Glen made some great points. I'm a white guy from JC and English my only language. In fact, I hate the thought of learning another language. But, all that this does is create an invisible barrier between the rest of the world and us. The world is changing (isn't that obvious after tuesday), and those who refuse to adapt get left behind.

America was presented to me as a "melting pot" when I was learning History as a child. The people of Missouri voted to stand still last night, not move forward. All this will do in the long run is make things more difficult and create more anomosity.

The whole world cried tears of joy when we elected Obama. This wasn't an American election, this was the entire worlds election. While I believe that the country took a giant step forward last night, Missouri took at least a small step backward. It's a good thing that this wasn't a national Constitutional Amendment, because the rest of the world would not have liked it.

And yes, it really does matter what the rest of the world thinks. In the same way that it matters that we treat our neighbors with kindness. Because one day, you might need something from your neighbor.

Congratulations, Missouri! You have taken a step towards unity! Only when people speak a common language can we be unified! "Out of many, One"! Multiculturalism balkanizes people, separating people by language and culture, into their own communities, because they do not understand the language. Only when we mandate one language will people make the effort to learn it and teach their children, so that we all share a common characteristic. Other countries have made the mistake of being "multicultural" and all that got them were unhappy citizens, disenfranchised from the society at large, as in France and the EU. A national language brings everyone together! I hope this catches on with the other states just as the gay marriage ban seems to be catching on!

It is sad to read the comment about MO going backwards. MO is heading the right way. Our country has gotten so beside itself trying to make everybody else happy. Its truly a shame that people feel so sorry for immigrants, especially illegal immigrants, that they complain that ENGLISH is the official language. If you they want to live here and contribute they can speak ENGLSIH. And if you feel sorry for them, why don’t you go to Mexico, that way you can hear all the Spanish you want.

Took you long enough to make english the official Language!!! Everywhere you go is also in a spainish language, grocerystores, hardwarestores just everywhere. even when you apply for a job a spanish language is a mandatory. and that is not right!!!! people we are in the united states and the language is English Learn It OR LEAVE IT!!!! When i came to the United States i had no translater or anyhelp with my speaking or understanding . i had to learn it and im still learning. Yes we learned English in school but it is way diffrent from real deal. So im glad and happy English is the official Language.

In my previous comment I forgot to mention my permanent residence is in Missouri.

Congratulations Missouri for taking a giant step backwards. All over the world, governments are looking for ways to open up to the rest of the world. The "Show Me" state, on the other hand has decided it does not want to listen to others and has put a gag order on the rest of the world.

What happens when a foreign trade delegation visits a government agency to have a meeting on trade. Will the whole meeting be done in English with no translators? What happens when a Missouri delegation goes to a foreign country. Couldn't these meeting be classified as meeting where public policy is formulated? Thus they must be conducted solely in English.

In China children start learning English and other languages in third grade. I know many successful Chinese business people who speak several languages. There is a reason China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. They are making deliberate and concerted efforts to become more open with the rest of the world, not build a language wall to shut themselves in.

It is obvious that the writers of this amendment have not thought this thing though very well.