Newt Gingrich on speaking Spanish:
By on Apr 1st, 2007 at 9:46 am
Newt Gingrich on speaking Spanish:
“We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,” Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.
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This coming from a drug abuser, right!!
April 1st, 2007 at 9:49 amCrowds of more than 100?? 100?? That’s supposed to be impressive?
Gingrich of the zippo credibility!
April 1st, 2007 at 9:49 amMaybe we should have separate schools for right-wing families and the rest of us. They don’t need to offer bilingual ed in the right-wing schools.
Then, thirty years from now, there won’t be any right-wingers in office. What do you think?
April 1st, 2007 at 9:51 amOr maybe we could set up immersion programs in the schools for the children of the lesbian daughters of right-wing nutjobs.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:01 amGingrich has always been a certified a-hole!
April 1st, 2007 at 10:07 amGingrich is a classic buffoon - not anything extraordinary, just the garden variety buffoon AND a drug abuser, too.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:15 amGood article today on the “I” word which is swirling around Bush like flies on feces! go to http://www.smirkingchimp.com
April 1st, 2007 at 10:18 amThe Impeachment Vultures are swarming like flies around the White House today….let’s keep the movement going! This country is running on empty and running out of time if we are ever going to undo the horrendous damage the Bush Cabal has done to our democracy. Act now!
April 1st, 2007 at 10:19 amSomeone should cue up the Nazi National Anthem every time this moron speaks!
April 1st, 2007 at 10:19 amThe Republican Party Faithful are hoping that Newton Leroy Gingrich will get into the presidential race.
I say bring it on.
That guy is less popular than ass cancer.
-GSD
April 1st, 2007 at 10:22 amGingrich is speaking the language of bigotry, and this is a smart man, who knows exactly what he’s doing.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:26 amThe real scary thing about Newt is that there seems to be a rather large number of people who want him to run for President.
So far, the field of candidates on both sides is huge let down.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:27 amfunny, how no one brought up how much better english speakers do in this country. when countries like france and japan already do what gingrich is suggesting(and have succesful at it) how crazy can it be?
April 1st, 2007 at 10:29 amso, english is the language of prosperity and spanish is the language of the ghetto, eh, newt…? if you run and, god forbid, get the nod for the nomination, i suggest tom tancredo for your running mate… he hasn’t traveled much either…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
April 1st, 2007 at 10:31 amI can’t believe any one would vote for this jerk. He has no morals
April 1st, 2007 at 10:31 amsince so-called left wing countries like france refuse to practice multi-langaguge education id like anyone to offer what horrible effects this has on france? anyone?
April 1st, 2007 at 10:33 amOT -
listening to FACE THE NATION… sounds like schumer is backing down…
damn damn damn…
private conversations, with a transcript, even the OATH is negotiable…
damn damn damn…
April 1st, 2007 at 10:35 amBut Repudlickin’ Tool Orrin Hatch said that the Democrats are attacking Alberto Gonzales because he’s Hispanic.
-GSD
April 1st, 2007 at 10:38 amThe comments on this thread seem to imply that france is a bigoted country. Id like to offer $500 to anyone who can demonstrate:
April 1st, 2007 at 10:38 am1.that france’s “racist” langaguge immersion policy is different than gingrich;s proposal
2.what horrible effects this has on france
ive lived in france, so i take these dumb comments on this thread personally. i dont think i need to say that france’s edication system is considered to be much better than the us, or that they have far less integration problems than a multi-cultural country like britain
Newt,
April 1st, 2007 at 10:40 amPandering for the Latino Vote!
I heard once that Newt was a history teacher before he got into politics. He must have read that Spain was once a bigger empire than England in this hemisphere.
Is he saying that Spansih language and Spanish speaking people are somehow cannot reach prosperity unless they speak English? !!
We need to learn more languages than just English…If our people read and speak Arabic,we would not be were we are now,and our people will be able to read from the source what they are not told by the English language media.
I understand his point of view…but to blame it on the language alone is stupid.
There are hundreds of factors involved to help the Hispanic community..and not just the language alone…just like other groups.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:43 amDrSinker: You won’t need to wait 30 years for the GOP to be out. That will happen in 2008. The Republicans have nothing for America–unless you consider war, death, debt, and corruption as “something.”
April 1st, 2007 at 10:43 amI just want to order a taco in English, is that so much to ask. Can I just order a fried pancake cheese burger half-wrap? Must I be forced to order my food in the language of the ghetto? And can I use an English word for ghetto? Can I just avoid the language of the ethnically pure low-income high-crime neighborhood? For that matter, why do I have to talk at all? Can’t the servants just anticipate my needs and respond accordingly and in English and without demanding overtime pay and withholding? Man, we’re a long way from a Republican paradise. By the way, what kind of a name is Gingrich? Sounds foreign to me.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:46 amSpeaking English in an English speaking nation, what a concept.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:47 amHas anyone seen Orrin Hatch (another right wing Mormon) squawking on Meet the Press this morning?
