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.
BINGO!!!
What you actually just hit on is the true problem, government meddling in the language issue. Some people think that more government intervention is the answer.
WRONG!!!
It's the government printing those ballots, they need to stop it.
I would point out that your grandparents most likely used whatever Hospital was near them which had a good number of bilingual staff members.
P.S. Do your parents and their siblings (if they're still alive) still frequent Italian markets, deli's, and restaurants on occasion?
I cannot expect to be an American and reject our history, traditions, and political culture.
BRAVO.
No thinking of onesself as "Polish American" or the like.
Just "American" works fine.
We need more of that, leave the identity politics to the democrats and those with heavy chips and sore sholders.
Are you making it illegal to be a citizen if you are illiterate?
There is a proficiency level mandated for becoming a citizen, and a test one must pass in order to be naturalized, that needs to remain in English. There are also State laws regarding the ability to to read and/or recognize road signs in order to obtain a driving license.
Looks like we have all the laws we need already in place.
IF a State opts to issue driving tests in a language other than English, that is a matter for the people of that State to address, it isn't a Federal issue at all.
No, just to immigrate.
I don't agree. I mean, you have california issuing Drivers licenses in ebonics, In chicago you have dead people filling out voter regstration in greek and hebrew..
No, a nation is defined by it's language. We need a standard.
Aside from that.
If you want to open a restrauant and have the menu in latin, fine..
Roberto Cordova is a Professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies. Curriculum Vitae. Office: Cand 0040 Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00 Telephone: (970) 351-2227 E-mail: rcordov@unco.edu
I've noticed that, I knew a lot of Filipinos when I was in the Navy. They learn English immediately and their kids are so American they're like "Dad, can I, like, have the keys to the car now or what, you know?"
You're talking about immigrants. The rest of us are talking about invaders. There is a huge difference, Luis. Whether or not you admit it, your misty-eyed recollections about coming here as a child just don't apply. You immigrated here. The people flooding into the US today are not immigrants.
When they show any willingness to assimilate and become Americans, many of the problems associated with their coming here might ease up, but that seems unlikely to happen. The truth is that these invaders don't care about assimilating. In the past two years, they have flooded into central Virginia. The roadsides are now littered in a solid layer as soon as citizens finish cleaning them up. These invaders act as though you haven't spoken to them when you point out that they just threw a beer bottle out in the road. They buy postal money orders and send them home, then sign up for food stamps. Their labor contractors are union reps as well. You see their cars with the crossed US/Mexican flags above the Virgin of Guadalupe. Sounds like New Mexico or Texas, huh?
Virginia isn't a border state, son. For us to have a problem with illegals shows that we have a nationwide invasion on our hands. Schlepping around from thread to thread snottily insinuating that everyone whose people have been here for 300 to 10,000 years longer than you have is a racist isn't debating the problem. You won't even admit that there's a problem.
Get a grip. These people are invaders, not immigrants. Since you can't make your points without pretending that we're talking about immigrants, I don't expect you to respond with anything that makes any sense.
"Bigtime LULAC member, are you?"
Personal attack, zero substance, nothing to add to the debate.
"I agree with Chad. Grow a pair and quit your whining."
Personal attack, with a dose of vulgarity thrown in for measure...that's about your speed. Zero substance, nothing to add to the debate. I also see that you are on a first-name basis with Mr. Brock.
"Chad's talking about invaders from a socialist hellhole who don't care about our laws, having flouted them by coming here without permission."
Wow!!! You are speaking for Mr. Brock now? I don't see where the article mentions that he qualified his remarks by adding "illegal" to immigrant. As a matter of fact, Mr. Brock himself is quoted as saying that he "...wasn't directing the comments toward any particular group."
Perhaps we need to question your ability to read our common language.
"They aren't very big on paying taxes or defending the ocuntry either, in case you haven't noticed."
Funny, President Bush just suggested that citizenship be expedited for non-citizens serving in the US Armed Forces...who do you think he was talking about?
"You're right, not everyone with a Spanish surname is an illegal"
Here you nearly see the light. I am right DeeDee, and it drives you insane.
" and you're apparently trying to make it appear that everyone with a Spanish surname whines like a liberal. It's clear that you certainly have the whine down pat."
And then the stereotypical DeeDee response, more personal attacks, zero substance, nothing of any worth to add to an intelligent debate.
All that was in response to a post discussing the First Amendment to the Constitution...what points did you make that would refute my post?
None...you didn't even dare address them.
Many people of many diverse backgrounds created our polity.
When you speak of traditions, are you asking about such American traditions as Colombus Day, St. Patrick's Day, and such?
Taxman is correct. A country has an official language, and ours is English. We do not need to do our official business in another language. It ends all cohesiveness of our country. If a group wants to translate something in a diffeent language, it should not be on our dime.
This doesn't have anything to do with more government. Indeed, it is less government by not having to accommodate other languages in government business.
The same way we always have, by realizing that in order to prosper we all need to communicate with one another.
Answer one simple question...how would you enforce a common language amendment, and what penalty would you impose for violation?
Most importantly, how would the government monitor such a regulation, without intruding on our civil rights?
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