Barack Obama speaks the truth. Republican conservatives speak with forked tongue.Obama was asked a question about education. In his reply he said he didn't understand people who insist on "English only."
He went on to explain that "immigrants should learn English. But instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English - they'll learn English - you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual. We should have every child speaking more than one language."
Obama further said that schools should emphasize foreign language study.
There is absolutely nothing controversial in any of that. In fact, our schools have stressed the study of foreign languages. I was required to study a foreign language when in Junior High School a number of years ago. Many, if not most, high schools require two years of foreign language study in order to be eligible for a diploma, and the same is true for our colleges and universities.
Obama was attacked for his statements by right wing radio talk shows and conservative bloggers. But in many cases he was not quoted correctly. For example, the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC took aim by claiming that "Barack Obama has stepped on a political land mine by stating that Americans should be forced to learn Spanish."
That is not what Obama said, of course. But for the conservatives, truth doesn't matter. Why have a rational discourse about an important issue when you can try to damage your opponent with false accusations?
Obama responded forcefully reiterating his statement that immigrants need to learn English and the rest of us should learn a foreign language. "We should want our children with more knowledge. We should want our children to have more skills. That's a good thing. I know, because I don't speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing. ...
"It's embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English. They speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is 'merci beaucoup!'"
Obama is absolutely right on! Those who attacked him are typical of the "swift boater" types who will do or say almost anything to discredit their perceived enemies. It would be nice if we could shame them into silence, but they are beyond shame.
1 comment:
When I was young, I too had to take at least one foreign language in high school. I was not too good at maintaining what I learned though. I regret that. I have traveled to many lands and felt rather foolish not even being able to find a toilet or ask directions, unless I found someone that spoke English. I know many business executives that are totally dependent upon interpreters in order to conduct business or ferret out local conditions in some countries. All my children do speak or can understand at least one other language. One speaks a number of languages fluently and is trying to learn Korean, Japanese and Chinese. He is a private consultant, primarily to the automotive industry and finds it to his advantage to be able to communicate with others when in their country. He is a natural linguist and enjoys his abilities. For the rest of us, knowing at least one other language cannot ever harm us and might come in handy.
Small children learn very easily and sometimes do not even realize they know tow languages. Spanish, in the USA is all round us, wheteher we approve or not. Most immigrants and all their children eventually learn English, in order to survive. Many of us, except for Native Americans, come from people that spoke another language when they arrived here. Eventually our immigrants will too.
Bob Poris
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