He got so upset he actually said Goddamn.
Does he kiss his bishop with that mouth?
April 1st, 2007 at 10:51 amSpeaking french in a french nation, what a concept.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:53 amOR:
Speaking japanese in a japanese nation, what a concept.
these countries do exactly what gingrich suggests! (again what horribel effects does lead to?)
Wow. I didn’t realize Spain and about 1/3 of the rest of the countries on the earth were all ghettos.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:04 amI’m pretty sure “our” country was speaking another language before we arrived. Thank God the indigenous people of this country didn’t demand we speak their language.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:05 amNobody is suggesting that we switch over to Spanish. The idea of being bilingual is speaking both languages - that’s a skill you can use outside this nation. What’s wrong with optionally allowing Americans to learn other skills they can use outside this nation to make it more prosporous?
It’s racist to think that english is the best and that everyone should learn english, regardless of whether people actually speak other languages. While I’m sticking to English, I’m not going to stop someone from wanting to speak another language. As long as they can speak to me well enough, they are good enough for me, and most other non-racist Americans.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:06 amno one suggested they were GodfryDaniel, gingrich’s comment was about spanish speakers in america, arabic speakers in france are no different, does that make dubai a ghetto?
April 1st, 2007 at 11:08 ami agree that speaking multiple langaiges is a skill which should be mastered; but this changes the argument for supporting bilingual education and services. Its unclear why bilingual programs would help foster the learning of multiple langauges. The best way to encourage this is to have strong langauge programs at the primary level. THe countries that do this are more cosmopolitan regardless of the langaguges govermetn services are provided in.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:12 am“He made the comments in a speech to the National Federation of Republican Women.”
I wonder, did they include hotel staff in the crowd count?
April 1st, 2007 at 11:21 amBriseadh_na_faire congrats on making the first blatantly racist comment. not all hotel workers are hispanic or cant speak english.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:23 am#30- Yes.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:25 amSpeaking English in an English speaking nation, what a concept.
Comment by hacker bob — April 1, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Mandating an educational program which eventually prevents a child from being able to communicate with his/her grandparents, what a concept.
Equating foreign languages with ghettos, what a concept.
I wonder, does this mean that when China surpasses the United States in prosperity, we’ll all be required to learn Chinese in an immersion program?
April 1st, 2007 at 11:25 amChildren of immigrants (or immigrant children) are learning English. Here’s a quote from an article in today’s Chicago Tribune:
April 1st, 2007 at 11:26 amIt’s racist to think that english is the best and that everyone should learn english…
Comment by Xbot — April 1, 2007 @ 11:06 am
It is not racist to think that everyone that is resident in the US should learn English. No one is saying that people can not, and should not, be proud of their “native” language. But the long and short of it is that the US is an English speaking nation. The education system should be set to have English as the PRIMARY language taught and any additional languages as an elective.
I am all for people learning additional languages. Every country I have traveled to I have tried to learn at least some of the language. I can not imagine migrating to another country and not learning the language. That severely limits your potential in the new country and opens you up to being taken advantage of. To not learn the language of the country you are going to reside in is foolish to say the least. You set yourself up for failure.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:27 amComment by publius — April 1, 2007 @ 11:23 am
excuse me? My comment was asking if they inflated the size of the crowd by including the staff at the event? How is that racist? Or are you one of those who puts words into someone else’s mouth, then criticizes the person for something you said he said?
April 1st, 2007 at 11:34 amIs that the “new and improved” disgraced former GOP Congressman Newt Gingrich who left office under a cloud of his own scandal and lies?
April 1st, 2007 at 11:35 amMandating an educational program which eventually prevents a child from being able to communicate with his/her grandparents, what a concept.
They can speak that “native” language at home. They can be bi-lingual. But it is not the schools responsibility to make sure they can speak the language of their grandparents. The school is responsible to teach them the language of the nation.
Equating foreign languages with ghettos, what a concept.
Do most none English speaking immigrants live in Malibu or Beverly Hills?
I wonder, does this mean that when China surpasses the United States in prosperity, we’ll all be required to learn Chinese in an immersion program?
Comment by Briseadh_na_faire — April 1, 2007 @ 11:25 am
If I were to move to China, do you think that they would require that I speak Chinese? If I were to send my children to a school in China, what language would be the primary focus?
