Posted on 05/21/2004 1:07:37 PM PDT by SJackson
James Garfield was a professor of classics before he became the 20th American president. Wanting to show his abilities with foreign languages, he amused friends by simultaneously translating an English document into Greek with his left hand and into Latin with his right hand.
George W. Bush can't match the same kind of multilingualism, although he did make use of his limited Spanish in the 2000 election and, since becoming president, when addressing Latino groups.
John Kerry, the likely Democratic nominee, may not be able to match Garfield's dexterity with languages, but his knowledge of French is much better than Bush's Spanish. Unfortunately for him and the country, he is being very coy about his fluency in French, treating it as a liability. Bilingualism is an asset for an American political leader and a potential president.
Given that the United States is the sole superpower in a multilingual world, a president fluent in more than one language would in all likelihood do a better job than a monolingual one.
Although the president of the United States can afford to hire interpreters, and must do so to communicate with world leaders, knowing a second language has many positive aspects, which should be celebrated. Fluency in a foreign language translates into knowledge of the culture and an understanding of the people who live where the language is spoken.
It also means that even with unfamiliar languages and cultures, a bilingual individual has an advantage over a monolingual person. Bilingual/bicultural individuals, for example, would not be shocked by cultural traits that differ from their own native culture.
Knowledge of a major language is very useful, particularly if it's spoken in many countries. That's the case of French, spoken in France, Canada and a number of African countries. Although it has lost the label of lingua franca to English, French remains a very important language in the world. French is spoken by 500 million people as their first or second language.
For Kerry, his knowledge of French has already been beneficial at both a personal and a professional level. He used French to communicate with Teresa Heinz early in their relationship and he eventually married her.
When Kerry served in Vietnam, he was apparently able to read French maps and that knowledge may have helped him save lives.
Even though Bush has used his Spanish to great political advantage, the GOP has taken a different stand on English-French bilingualism. Because the French did not support the U.S. war effort in Iraq, a great deal of anti-French sentiment has occurred.
The negative feelings against the French and their language reached pettiness when a Republican member of Congress pushed for changing the names of french fries and french toast to freedom fries and freedom toast, implying that being French and knowing the French language translated into lack of patriotism.
To be sure, France was not alone in pushing for a different way of dealing with Saddam Hussein. In fact, most countries did not support the invasion. Yet none of the other major countries such as Germany, Russia, China and others were the subject of the antagonism the French language and France had to endure.
The ironic thing is that the plan proposed by France and many other countries to allow U.N. inspectors more time to find the weapons of mass destruction, and not immediately attack Iraq, turned out to have been a much wiser course of action. Bush's recent overtures to the United Nations would suggest that France was on target.
Although Kerry continues to insist on a greater U.N. role in the Iraq situation - the French way - he keeps his distance from France. Kerry seems to think that his knowledge of French is a disadvantage.
Fear of being labeled French has made Kerry lie low with his knowledge of and links to France. In addition, since Bush, in his ads, has tried to label Kerry as liberal, linking him to France would help confirm him as a left-winger, given France's liberal government.
Kerry's distance from French is a calculated attempt not to alienate the very conservative element of the American electorate. That's politically foolish since Kerry does not have a chance with those voters.
It's also disappointing to intelligent voters who understand that world problems will be solved with knowledge - linguistic knowledge and other types - rather than the ignorance.
Domenico Maceri is a columnist for www.HispanicVista.com and a teacher of foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
Speaking Spanish may be an advantage. There are people who speak Spanish who have things worth listening to.
Ditto for Russian, Polish, Arabic, Hindu, Chinese, Tagalog, etc.
But French?
Take Latin instead. Then you can pretty much guess at what something means in writing for at least 50 percent of the words in Italian, French, Spanish.
"Well, he speaks French, doesn't he? Isn't that enough?"
"Given that the United States is the sole superpower in a multilingual world, a president fluent in more than one language would in all likelihood do a better job than a monolingual one."
Why do people this stupid get column space?
Too funny! Kerry is laying low because of his French connections! Was that what Alexandra Kerry was doing in Cannes - laying low? Don't let those French inhibit you Alex!
Translation: French Battle Plan: Have overwhelming force, get ass kicked, surrender and wait for Americans to come save our ass.
Saved lives? Give me a break. I'm sure all maps were translated into English by the time JFK hit the beaches of Vietnam. However, being able to order a croissant is very helpful in the battlefield.
Actually, French is very practical. My admittedly limited French knowledge gained from high school has served me greatly recently. I couldn't have got around in Morocco without it and I was amazed at how many people still use French in SE Asia, including Thailand and Laos.
It's like bizarro world these days, speaking French (heaven forbid 'looking' French) is a liability and Purple Hearts and Silver Stars are a sham, oh well.
For Kerry, his knowledge of French has already been beneficial at both a personal and a professional level. He used French to communicate with Teresa Heinz early in their relationship and he eventually married her.
He may be proficient with a French tickler as well.It's always a plus when a President has such a skill.
Was this article written by someone at 8th grade reading level?
French maps?
What are they, printed in mirror image to confuse?
Toasting the American "Mouche a Merde"
Is that for real? First I've heard of it!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who suddenly went, "Huh?" when reading this. Hell, I've used Russian, Hungarian, even Turkish maps. A terrain feature is a terrain feature is a terrain feature, regardless of how you say "hill."
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