Posted on 07/09/2002 10:43:24 AM PDT by Tancredo Fan
Singer's remark riles Hispanics -- Greeley debates 'English' comment
By Michael Riley
Denver Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
A country western singer who told his audience at the Greeley Independence Stampede that immigrants should learn to speak English ignited an emotional debate in a community that has seen an influx of Hispanics over the past decade.
Warner Brothers recording star Chad Brock said Monday that his comments were meant to express his "pride in being American." But Hispanic leaders said they were racist and the failure of Stampede organizers to condemn them shows the refusal to embrace newcomers.
Brock stepped on stage Friday to belt out hits like "Lighting Does the Work," but he salted his performance with some sharp opinions.
In a speech between sets, Brock said he was tired of having to adapt to the widening influence of the country's newcomers. "You are coming to our country. We don't speak Russian. We don't speak Spanish. We speak English here," Brock told an audience of 7,000, according to the Greeley Tribune. While many Hispanics in the audience walked out, people who attended the event said many non-Hispanics cheered.
Brock, a former pro wrestler, said Monday that the comments came out of an honest patriotic fervor, inspired in part by a recent court decision declaring the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.
"I'm not a racist. I wasn't directing the comments toward any particular group. I was speaking my mind as an American" during the Fourth of July holiday, Brock said.
"But I had no idea there were so many Hispanics in Greeley," he said. "I didn't mean to offend anybody."
Hispanic leaders said "offend" doesn't even begin to cover it.
"His comments were bigoted, inflammatory and hateful," said Roberto Cordova, a local college professor.
The issue goes deeper than Brock, said Jorge Amaya, director of the Northern Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce. "The problem isn't what Brock said. The problem is that our community leaders didn't step up to condemn it."
At a news conference Monday, the Hispanic leaders demanded an apology from city officials, the event's corporate sponsors and Stampede organizers. They said this isn't the first time the Stampede has offended the city's growing Hispanic population.
Citing poor ticket sales, Stampede organizers last year canceled the fiesta section of the annual event.
Stampede marketing director Kyle Holman said organizers wanted to make the fiesta more inclusive and renamed it Family Night.
"Mr. Brock has the right of free speech just like every other American," Holman said. "But his opinion aren't necessarily the opinions of the Greeley Stampede."
But some here said they share Brock's sentiments.
According to census figures, Greeley's Hispanic population nearly doubled in the 1990s, as immigrants, many with limited English skills, took jobs in the region's meat packing plants and feedlots.
As the ethnic makeup of schools and neighborhoods shifts, some residents say they feel left out. Language has become both a divide and a flashpoint.
"If we're going to communicate, everybody needs to speak the same language," said Billie Messner, a patron at a local coffee shop.
Greeley City Manager Leonard Wiest said the city is working to accommodate newcomers.
Brock said Monday that while he's sorry if his comments offended anyone, he won't apologize.
"I had the guts to speak out, but I think a lot of people feel the same way," he said.
Trust me when I tell you it's inevitable illegals are going to be deported. Congress is only delaying the inevitable, but it's going to happen. Sooner rather than later if we have another 9/11 debacle.
BTW, glad your kids all speak English, I have no problems with legal immigrants, only the illegals.
You said, in part, " . . . And no one else has a right to place the ability (or the willingness) to speak English, or any other language for that matter, as a condition of citizenship, . . . ."
That is where you are wrong. This is America. We speak English. It is the common language that binds us together as Americans.
And, just as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico and every other country has the right to (and does) establish an "Official Language," so does the United States.
I enthusiastically support English as the only official language of America, and will resist with every fiber of my being any and every misguided attempt to force America into a "multi-language" country, officially.
If you want to speak Spanish, or Creole, or Bulgarian at home, that is just fine. But the languge of America is English.
IMHO, until a person can speak, read and write the English language, that person ought not to be able to enjoy the privilege of U.S. Citizenship. Used to be an absolute requirement, and I'll tell you what: It ought to be an absolute requirement today!
This business of trying to accomodate all the world's languages in our schools and government has certainly played a significant role in the Balkanization of America, and I, for one, am damn sick and tired of it!
Bi-lingual and multi-lingual programs should be abolished immediately! English, and only English, should be the language of the schools and the government, by law.
The sooner we Americans eliminate the Liberal/Socialist/Marxist Bastard's "Kiss the ass of every minority in the world when they move here" mentality, the sooner we can get on about the business of America!
I will readily agree that the immigrant population in America has added to the "mosaic" in a positive way. But I will argue that those immigrants who have accomodated to this culture by learning English have added even more.