Better yet, this is all focused on Hispanics. What about Italian Immigrants? Or Arabs? Or Japanese? Why are there not bi-lingual programs for them?
Remember, I am the grandson of an immigrant. In order to succeed in the US, he had to learn the language.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:38 amI suppose you can say that’s why newt’s Presidential bid is already in “political ghetto”. He is so insufferable! Only he can take something that may be positive and turn it into something definitely negative.
Visit://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org
April 1st, 2007 at 11:40 amComment by hacker bob — April 1, 2007 @ 11:27 am
That’s a lot more reasoned and cogent than your earlier remark, which came off as being a bit snide.
The real issue is, how should we teach English Language Learners? In addition to all my other studies recently, I have had to work towards a Bilingual teaching certificate this past year (12 upper division units in teaching English to English language learners).
Politicians like Gingrich call for an English-only Immersion Program. Those programs are effective, but not humane. Such a program is the highest stress level for the children because they are not allowed to use their native language at all in the school setting. The best programs are Dual-language Immersion Programs. These programs reinforce and increase the academic language skills of the children in two languages.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:41 amComment by hacker bob — April 1, 2007 @ 11:38 am
I mentioned China to point out the absurdity of Gingrich’s rationale, that students should be put into immersion programs because English is the language of prosperity.
And you’ll note, my posts don’t focus on Hispanics, but are general to any foreign language.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:44 amI am far from a supporter of the right wing lunatics of this administration - however, I agree with Gingrich on this point. How does any new culture integrate into another without immersing themselves. I dare challenge anyone to move to Mexico overnight without learning the language. My grandparents came to the U.S. at the break of the century and were never exposed to bilingual education but mastered English. Why mollycoddle Hispanics??
April 1st, 2007 at 11:52 amI wonder, did they include hotel staff in the crowd count?
Comment by Briseadh_na_faire — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Hey did you see publicus accused YOU of making a racist comment. I don’t think he understood you we’re asking if that’s how they got to 100.
Apparently he just assumed you meant that the hotel staff had to be hispanic. But he thinks you’re the racist. New troll, same old shit.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:58 amWhat about all the caucasian, American-born kids who can barely read or write and use such horrific grammar it is nauseating.
Could we put them in some English immersion program to make sure they can handle that minimum wage McDonald’s job. Because I know lots of high school drop outs who stay at their parents houses, without any job, because they are unable to handle the simplest job.
How about an immersion program that teaches white kids they are not entitled to a $40,000 job just because they were born here. That they’re not “too good” to take any kind of work. That they need to work to build skills to support themselves in case mommy and daddy decide they’ve had enough.
Oh never mind, it’s easier to blame brown kids and parents because nobody who waits on us speaks English.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:07 pmComment by publius — April 1, 2007 @ 11:23 am
Hi Jake!
April 1st, 2007 at 12:08 pmHey did you see publicus …
Comment by shane — April 1, 2007 @ 11:58 am
look closer… that is not “publicus”…
April 1st, 2007 at 12:16 pmi don’t recall publicus being a troll either…
another name-jacking maybe…
You know, I’m so sick and tired of this issue being a “debate.”
The truth is very obvious. If your live in the United States, plan on residing in the United States, and if your kids do not learn English, the odds are stacked against them.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:16 pmHow about an immersion program that teaches white kids they are not entitled to a $40,000 job just because they were born here. That they’re not “too good†to take any kind of work. That they need to work to build skills to support themselves in case mommy and daddy decide they’ve had enough.
Comment by shane — April 1, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Careful, shane, we might start agreeing on a few things.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:19 pmRe publius: I think it was a misunderstanding.
Newtie is just playing the old “English Only,” “Don’t Burn the Flag,” and “Ew, Gay Marriage” routine.
He’s a racist ass, who needs to constantly be exposed for what he is, but then should be ignored.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:21 pmCareful, shane, we might start agreeing on a few things.
Comment by hacker bob
:-)
April 1st, 2007 at 12:22 pmlook closer… that is not “publicusâ€â€¦
i don’t recall publicus being a troll either…
another name-jacking maybe…
Comment by katy — April 1, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Maybe we’re all starting to sound Jakeish. After all we have to read so much of his crap to get through any thread. It’s like taking on the accent of people you’re around.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:56 pmKeep talking Gingrich. The more Americans you alienate from the republican party the better.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:59 pmZooey & hacker bob
Careful, shane, we might start agreeing on a few things.
Comment by hacker bob
Does this mean I’m sounding marine-ish? My extended family has lot of these types in and surrounding it. Of course all their problems are other’s fault.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:00 pmDoes this mean I’m sounding marine-ish? My extended family has lot of these types in and surrounding it. Of course all their problems are other’s fault.
