Singer's remark riles Hispanics -- Greeley debates 'English' comment

Denver Post ^ | July 9, 2002 | Michael Riley

[Joe Hadenuf]

It can be rude to speak at length in a foreign language in front of a non speaker.

And you can be labeled a racist and nazi for saying that. I was, but then again, I understand, crying "racism" is the weapon of choice for many that hate America.

[pgkdan]

I doubt that very many of them were here (NM, that is) speaking Spanish before my ancestors got here...we've been here a very long time. I'm sorry if your Hispanic and Asian friends are insulted by conservative insenitivity, but nobody living in this country should have to have it suggested to them that they learn English. It's an insult to me that they haven't taken it upon themselves to do so without being told. Instead they demand bi-ligual education and Spanish speaking bank tellers and on and on. English is the laguage of this country and everyone here should speak it. If I could I'd ban all bi-lingual education and all public spending on any bi-lingual literature, signage or usage what so ever.

[Joe Hadenuf]

And how do you know what the INS will and will not do?

Well given their track record over the past 20 years, they kinda have a pattern....

[Torie]

I doubt that very many of them were here (NM, that is) speaking Spanish before my ancestors got here

Well maybe you are Native American. If not, actually a considerable number of folks living in what is now New Mexico spoke Spanish prior to the Mayflower showing up off Plymouth Rock. Several hundred thousand of their decendants now still live in the state. They almost all speak English, but oddly enough, many still speak Spanish too, which is unusual.

[pgkdan]

Should Luis' parents be denied citizenship assuming they can't speak English? I don't think so.

Absolutely they should be denied citizenship. Anyoine who can't demonstrate a minimum proficiency should be be denied. They shouldn't be required to read Shakespeare but there are minimum standards that should be met. And in the past people wanted to meet those standards. My best friendds grandparents came over from Italy and had to learn English from scratch. His grandmother absolutely refused to speak in Italian once she got here, her husband was more reticient because of his heavy accent, but he learned too. She refused to speak Italian because she WANTED to be an American...any immigrant who does not should leave.

[Newbomb Turk]

That seems to be your idea, not mine. The Spanish speaking population of NM wants to be in the US.

Damn right. There ain't no welfare or social security system to rip off in Mexico baby. WE WANT OUR BENNIES !

[Torie]

And in the past people wanted to meet those standards.

In the glorious past, no one wanted to be a citizen who couldn't speak English? How sad. I'm disappointed to learn that.

[Kevin Curry]

While many Hispanics in the audience walked out . . .

May they turn south and keep on walking.

[Tancredo Fan]

Should Luis' parents be denied citizenship assuming they can't speak English? I don't think so.

Uh huh. Hey... no habla? Hasta la vista, amigos. Jeez, this really is getting to be that proverbial nest of squabbling nationalities and ethnicities, isn't it. Ludicrous.

[FreedomFriend]

I second that. It's obvious that a large percentage of Mexicans, legal or illegal, have no desire to assimilate into mainstream American culture.

[Torie]

Ya, moderate RINO, Neocon, agnostic WASPS get screwed on this site every time, and I am mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Strawman? The comment that spurred the thread, and the majority of the posts, revolve around "speak English or leave"...simply saying "strawman" doesn't cut the mustard, you need to substantiate.

Your statement "After that or if they choose not to become citizens, they can speak whatever language they please." flies in the face of every other statement here...including Angelique's.

[Luis Gonzalez]

If that's the case DeeDee, then refute my point about the First Amendment, you know...the post you "addressed" with nothing of substance.

Refute my post with anything other than name-calling.

You claimed that you said NOTHING about Chad, that was a lie. You claimed that you refuted my points, that was a lie.

All you have done is make a fool out of yourself DeeDee...you are getting boring, irrelevant, and predictable.

Good night...

[Luis Gonzalez]

Well, see, that's where people make huge mistakes. My parents did not speak a word of English when we arriveds in 1968. Dad worked as a dishwasher in a Hilton, and mom cleaned rooms in a Howard Johnson's.

Dad retired two years ago, from his post as Senior Vice-president and CFO of a multi-billion dollar a year international corporation.

But you would have left him out of the country.

BTW, as an American citizen, when I want my non-English speaking parents to live with me, it's none of your damned business to impose conditions on my rights to have them by my side.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Hey TC...go screw yourself. What gives you the right to invalidate my rights as a citizen?

In that theoretical, you have no say so jack.

So, hasta la vista maricón.

[Kevin Curry]

Luis Gonzalez: Pouty professional victim-of-the-month, FReeper edition.

We all feel so sorry for dissing you, Luis. Do you have a Hispanic race pimp, a sort of Mexican Jesse Jackson, to sic on us?

And you call yourself a conservative.

[FreedomFriend]

Luis, you're stepping over the line.

[Tancredo Fan]

Maricon? LOL! As Warren Zevon would say, you're just an excitable boy these days (LOL).

I think those Flagler and Volusia sharks need to be moved to a better location, wouldn't you say?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Why not...you call yourself a human being.

[Luis Gonzalez]

And?