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.
Yes Luis, the word is strawman. It is what you constructed in an attempt to lace up my jack boots because we disagree on this particular issue.
When you ask " Are you willing to monitor people to assure ourselves that they are speaking the Federally mandated language?" when I have mentioned no such thing, the intent is clear to me Luis.
You and every other American is guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and I will help you defend that right. Non citizens are not guaranteed a right to be American citizens without meeting certain requirements as set forth by the American people through their elected representatives.
My position is and will continue to be that, barring exceptional circumstance, applicants for citizenship must be able to speak rudimentary English, the language of this nation. After they are citizens they can speak in tongues if the mood hits them.
I would oppose English as a second language education and I would oppose any state referendum that bi,tri or quadlingualises the language spoken on official business in my state.
I am pro legal immigration and I judge people by the content of their character and their view of the world. Thats it.
Regards
JW
Well, that's because I'm not as smart as you Luis. So, with no one available to match your gigantic intellect, I guess you'll just have to keep constructing strawmen and knocking them down by your lonesome.
Anyone who is offended by this or thinks it's racist is FREE to get the hell out and go home.
Right.....and any person who doesn't get it should keep walking all the way to the border.
He has nothing to apologize for.
"Do you favor the Balkanization of America Luis?"
"A common language with many cultures is what prevents such things from happening."
Tell me how you force people to speak a common language?
Oh louie, shut up.... LOL!
and I'd be more than happy to give them a helping boot in the ass....
It's reasonable, necessary..........what do we have, a country where everybody else has to learn a hundred languages to buy bread at the grocery store.
No Luis, this isn't about racism. This is about yet another hyphenated group coming to America who expects everybody to apologize because we don't do things like they do "back in the Motherland".
....and frankly, I'm getting sick of it myself.
Why shouldn't they? Do they apply at some college or university, and then file a lawsuit because the class isn't taught in Spanish? Korean? Chinese?
The liberals in this country are destroying America. Don't be surprised to see people angry about it, either.
You mean the liberals who are suggesting that the government should enact a common language amendment to the constitution? The liberals who think that the solution is more government involvement?
Now, you didn't answer my original question...you support Brock's right under the First Amendment to speak his mind freely, and without fear. Then you turn around, and suggest that others doing the same thing should leave.
Is freedom of speech not for everyone then?
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