Comment by shane
No, it means Robert’s slowly but surely coming into the light. :)
April 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pmDoes this mean I’m sounding marine-ish? My extended family has lot of these types in and surrounding it. Of course all their problems are other’s fault.
Comment by shane — April 1, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Actually, it means (on my behalf) that I think we agree that you are not entitled to anything based on where you were born or who you were born to. You are only entitled to what you have earned from your own efforts.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:13 pmNo, it means Robert’s slowly but surely coming into the light. :)
Comment by Zooey — April 1, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Aaahh - there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. My daughter is also running for student council president in addition to her state capital field trips to meet representative.
But at 12 she’s a huge Broadway fan so when I used light at the end of the tunnel I’m hearing Starlight Express in my head.
Keeps me smiling in the face of the tragey of war.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:15 pmSomebody said Bush’s head on a platter would be good but I can think of another appendage we could start with. (:~>)
Comment by hacker bob — April 1, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
The important thing to remember is “but for an accident of birth” we could have been born in Dharfur.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:17 pmNo, it means Robert’s slowly but surely coming into the light. :)
Comment by Zooey — April 1, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Don’t make me go right wing on you :)
The important thing to remember is “but for an accident of birth†we could have been born in Dharfur.
Comment by shane — April 1, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
No accident at all, My heritage is not African, therefore I would not have been born in Dharfur.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pmIn California, studies show that students learn English faster in bilingual classrooms! Spanish speaking students are no less intelligent than English speaking ones. And on many occasions, appreciate an education more than native English speaking students. No one walks into a doctors room and tells a doctor how to do their job. Neither should it happen in a classroom. As long as politics drives education policy, it will never get better, PERIOD.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:30 pmDon’t make me go right wing on you :)
Comment by hacker bob
Bring it on jar he….er, Marine. :D
April 1st, 2007 at 1:31 pmLast time I checked the language of the ghetto was ENGLISH. Take a look at all the hip hop and rap video if you need proof.
Gingrich is an idiot.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:18 pm100 people….yeah….that’s about how big most redneck lynch mobs are.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pmGingrich is a pudgy little adulterer, who cares what he says.
The Who said it best: “Gonna break him, gonna shake him, let’s forget him better still.”
April 1st, 2007 at 2:29 pmHEY, Newt, YES, YOU WITH THE BIG RED “A” ON YA BACK—–WHY DON’T YOU LEARN ENGLISH SO YOU SPEAK IT IN PUBLIC INSTEAD OF THAT RIDICULOUS JINGOISTIC DEMAGOGUE PSYCHOBABBLE GOBBLEDYGOOK DOUBLETALK PATOIS YOU ARE TRYING TO FOB OFF ON US AS “ENGLISH”?????? BOMBASTIC IMBECILE!!!!! CRAVEN CRETIN!!!!! FOOLISH F*CKHEAD!!!!! MENDACIOUS MORON!!!!! BLITHERING IDIOT RACIST!!!!! GO JUMP IN THE NEAREST LAKE OR SEWER IF THERE ISN’T A HANDY BODY OF WATER AND DROWN, CLOWN, CLOWN!!!! WHY DO MISERABLE VERMIN LIKE YOU STILL GO AROUND SHOOTING YA MOUTHS OFF AFTER YA MOUTHS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOT OFF BY THE RIGHTEOUS FORCES OF GOOD, YA EVIL F*CK!!!!!
April 1st, 2007 at 3:21 pmActually, it means (on my behalf) that I think we agree that you are not entitled to anything based on where you were born or who you were born to. You are only entitled to what you have earned from your own efforts.
Comment by hacker bob — April 1, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Then you would support reinstating the Estate Tax and eliminating perpetual trusts with spendthrift clauses.
April 1st, 2007 at 3:23 pmMy best friend, who’s from the Domincan Republic, speaks English and several dialects of Spanish. He makes 2x more money than me. It seems to me that “English only” is the language of the poor and failing furture of this country. BTW, the real native language of America is Navajo!!!
April 1st, 2007 at 3:35 pmIsn’t it ironic that the ones advocating English only are the ones who usually speak it the worst. Exhibit A: GWB43.
April 1st, 2007 at 4:04 pmAs long as Puerto Ricans are US citizens and their official language is Spanish, one must accept the fact that the US government must make everything available Spanish.
This reason seems to be either lost or ignored by the English only proponents.
April 1st, 2007 at 4:05 pmNewt is trying to wrap up the racist idiot voting bloc.
