--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To become an American citizen, we require…" description: "\"To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ernest-istook-20942_american-citizen_to-become-an-american-citizen-we-require_2537746.png" --- # To become an American citizen, we require people to read… ![“To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to become Americans. We mock that when the cherished right to vote does not involve English any more.” quote by Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ernest-istook-20942_american-citizen_to-become-an-american-citizen-we-require_2537746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ernest-istook-20942_american-citizen_to-become-an-american-citizen-we-require_2537746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ernest-istook-20942_american-citizen_to-become-an-american-citizen-we-require_2537746.png) > “To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to become Americans. We mock that when the cherished right to vote does not involve English any more.” [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Links language proficiency to assimilation, questioning voting rights tied to language. **In simple terms:** English aids integration, but voting should be inclusive. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive civic participation. Themes integration citizenship language policy Mood critical political Type policy social commentary When to use this quote - immigration process - community voting - education programs Key Concepts assimilation democracy rights Questions to Reflect On - Should voting be language‑neutral? - How can we balance integration with inclusion? A Different Perspective Risk of marginalizing non‑English speakers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Citizen Require](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-require-1404119/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Help Assimilate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-assimilate-1404120/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Melting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melting/) [Melting pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melting-pot/) [Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak english](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-english/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“What do you do with all of these people on the street? Surround them with an army of police officers to mimic their jail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-chavira/what-do-you-do-with-all-of-these-people-on-the-street-surround-them/) [Tony Chavira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-chavira/) > [Every American citizen must have an equal right to vote. There is no reason which can excuse the denial of that right. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/every-american-citizen-must-have-an-equal-right-to-vote-there-is-no/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I'm not an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/i-m-not-an-american-citizen/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [I'm obviously an American citizen. My parents are American citizens. But I'm not looked at as an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/i-m-obviously-an-american-citizen-my-parents-are-american-citizens/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [Finding the Russian scientists may be a problem being that Russia does not have a Social Security System, as here in America, that allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/finding-the-russian-scientists-may-be-a-problem-being-that-russia/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When I became an American citizen, nothing's changed because I'm still Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-i-became-an-american-citizen-nothing-s-changed-because-i-m-still/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I'm not a doctor, nor am I a member of the military. What I am is an appreciative, concerned American citizen, who was horrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-m-not-a-doctor-nor-am-i-a-member-of-the-military-what-i-am-is-an/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I'm a writer. In Latin America, they say I'm a Latin-American writer because I also write in Spanish and my books are translated, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-a-writer-in-latin-america-they-say-i-m-a-latin-american-writer/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [It was a really big deal to become an American citizen the right way. You have to work really hard, and it is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-alves/it-was-a-really-big-deal-to-become-an-american-citizen-the-right-way/) [Camila Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-alves/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [1920 was an auspicious year for a young person to enter the world as an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/1920-was-an-auspicious-year-for-a-young-person-to-enter-the-world-as/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Once you step foot on the Supreme Court steps, you lose your first-amendment rights. I don't see how, as an American citizen, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/once-you-step-foot-on-the-supreme-court-steps-you-lose-your-first/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [The sheer evil of antisemitism, left unchecked, has evolved and grown into an ever more virulent hatred, one that no American citizen should ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-sheer-evil-of-antisemitism-left-unchecked-has-evolved-and-grown/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) ## More by Ernest Istook > [There are many alternatives to embryonic stem cell research, alternatives with great potential. We need to support these and oppose creating life for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/there-are-many-alternatives-to-embryonic-stem-cell-research/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The motives of these parents vary, many parents don't like the curriculum being taught to their kids, or are wary of the threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-motives-of-these-parents-vary-many-parents-don-t-like-the/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [It's good that the first half of the speech emphasized freedom, because George W. Bush has been the global champion for freedom. As he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/it-s-good-that-the-first-half-of-the-speech-emphasized-freedom/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [English should be our official language. Reading and speaking English are requirements to become a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/english-should-be-our-official-language-reading-and-speaking-english/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [We