Habla Ingles?!

This may be my most controversial blog post but if I can not speak my mind on my own blog, where can I speak it? So here goes...
This is for "frustrated" based on many conversations we have had on the topic which was recently brought back to our attention thanks to former Senator Rick Santorum. While campaigning in Puerto Rico, he stated that if PR wished to become a state, they should adopt English as their official language. lol! I thought this was yet another comical statement by Mr.Santorum. Since Puerto Rico is a Spanish country, why would they make English the official language? But it also made me rethink the idea of English being the official language of the United States. In many countries such as the Australia, United Kingdom and the United States, English is the predominant language spoken and used in government but it is not the official language. However, it is the official language in certain states. I just read on wikipedia that 96% of the US population claims to speak English "well" or "very well". Seriously?
Spanish is the second most common language in the US and is spoken by 12% of the population. So why does it feel more like 50%?! I know. I know. I am biased since I live in the Miami area but honestly, even when I lived in the Northeast, I had the same feeling.
There have been several attempts to make English the official language in the United States but the bills have been met with opposition and have not passed. Why? I do not understand the resistance to this. It is a fact that America is a melting pot. Built on the backs of immigrants (and slaves-yes I had to go there) from all over the world. And what happened when they came from different countries all speaking their native tongue? They learned English to communicate with one another. How can we be the best country we can be if we do not have one common spoken and written language?
I do think it is wonderful to be fluent in different languages. During the times I have been in Europe, I envied travel companions who were fluent in French, Italian and Spanish. However, before I went to those countries, I learned basic words and phrases. Also, my foreign language handbooks never left my side. On the contrary, I have never seen Spanish speaking people in the US with an English translation handbook.
In addition, I will admit it. I get a bit annoyed when people suggest I become fluent in Spanish due to the population I serve. But isn't that enabling? Why isn't there any expectation or obligation from all immigrants to learn English? And should I also become fluent in Creole since there is a large Haitian population here? If I move to an area with a large Vietnamese population, will I also be told to learn that? Although the Hispanic population is now the largest minority population in the US, is it fair that Spanish is the language most people expect Americans to learn and speak forsaking all others? I think not.
I totally understand that it is not easy as an adult to learn a new language. I am sure it is even more difficult if there is a low level of education achieved. But in my opinion, there are many missed opportunities. For instance, why cant Spanish TV channels in the US have English subtitles? Since driving is a necessity for most people, how about a temporary driver's license requiring the exam be taken in English within a year in order to have a permanent license? When patients are admitted to hospitals there are many educational channels in Spanish. Why not have channels that teach English? Is there any one who can deny that having bilingual everything in this country, including customer service messages, allows a person to live their entire life in this country without ever learning English?
In addition, on a personal note, I do not think it is OK to have a job requirement in America of being fluent in Spanish. Unless that occupation is teaching English! lol. I have seen many such listings in my medical journals and have thought to myself- I went to school for 11 years after high school, sacrificed a great deal, spent an enormous amount of money but I am limited as to where I can work as a pediatrician because I am not fluent in Spanish. I cannot imagine being a parent and having to take my child to the hospital for an emergency but not being able to tell the doctors what the problem is. I could not live in a foreign country and not make every attempt to learn their language if only for that reason alone. I could not rely on or assume that wherever I went, someone could be found in person or over the phone that spoke English. Which brings me to my next point...
Is there any other country that would allow this? Based on just vacationing there, I dare anyone to move to France and expect the French to learn your language! Immigrants from non-Spanish speaking countries find a way to learn English in America because they have no choice. Shouldn't that be our strategy? For now, I would at least like for my Spanish speaking patients to say to me "no comprende" or "no habla ingles" instead of looking at me and listening to me speak English for a full 5 minutes saying nothing. Forcing me to ask- "habla ingles?".
Thoughts?