April 1st, 2007 at 4:20 pmI hate to break it to those supporting Gingrich’s viewpoint, but THE GENIE IS ALREADY OUT OF THE BOTTLE, folks! Comprende?! I live in San Antonio, Tx., and I hear Spanish spoken as much as I do English when I’m out and about. Guess what? I DON’T FEEL THREATENED! I personally believe being multi-lingual is a positive, not a negative. Many hispanic employees I work with speak both English and Spanish, and they get paid a little extra each month for having that skill. Good for them!
Pope John Paul II spoke four to five different languages. I’m curious to know what Gingrich would say about that!
April 1st, 2007 at 5:16 pmComment by Lee — April 1, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
You are preaching to the choir right here!!! I’m with ya!!!
April 1st, 2007 at 5:31 pmThis is the first thing Newt Gingrich has ever said that I agree with, and I agree 100%. The US has become la Third World country, a decline hastened by bilingual ‘education.’ All that bilingual ‘education’ accomplishes is to make people illiterate in TWO languages.
April 1st, 2007 at 5:41 pmMe thinks all you MF”S are loco
April 1st, 2007 at 6:04 pm#13
Your claim that the Japanese, like Gingrich, advocate learning only the official language, Japanese, is incorrect. The Japanese require students to take a few years of English, and encourage further studying of it. They also encourage study of other foreign languages.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:38 pmi agree with gingrich that we should replace bilingual education with immersion in english. too often, bilingual education has been nothing but an employment program for hispanic teachers who don’t speak very good english. if parents want their kids to learn the language of the old country, let them teach it to them or send them to spanish language school. as for gingrich’s comment that spanish is the language of the ghetto, i think that’s ridiculous. but then again, gingrich is ridiculous.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:48 pmNever mind newt, he will not win in any race he enter’s…Fact is newt’s are created 2 way’s..1 they are created in the crawl space under reich winger’s houses when the dampness is polluted…2 they are created when 63% of the voter’s are to lazy to vote..So see, no worries, the drain tile’s are in place across the nation and more people are going to vote..Nothing he can do will create any more newt’s, they are a dieing breed……Blessings
April 1st, 2007 at 6:49 pmI’m latin background, speak spanish fluenty, and agree with the first part of his statement.
Our education system should be an immersion in English. Its fine to learn and keep up Spanish as a second language, but lets not confuse everyone about what the primary language is in the country. Maybe someday that will be Spanish, but today its english.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:04 pmSo what does Newt think of French? I’m an American who lives in Canada and children in the schools have French classes. Je lit français and j’écrit français . There is nothing wrong with being bilingual, I’m mainly Caucasian with a mixture of Native American and various European but I can read a bit of Spanish. Some of my ancestors were Spanish and French et cetera. I’m college educated and a writer by trade, basically middle class, hardly in any ghetto. What the heck is wrong with Newt in regards to this one language besides his pissing off the Hispanic vote?
April 1st, 2007 at 8:16 pmThere is nothing wrong with having a plurality of languages in a country. If you don’t know the language as a white person born in America, there’s a grand opportunity to learn something new and useful such as Spanish, French, or whatever.
The US doesn’t have an official language. However English is the language used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements. Additionally, one must demonstrate an ability to read, write, and speak English to become a naturalized citizen.
26 States have English as their official language:
These States are currently bi-lingual:
Hawaii (English and Hawaiian)
Louisiana (English and French legally recognized, although there is no official language)
New Mexico (English and Spanish de facto)
On May 19, 2006, the Senate voted to make English the national language (immigration reform bill).
April 1st, 2007 at 8:25 pmI was just watching NASA television and one of our (American Citizen) austronaut was talking in Spanish. If that’s the language of the getto, where do I sign my kid up so he too can become an austronaut?
April 1st, 2007 at 10:31 pmHow dare Spain speak that ghetto language…
Wow. Stupid people everywhere.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:54 am[…] post by Nico and software by Elliott Back Bookmark […]
April 2nd, 2007 at 4:30 amGingrich is a tool, but he’s right. We need to expect more from Spanish-speaking and other communities where English is not the primary language. To that end, we should also be immersing American kids in Spanish programs.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 amMr. Let Them Eat Ketchuphas done it again! Trust Newt to hang himself with his own words.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:19 pmSo, Gingrich is a HYPOCRIT and a BIGOT.
No surprise.
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:36 pmBilingual education does not imply that children won’t be taught English; rather it means that classes are offered to children in the language they already know. This means that they can actually learn something. I agree that ALL schoolchildren should be taught English and as much as possible immersed in classes where English is spoken, but there must be a baseline established in which a child can learn and can be taught English skills so that when he is ready he can move up to an immersion program.
