, kill locals, exploit natural resources all that good stuff) that later waves of European immigrant powers would build on. Even the first British colonists spoke a form of English (aside from accents) that would be considered mangled by today's standards. The French also had a strong colonizing influence in North America (just look at Quebec and funny French names around the Great Lakes area and Creole French in the Louisiana area) at the same time as the English.
The Spanish and then Mexico controlled and vied for control with the US (or what later become the US) for vast parts of the country. Just look at CA and Texas (which by the way, probably also creat the biggest state chauvinists)
Etc. etc. etc.
That's what I meant by reopening a history book.
As far as the majority rules thing -- see, in some cities and counties immigrants and the children of immigrants ARE already the majority or else the majority of LABORERS. In a generation or three what is considered 'minority' will be the 'majority'.
Also, there is huge distinction between physical minority, being actually smaller in numbers, and disenfranchised minority meaning regardless of physical presence not having proportional agency in society.
I don't disagree that priveleged, educated people like the majority of Americans who have the option of living abroad should take advantage of their resources and learn the local language. But, unless you are an interpreter or work for the UN or NGO and it is part of your job description, you'll most likely end up being an expat who maybe learns a few helpful everyday phrases, if that. The difference is, as an American expat, you have the luxury of not having to assimilate or conform to the local culture or even learn anything about it and live outside of it in a protected, even glamorous way.
Totally different contexts between an American living abroad (especially to developing countries) for 'fun, to find oneself, to broaden horizons' and immigrants from developing countries coming to America for economic and political relief where a level of assimilation is necessary for survival.