need uniform protection of traditional marriage. You can't have different definitions on something as fundamental as marriage. The Marriage Protection Amendment is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/we-need-uniform-protection-of-traditional-marriage-you-can-t-have/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [There's a lot of exaggerated talk about CAFTA, but it's actually a fairly routine trade agreement. Although it involves fairly small nations, they're still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/there-s-a-lot-of-exaggerated-talk-about-cafta-but-it-s-actually-a/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [We cannot sacrifice innocent human life now for vague and exaggerated promises of medical treatments thirty of forty years from now. There are ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/we-cannot-sacrifice-innocent-human-life-now-for-vague-and-exaggerated/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The American people do not want people thumbing their nose at the law. It undercuts the very fabric of our society and the system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-american-people-do-not-want-people-thumbing-their-nose-at-the-law/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Americans should be free to recognize our religious heritage; doing that is not the same as creating a government-sponsored religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/americans-should-be-free-to-recognize-our-religious-heritage-doing/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [I remind everyone: Whether you school them at home or send them to school, you as a parent have the responsibility to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/i-remind-everyone-whether-you-school-them-at-home-or-send-them-to/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Out of control judicial activism threatens traditional marriage in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/out-of-control-judicial-activism-threatens-traditional-marriage-in/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Instead of this confusion, we need the unifying force of an official language, English, which is the language of success in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/instead-of-this-confusion-we-need-the-unifying-force-of-an-official/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Thousands of present day students, like many of our Founding Fathers, are being taught at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/thousands-of-present-day-students-like-many-of-our-founding-fathers/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [Education begins at home and I applaud the parents who recognize that they - not someone else - must take responsibility to assure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/education-begins-at-home-and-i-applaud-the-parents-who-recognize-that/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The courts are using the First Amendment to attack religion, when they should be using it to protect religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-courts-are-using-the-first-amendment-to-attack-religion-when-they/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) [Explore all 30 Ernest Istook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) ## More American citizen quotes > [The sheer evil of antisemitism, left unchecked, has evolved and grown into an ever more virulent hatred, one that no American citizen should ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-sheer-evil-of-antisemitism-left-unchecked-has-evolved-and-grown/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [Once you step foot on the Supreme Court steps, you lose your first-amendment rights. I don't see how, as an American citizen, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/once-you-step-foot-on-the-supreme-court-steps-you-lose-your-first/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [1920 was an auspicious year for a young person to enter the world as an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/1920-was-an-auspicious-year-for-a-young-person-to-enter-the-world-as/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [It was a really big deal to become an American citizen the right way. You have to work really hard, and it is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-alves/it-was-a-really-big-deal-to-become-an-american-citizen-the-right-way/) [Camila Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-alves/) > [I'm a writer. In Latin America, they say I'm a Latin-American writer because I also write in Spanish and my books are translated, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-a-writer-in-latin-america-they-say-i-m-a-latin-american-writer/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I'm not a doctor, nor am I a member of the military. What I am is an appreciative, concerned American citizen, who was horrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-m-not-a-doctor-nor-am-i-a-member-of-the-military-what-i-am-is-an/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [When I became an American citizen, nothing's changed because I'm still Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-i-became-an-american-citizen-nothing-s-changed-because-i-m-still/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [Finding the Russian scientists may be a problem being that Russia does not have a Social Security System, as here in America, that allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/finding-the-russian-scientists-may-be-a-problem-being-that-russia/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I'm obviously an American citizen. My parents are American citizens. But I'm not looked at as an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/i-m-obviously-an-american-citizen-my-parents-are-american-citizens/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [I'm not an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/i-m-not-an-american-citizen/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [I wanted to participate in the political responsibilities of an American citizen. I wanted to vote. I wanted to be a full member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-wanted-to-participate-in-the-political-responsibilities-of-an/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Politics is the practical exercise of the art of self-government, and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government; somebody must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/politics-is-the-practical-exercise-of-the-art-of-self-government-and/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) [Browse all 168 American citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to become Americans. 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