Imagine being a small child from an English-speaking American family who is suddenly dropped into a classroom where only Mandarin Chinese is spoken and used. How stressful is it for the child that is confronted with such a situation? Can one properly absorb concepts of algebra, history, science, etc. while at the same time struggling to understand what is being said to him or understand what is written on the pages in front of him?
Newt Gingrich is just another Compassionless Conservative who is grinding on the nativist axe in an attempt to shore up his doomed-to-failure bid for the GOP presidential nomination. Newt should go back to writing fantasy-fiction novels about the War Between the States and save himself the embarrassment of losing sorely in the primaries. A thrice-married, confessed adulterer surely cannot win the GOP nomination - can he?
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:36 pmLet me add that I do believe that English should be the primary language for education, but that we also recognize that not every student is ready for immersion in English-only classes and that some accommodation be made so that these students won’t be “left behind”. Allowing non-English-speaking children to begin their education in their own language and then transition to English is by far more fair and more beneficial than premature English immersion.
I also believe that Spanish should be taught to all children, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. The percentage of Spanish-speaking people in the US’ population continues to grow and already in many places (i.e., my neighborhood north of Atlanta, GA) latinos are part of the community, well-established in businesses, etc. and one hears Spanish being spoken almost everywhere.
I am happy to say that I took advantage of Spanish classes in public school and then continued studies on my own. I am functionally-fluent and literate in Spanish and enjoy interacting with my latino friends and neighbors. I welcome their contributions to my community and to American culture at large. Rather than seeing latinos as a threat, or Spanish as a foreign influence to be avoided, we should embrace them and knit them into the fabric of America like we have done with so many groups before.
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 pmI am half Puerto Rican and I agree with Mr. Gingrich’s message. English is the language that leads to economic prosperity in this country. Does it help to be bilingual…of course. That is not his point….
Please show me (in this country) the wealthy gated community with ivey covered mansions and manicured lawns that speaks only Spanish (or Swahili for that matter) and knows no other language???
Mr. Gingrich has used the word ghetto in the proper sense. Ghettos were originally occupied by Jews during the Middle Ages. A ghetto is an “isolated community” within a larger one….Mr. Gingrich could not be any more correct in his conclusion.
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:51 pmOne more point…many of my cousins (now in their 40’s and 50’s) heared pretty much only Spanish prior to going to kindergarten. Prior to bilingual education, most of them quickly assimilated (and graduated on time and never failed a single grade) and of my 20 or so cousins, 1 or 2 were sent back in the first grade to repeat just that year. They are all bilingual of course and they now have a wonderfual asset to leverage in the work place. As compared to 40 years ago…how many middle school and high school drop outs are in this country that can not speak English passably??
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:13 pmQue pena que no sean capaces de reconocer que se les esta acabando la cuerda a estos gringos tontos. Aprender a hablar castellano es muy dificil para estos superdesarollados. Ni siquiera pudieron aprender el sistema de medicion internacional.
Es mucho pedir que aprendan un poco de historia y de otras culturas.
Bueno, en unos cuarenta años mas vamos a tener reservaciones para los “english speaking natives” para que puedan mantener viva su cultura o lo que queda de ella.
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 pmEnglish immersion is the only proved method for creating proficient english speakers.
I hate to agree with Newt, but he is right (although probably for the wrong reasons).
The idea here isn’t to create English only speakers. ESL learners are always going to speak their first language with their family and friends, which is the majority of their time.
Bilingual education, while good intentioned, only causes these students to suffer more in the long term. What you end up with are students who are not really proficient in either language.
Students should be immersed in English in a pre-school type environment (ie. Head start) before they begin classes in english.
If they want to seek out advanced language classes to polish their first language, they should have every opportunity.
I would also support making spanish language eduction a requirement in this county.
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:00 pm…said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100….
A HUNDRED WHAT?? KKK MEMBERS?
and yes..Bi-lingual education reform..because THATS where the REAL problem of America is at…lol
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:41 pmYea Newt, we should stamp out any attempt to learn another culture’s language. That’ll make us even more loved by the rest of the world. It’s always about blaming the poorest people isn’t it.
Trying to set a common language like Europe did with English doesn’t seem to be a bad idea. Especially since it already is the predominant language here. But the way this guy presents it makes my skin crawl. The language of prosperity?? Come on! Why don’t we “regime change” everyone and make them speak English, buy giant SUVs, and maybe make them ask for forgiveness for not being white?
