Originally posted by: RichardE
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That comment is going to go over like a fart in church here in Oklahoma and places like Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, etc....
Maybe because they are thinking he was talking about sexual preferences?
Otherwise, I can't imagine why people would flaunt lack of capability as a desired quality
It isn't about lack of capability. It will be perceived as he is saying we should give in to people who immigrate here, either legally or illegally, and refuse to learn the primary language of the country.
I doubt you have to deal with it much in Connecticut but around here, Tulsa Oklahoma, there are entire areas of the city that have been overrun with mostly illegal Mexicans where you will find very little if any English spoken. Everywhere you look in those areas the business signs are all in Spanish and they have even been demanding that the city replace the street signs with signs that are in Spanish.
Think about that for a second....a group of illegal immigrants settle into a city and then turn areas of it into a blighted hell hole where even the police fear to tread and then have the nerve to demand the city accommodate the fact that they can't speak the native language and want street signs in their native tongue.
People in the areas being overrun by illegals have had enough and there is about to be a very strong backlash against them and against the politicians who refuse to do anything about the illegal immigration problem.
Did you listen to the Audio? He's talking about a) English as a second language courses b) extra classes to help them learn English. c) Ensure that Spanish speaking children have a good grasp of English before putting them into full English immersion.
What exactly is wrong with that? Or would you rather immigrants dropping out of school because they do not have the tools to learn?
I'm 100% behind immigrants learning English. The problem is that many refuse to. Unless Obama is going to mandate that they must learn English then everything he is saying is pie in the sky dreaming.
For example there are a couple of schools here that have 100% Spanish speaking classes, no English at all. None. Why? Because the parents of the children did not want their children to be forced to learn English. I think we can all agree that is stupid and is a hindrance to the children, but there are many Mexican families, at least around here, that refuse to learn English as a matter of stubbornness and pride. The schools system tried to do what Obama is suggesting and all that caused was protests by the Latino community here claiming that the school system was racist.
I think you underestimate the stubbornness of many of the illegal Mexicans. It has never made sense to me that they fled Mexico for whatever reason and came here in hopes of a better life, but once they arrive they turn the area they settle into a version of Mexico and refuse to assimilate.
Maybe they aren't like that everywhere, but the ones we have here are that way. I have friends in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Colorado who have told me it is exactly the same way where they live.
Of course there are going to be issues. There are still major issues in the American education system such as the drop out rate for blacks in urban environments. All he is saying there is that the tools should be available for these people to learn English. I am truly lost on how everyone twisted these words besides being offended at "people should know more than one language" like that is some sort of attack against you for whatever reason just because you didn't bother to learn more than one.
Just because you provide someone with tools doesn't mean they are going to be willing to use them. Unless learning English is mandated for immigrants nothing will change.
Hell there have been several Naturalization Ceremonies here that were held entirely in Spanish. If that isn't fucked up then I don't know what is.
You can't "force" someone to learn another language though. It really is impossible. If you ever learned a second language you know that it something you have to put alot of effort and time into, especially as you get older. Spanish and French were easy for me to learn as I did when I was a child, Italian is hard even though its Latin base and mandarin is even harder because I am older now.
You guys are sort of going through the same thing Canada already has. In Canada if you live anywhere remote on the east coast chances are you will have to deal with people in French daily. The Canadian government offers French immersion programs that allows Canadians to learn French as a child, and you can continue this process. All the while the French want to separate from Canada. At the same time, people in Quebec and the eastern coasts can either just keep French and only work in Quebec/East coasts/Europe or learn English and be able to move around. The people in the Southern States can either learn Spanish, or move, or get a higher education to work above minimum wage jobs where you don't really have to deal with Spanish.
The Mexicans or people who know Spanish primarily will learn English if is offered. Sorry if I got off topic here, the point is you can't force someone to learn a language. They have to do it willingly. Offering the tools to learn English at least starts a process where Spanish children can learn English with no effort from there parents involved. (Which makes it more likely for them to "allow" it.
Some people you can do nothing to help, but you should help the ones who want to better themselves.