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.
Quebecization is being pushed on Americans - from coast to coast - but only for the convenience of one minority. Your kid isn't having to learn Russian in school before he can write his name "so he can communicate with his Russian classmates"; your state troopers aren't being forced to become fluent in Russian or Hmong just because a bunch of Russian Jews or Hmong refugees moved to your state.
Well, he!!, you know you have time to learn 200+ languages. hehehe.
If Hispanic studies are anything like Womyns Studies or African Studies programs, wouldn't that be exactly what Prof Córdova is doing?
AMEN
Also, note that the article uses the term "white leaders." Many Hispanics are "white." Hispanic is not a race. Neither is the Spanish language.
If so, then which language(s) in addition to English do we learn?
Americans speak English. Naturalized American citizens should have minimum proficiency in English. Non-citizen residents are guests and Americans are hosts. It is not a host's responsibility to accomodate the guest.
I wish more people on more occasions would remind these demanding illegals of their status. Many of them think they're cats and can do as they damn well please ;-)
Don't get me wrong - I've got no problem with learning a foreign language; and if I had my druthers, I would probably learn more than one. I have an interest in cultures that speak Japanese, Spanish and French (Hey, sue me - I like Canada!). But if we moved to any part of Latin America, they would demand that we learn to speak their language in order to do any sort of business with their government for things as simple as getting mail or getting a driver's license. As a result, they shouldn't have a problem with conforming to the local language (i.e., English) when they move here.
(Did I get that right? $;-)
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
Oh yeah, he should be thrown under the jail! How dare he!
Yes but by that logic New Mexico should talk what....Apache?.. and Mexico Aztec?
English and Spanish are both imported European language and nether is native to North American.
When in Mexico I should accommodate the common imported European language of the nation
When in the U.S. I should accommodate the common imported European language of the nation
Bwahahaha!!
We do? [g]
The whole thing is nuts - while there is no "official language" per se in the US (save some specific municipalities), the de facto language is English. Government forms are in English, everything of any official nature is conducted in English. That is as it should be. Those that come here must conform. We have no business trying to conform to their norms.
And no, that is not a racist attitude.
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.