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:56 pmAs usual Republicans dont understand the meaning of the words they use. Ghetto: a section of a city, esp. a thickly populated slum area, inhabited predominantly by members of an ethnic or other minority group, often as a result of social or economic restrictions, pressures, or hardships. The term ghetto is derived from, the Yiddish word get “deed of separation;” special use of Venetian getto “foundry”. It has absolutely nothing to do with the inhabitants level of education. The jewish inhabitats of german fashioned ghettos were highly educated and very literate. And Gingrich passes himself of as an academic. He’s a fucking fraud.
April 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 am#13
Your claim that the Japanese, like Gingrich, advocate learning only the official language, Japanese, is incorrect. The Japanese require students to take a few years of English, and encourage further studying of it. They also encourage study of other foreign languages.
Comment by Kasalari
Kasalari, I’m glad you pointed this out before I had the chance. But actually the Japanese education system requires more than “a few years of English.” Three years are required in middle school, which is part of compulsory education in Japan. Then, more than 90% of middle school students will proceed to high school, where another three years of English are required. In addition, in recent years some “Super English High Schools” have been established in Japan, where a considerable part of the curriculum is taught in English.
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:29 amFurther English or other foreign language study will be mandatory for those who go on to college.
I completely agree with him. The spanish language sounds horrible and sick of hearing it! Everyone seems to be catering to people who can’t understand English AT ALL by putting things in their stupid language. Why don’t they just learn the supreme language: ENGLISH!!!
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:41 amHola.
En los territorios al oeste del rÃo Misisipà y de La Florida, ocupados actualmente por los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, se habla español desde 1520 y nunca ha dejado de hablarse a pesar del genocidio practicado contra los chicanos después de la guerra imperialista del siglo XIX.
In the territories occupied by the USofA west of the Mississipi river and in La Florida, has been the mother tongue since 1520 and it has never ceased to be spoken even despite the genocide committed against the Chicano population after the imperialist war of the 19th century.
The citizenship of the USofA requires to be faithful to the constitution and loyal to the government, it does not require any specific nationality, language, ethnicity or religion.
It was around after the imperialist wars of the 19th century and certainly after the Civil War that racism and the forceful cultural anglization of millions started.
For a while Spanish and Chicano populations suffered silently this opression. That ended in the 1960’s and nowadays Spanish and the Chicano population represent at least 1/7 of the general population in the USofA.
It is their right to demand for their districts public schools and institutions that use their language, Spanish, which they pay for with their taxes. It would be inmoral and illegal to use their taxes in cultural programs that they do not want.
Cultural diversity and openess is one of the trademarks of a truly democratic and free society. If a language is forbidden official use, if a language is persecuted that tells you a lot about that society.
Saying «English Only» is a sign of being first a racist and also it shows the ignorance of the history and present situation of the USofA, where, in almost half the country, Spanish was the official language for centuries and is the second language right now.
I am a Spaniard, I studied up to high-school in Basque and Castilian as a second language; then I graduated in Classical Studies in the Complutense, where its entire curriculum is in Castilian. I also learnt English and French as a little boy.
Not only bilinguism is a reality in the USofA, there is also a Diglossia whereby some territories, some social, religious and ethnic minorities speak only one of the two major languages in the USofA. Now, you can try to opress the Spanish speakers and start an cultural inmersion and ethnic cleasing campaign (as it happened to the Indians that were “removed” from their territories and forcefully incarcerated in reservations) or you can build an open society with free cultural dialogue between different linguistic communities.
There is harmony and peace, and there is chaos and violence. Those are the two choices at hand. Gingrich is clearly not a peaceful and democratic person, he chose to attack and propose the opression of over 50 million people in the USofA.
April 3rd, 2007 at 7:42 amLet’s stick Newt into a time capsule and send him careening back to Nazi Germany, where they’d teach him how to pronounce his own name - GING-RICK, and when he refuses, they’d stick him in an oven. There’s your language lesson for the day.
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pmhope that this so called person doesn’t run for president. he’s not much of an example for the american people. we are all here to try to get along and try to keep peace among us. bilingual classes have been around along time what makes him think that our government would do away with it? there are so many people running for president i hope that we finally get someone that is for the people and that they think about whats happening in this country. thank you dalilah rivera
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:08 pmI love how people only reflect on Spanish and Hispanic (hate that word) people. I live in LA and have lived in NYC and there are a lot more people then just Hispanics speaking Spanish language in this country. Asians, Middle Easterners, Islanders, and so on….and you know what! I think it’s a beautiful thing when your country has so many different people and languages. Just because English was the forced language of this land, let me reiterate the word FORCED and the whole talk of our European heritage not being followed….sorry hold on…our FORCED European heritage. I feel I am just as American when I speak Spanish or when I am attending a Quinceanera or when I am at a cinco de mayo celebration. Let’s get real people. The land or opportunity and PROSPERITY were built on the backs of immigrants and a lot of it was built by immigrants who didn’t speak English. It’s really funny reading some of the comments on this thread because my families history is very clear…my mom’s side of the family have their roots in Los Angeles, Mexico…that’s right people I said Los Angeles, Mexico not California…Lets not forget that a whole half of the country know America from a Latin perspective not a European… Where were the “Spanish Only†arguments then? This American way of xenophobia is so damn crazy who cares if people are living here and don’t want to conform to what your idea of being an American is. If you want to know what people are talking about then here’s an idea….LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE.