No long term benefits will accrue to any person or to the country if, somehow, those who would destroy what and who we are as a people succeed in forcing America to become a multi-language Tower of Babel!
And no, Congress has no more of a "right" to set a national language, than it does to set a national religion. Look it up, it's under the header "First Amendment".
That little bit that you posted clearly states that government is limited to setting rules for Government, they do not have a right to set a language rule for me as I am not a part of "government".
BTW, save yourself the revisionist History. While "The United States of America" was founded mostly by British subjects and/or their progeny, the original 13 colonies had a vast population of non-British inhabitants, and the rest of America was colonized by various European nations.
Manners! Imagine that!
When I lived in Germany for a while, courtesy of Uncle Sam, I learned a little Deutche.Enough so I would not unintentionally offend the civilians I came in contact with.It was their country, after all.
This country is mine.The language is English.A visitor/tourist is not expected to be fluent in English.It is only polite of them to learn a few phrases, please, thank you, excuse me etc.But in reality, most foreign tourists speak fairly good English.
An actual immigrant is being intentionally offensive in not learning English.I celebrate naive attempts by rude, offensive people to title me "racist". As a native born citizen of the USA,(native as in born here,and part American Indian) it is actually becoming a compliment and a badge of honor!
Now, stop and think for a second, that doesn't even make any sense.
Yes it does, I have worked with Mexican immigrants, some illegal (in Arizona) who had been in the country for several years and still spoke little or no English. What do illegals have to be afraid of, the INS isn't coming after them.
The FIRST thing anyone who moves to another country would want to do is learn the language.
A common language with many cultures is what prevents such things from happening. You should give that some thought.
Pat Buchanan would have been a good choice then, he doesn't seem to care what people say about him. But any politician who's willing to take on this immigration mess is going need the strongest of intestinal fortitude. Probably for lack of that is why nothing is being done about it.
Remember, impose an English only rule, and it stands for all, not just immigrants.
As long as I am able to function in our society, what language I speak is not the government's business, and the fact that you may not understand me while conducting a conversation with others, be it conducting business transactions, enjoying music, or simply conversing, is no excuse to set about the task of invalidating the First Amendment.
Please note that while the Founders were obviously Christians, there is no argument of imposing a "unifying" religion on American citizens.
Why question one part of the First Amendment, and not the rest of it?
As conservatives, it would seem to me that we would have a natural aversion to the government finding "solutions" such as this. After all, I thought that the idea was less government intrusion, not more.
More government is never the solution. If you don't believe me, watch what happens to the stock market if and when the government decides to involve itself in policing it, in the wake of the last few corporate scandals.
I wish it were true Luis. That may be what's happening in Florida with the Cubans, but in the Southwest with the Mexicans, it is not inevitable.
Daily, I see immigrants from Mexico, young and old, and their US born children, that have been here for 10 or more years, and still can not speak English. The sad part is, when I ask them why they have not learned to speak English, the answer is always the same. I don't have to.
We have accommodated the Mexican immigrant so much in the southwest, that they no longer have to learn the language.
The European immigrants that come, learn the language just like you said. With in three generations, they don't speak their native tongue.
B) Traffic signs, Government related documents and the like remain in english. We simply can't translate everything for everyone. If they want to immigrate then they can learn enough to get by without getting run over by a bus because they can't read "STOP" at least.
Who cares what they speak at home.
So then, a new-born baby with any luck will be able to consider themselves a citizen upon graduation from High School?
Where exactly would you deport illiterate native-born Americans to?
Is Ebonics not acceptable?
And no, Congress has no more of a "right" to set a national language, than it does to set a national religion. Look it up, it's under the header "First Amendment".
We are haviong an apples and oranges situation. I'm talking about official language: aka one for official purposes. I am not talking about a law that would ban unoficial usage of other languages.
That little bit that you posted clearly states that government is limited to setting rules for Government, they do not have a right to set a language rule for me as I am not a part of "government".
When you contact the government, vote, engage in a judicial activity, or use government services, you can be required to use english.
BTW, save yourself the revisionist History. While "The United States of America" was founded mostly by British subjects and/or their progeny, the original 13 colonies had a vast population of non-British inhabitants, and the rest of America was colonized by various European nations.
Who created our polity and traditions?
Our culture and political traditions are based on Enlgish Whig culture of the 18th century.
I am a son of Immigrants from Poland and Sweden. As an American, I accept the Pilgrims and Chesapeake settlers as my cultural ancestors.
I cannot expect to be an American and reject our history, traditions, and political culture.
Those who follow will (most likely) be educated in our language..
Consider that line stolen. whooooha!
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