Semifinals of National Spelling Bee under way

Google | AP ^ | 5/28/09 | Joseph White

[LibWhacker]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forty-one youngsters are competing for the title of national spelling champion.

The semifinals of the 82nd Scripps Nationals Spelling Bee began Thursday morning. The semifinalists are those remaining from a record 293 participants who arrived in the nation's capital this week.

[LibWhacker]

They just eliminated an Arab contestant when they asked him to spell a Hebrew word (sheol). The guy doing color said there was no way you'd know how to spell that if you hadn't studied the Bible or the Torah; i.e., you could know all the Greek, Latin, French, etc., roots in the world and none of it would help you figure it out. I'm sorry, but am I evil for LMAO?!!! I mean, somebody up there has a wicked sense of humor. Oh, boy, get ready for another holy war.

[NYer]

They just eliminated an Arab contestant when they asked him to spell a Hebrew word (sheol). The guy doing color said there was no way you'd know how to spell that if you hadn't studied the Bible or the Torah;

Red flag going up. Someone watching the program will complain of the inequity of including religious terminology. Guess it's just a matter of time before they include words from the Qu'uran or eliminate all religious reference materials.

Tuesday evening, ESPN2 televised what I suppose was last year's finals. The majority of finalists were Indian and Oriental. The toughest words were all foreign language.

[rwfromkansas]

They cut the number of kids down to 41 from the normal 90 semifinalists, making the trek to become one even harder.

[TheConservativeParty]

The Spelling Bee is such fun! I hopey changey I can catch some of it on The Dish later. Cheers!

[Jolla]

Just heard the same sort of thing for a San Diego kid which was eliminated: they asked him/her to spell a french word; what is up with that?