I am brown! I am Bilingual! I hate the Bush administration! And I am American!
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 pmAfter reading all of these comments, I am completely floored by the lack of intelligence of so many. For example, one in particular that drew my attention: “the supreme language: English!!”. I feel really, really, bad for those of you that think and feel this way. You must be one of the ones that is unfortunate enough, that’s right, I said UNFORTUNATE, to be monolingual. You are not one of the fortunate ones to have the knowledge of more than one language. It’s funny how so many can criticize and be opiniated with regards to this topic without the least bit of knowledge and understanding. Case in point, the reference to the word ghetto meaning “an isolated community within a larger one” is correct, yet the comment that Mr. Gingrich used it correctly is completely wrong. You expect people to believe that he was referring to “ghetto” as to those that live in an “isolated community”? Right…especially after he said that English was the “language of prosperity”. I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked, the word “ghetto” did not JUST refer to “an isolated community”. It refers to “an isolated community” alright, but one that is filled with poverty, high crime rates, lack of opportunity, etc., etc…you get the idea.
Mr. Gingrich is an elitist, racist pendejo (for those of you unfortunate ones- “idiot”). All of you that agree with him can consider yourselves to belong on that same boat. I, on the other hand am a college educated Chicana that is a product of bilingual education…and honey, the last time I checked, I wasn’t living in no GHETTO!!
April 5th, 2007 at 7:08 amYou know, none of Newt’s comments are shocking–he just got caught saying how he really felt. I applaud those of you who take the time to school the ignorant peckerwoods on this issue; however, I don’t have the energy. It is quite apparent to me that a large portion of white Amerikkka fears its dwindling power and majority status. It’s perfectly natural to strike out when you know you are a dying breed. (nothing against my whites friends. love ya’ll…but the ignorant ones give you a bad name abroad). It has been happening for years now, but just watch in the coming years. I think we haven’t seen the worst of the Right-Wing Neo-Con hate-spewing mongrels yet. It is so sad that it makes me laugh. The West, esp. the USA, is being taken over and this notion of a brown America (*which is what it was originally, before the so-called “founding fathers (and rapists/murderers) “got here). But I digress. I thank the heavens that my parents had enough sense to teach me well and to embrace the world and everyone in it. This country is full of hypocrisy and antiquated notions of class and race. “Sure, we love you brown people…Just know your place. You can clean our toilets and ring up our food, but don’t even think of running things. Leave that to whitey.” Time’s running out for the Newts of the world…They are doing everything in their power to stay on top–eliminating social programs, jacking up college costs so no one can afford to get an education and possibly make it in this world, and continuing the tried and true war against women’s rights (*after all, you want to keep a population poor, let the women have no access to decent jobs, reproductive freedom, or education. women are the gatekeepers to a society’s progress. keep them poor and you’re free to do what you want…This has worked splendidly around the world, esp here in America’s for lack of a better term “low-income neighborhoods”)White male hegemony is under attack and it is afraid for its life.
April 6th, 2007 at 6:18 amHe is a “BIG IGNORANT” he should read about USA history (Read about Florida). And he pretends to become a USA president???Let see what the “speak spanish” citizens think about voting for you!!!! jajaja
April 6th, 2007 at 10:31 amWell, you all know how ‘backwards’ in evolution a NEWT is; how can we expect anything better than the animal emotions of this creature. They live double lives, bark like dogs, are toxic to the touch, eat fish, worms & snails (You are what you eat) and are native to continental US.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:09 pmI guess the NEWT he reminds me the most of is the Iberian Ribbed Newt. Hint: they originate from Spain, Portugal & Morocco. That’s why he’s trying to put his past behind him!!
April 20th, 2007 at 1:14 pmI can’t stand the sense of entitlement that the illegal’s exhibit.
What they’re saying is: We don’t care about your damn law, we shall break it with impunity, then we shall clog up your roads ad infinitum till you give us amnesty.
May 14th, 2007 at 9:19 pmWe shall take full advantage of your decency and don’t you dare say a thing to us…
y’all go back to mehico. please
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