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.
I would certainly not be offended if I moved to France and someone said immigrants there should learn to speak French. Or moved to Italy and people said immigrants there should learn to speak Italian. Heck, If I was in such a position I'd already be doing that on my own without the need of such a reminder.
A remark like that says in effect, "Welcome to the family. Please start acting like you want to belong."
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
That's kinda funny, because for an "immigrant", I can't seem to recall having been born in another country...oh, I remember! I was born right here in the US! Enid, Oklahoma to be exact. Hmmmm....so I guess I'm not an immigrant. Come to think of it, of all the people I know...family, friends, associates, clients, etc...only one of them was born outside the US. Hmmmm...I guess they're not immigrants either. Wow...since this a nation of immigrants, I must be the only guy in the country who isn't one, or who doesn't know any...
OR...maybe the United States in 2002 isn't a nation of immigrants, and those who say it is are full of BS PC crap. Hmmmm.....
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
That's a terrific quote!
Way to go, Chad. You're telling it like it is. More people need to speak up and out and tell our officials the way it is.
These "hispanic" organizations are nothing but bigoted, themselves, for it is they who want to change the cultural and ethnic makeup of this country. It is they who want us to adapt to them in our country. Lastly, it is they who constantly berade patriotic Americans as being bigots and racists. Therefore, it is the Hispanic Organization members who either need to shut up or get out of our country.
Sorry. I left off the sarcasm tag.
The only thing I need to get a grip on is my sense of humor, apparently...
I've never seen as many Spanish-only independent television stations as I have seen in the Los Angeles area. There appeared to be six of them. If my memory serves me correct, there was roughly the same number of independent Spanish stations as there were English stations. It appears they want to assimilate (sarcasm).
On the radio dials, there are a lot of Spanish stations, too. In southern California, there are a lot on the dial. I noticed similar numbers in Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
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