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.
Oh geez.. I honestly don't think I can channel the antichrist without a d behind my name..
The topic was in reference to Aids in Africa, etc. A guest on the show, via satellite, projected/inadvertantly stated that vaccines and humanitarian aid needs to be sent to Africa. She then went on to say that a structure needed to be put into place to pull them out of the doldrums.
She then went onto talk about the "Global Economy", and how insinuated that we as Americans must think of ourselves in a global context, and not necessarily American-only, for we're living in this global economy.
If you ask me, it sounded like she was supporting wealth transfer via wealthy countries to poor countries. It flipped my top when she kept mentioning the "global economy" as justification for this.
Okay, then I was going to say that I like your #232..
Otherwise I was going to scold you for (unknowingly) glomming our FReepers Screen Name.
Sure, he does it in english. But by the time it reaches your ear you have no idea what the hell he's saying.
Well, we agree here although I might have changed tense from has to will.
Here's my question. How do do you enforce a common language?
You don't, you require immigrants to become proficient at some level before making them citizens. After that or if they choose not to become citizens, they can speak whatever language they please.
Are you willing to monitor people to assure ourselves that they are speaking the Federally mandated language?
You're strawman expired in the previous sentence Luis. But, good try!
The children of immigrants will strive to speak English because they do not wish to remain outsiders, and the American culture is too strong to be denied.
That has been my experience as a youth and a young man. I see evidence of that changing in the conclaves formally known as the melting pot of New York.
This is a subject that I happen to be an expert in. I lived it.
So did I Luis but not in the same sense. Two of my best friends when I grew up were named Marrero and Conde and neithers Madre's, who I adored, spoke English.
As has been noted, the hispanics flooding the country now have no need to learn english for the most part. Between the politicians and big business, the spanish language is served to them on a silver platter. It's all about the money dontcha know.
If I were an anglo living as a small minority in Mexico for whatever reason and I was witnessing the crashing of the Mexican borders by hordes of anglos wanting in legally or not, I'd be their apologist and cheerleader also. Every thread of this type has one or two who hold dissenting opinions and thats no big surprise. It's human nature. We're happiest with our own and it's my guess that's their way of showing it.
If you don't speak English at minimum proficiency, you can't get in the US military Torie. It is a requirement.
Oh, by all means, let's make an exception for the parents of people we know. Yes indeed, learning English should be a requirement of citizenship. And, BTW, there aren't any US military "war heroes" who don't speak English. You have to speak English to be allowed in the US military.
Texas isn't the only state that does this. None should. Were it up to the voters, there would be English only laws. Unfortuinately, special interests and PC politicians pass all sorts of garbage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.