cnn.com— Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich equated bilingual education Saturday with "the language of living in a ghetto" and mocked requirements that ballots be printed in multiple languages.
Mar 31, 2007View in Crawl 4
Or If you want another metaphor for the difference between republicans and democrats try this:Imagine there is a competition to design a device that takes people from the floor of poverty, to the upper floor of sustainable wealth. The republicans have designed a device for getting to the next level. Their device is a ladder that grows. Its wider at the bottom so more people can stand on the lower levels, and the rungs automatically stretch vertically further and further apart over time. It only works if all of the rungs are full. Eventually the rungs are so far apart that moving from rung to rung is impossible. Not many people try to climb. They just stand there waiting, letting the ladder lift them, hoping it will eventually take their rung to the next level. The republicans are very proud of this achievement, even if the people on the lower rungs never go very far. People riding the top rungs think its great. Clearly, it only partially fulfills its purpose of getting all of people to the next level. They think it works better than what the democrats have. Libertarians want each individual to invent their own device and a number of very sketchy inventions show up ranging from human cannonball to trampoline type. None work, but libertarians are very proud of their individualism and creativity. Wacky libertarians. Democrats, having built stairs, realize their device is not automated like the republicans. People have to work to move from level to level, and there is a handrail for weak, troubled, or clumsy climbers to hold. The republicans whine to the judges--indicating that the climbers are lifting themselves up not the device. Some people are milling about and aren't even going anywhere. The democrats re-read the original written specification from the contest, and point out to the republicans where it very clearly calls for an escalator. Democrats concede that their solution is not ideal, but decide that it is closer to spec. Social programs are like the handrail.
Remember those flotation devices you uses as a kid to keep you above water? Well guess what happens reality if you stick a pink in those flotation devices and they deflate? You drown. That's why it's imperative to learn how to swim. Teaching kids within a bilingual framework is like using a flotation device, without ever forcing the kid to jump in the water in a vulnerable state. Eventually, they rely on the accomodations of bilingualism so much that they can't stay afloat with English alone.
Wow ricky, way to set up a straw man.He never said he had any type of disrespect for any other cultures, he said if you can't speak English properly, the only way he would hire you is to do a job that requires very little communication with the customers. Why would a business owner hire someone who can't 1) communicate well with the clientèle 2) communicate well with co-workers. They wouldn't. That person would be a liability to the business. Any business that makes it common practice to increase their liabilities is a business soon to be filing bankruptcy. And for the record, not speaking proper english could also refer to those who prefer to use ghettotastic english instead of actual english.
when I first read what newt said I thought I had my mind already made up. I mean, I am from Georgia. I've had to listen to this sort of small minded bigoted crap since I was a kid. But after reading all the comments I am not as sure as I was before. There was a comment from an immigrant father who said he wanted his kids to learn English. There was another that pointed out that in spite of state mandated Mandarin classes, all the different dialects in China still survive. there is no denying the fact that speaking unaccented English does give you advantages. Remember, I am from Georgia.I know linguistic bigotry exists. Strong English classes will benefit and help the ESL students. but that should be the motivation behind it, to help and benefit the student. It shouldn't be motivated out of hate and ignorance. The language Gingrich used clearly shows his own motivation. For the record, I am prooud to be from Georgia. I am sad Gingrich is as well and ashamed of the fact that people in Georgia voted for him.
The strongest impression I got from the CNN story was how it subtly changed the tone of Gingrich's remarks by using the term "ghetto: differently than he meant it. He seemed to be saying that by not learning the dominant language immigrants force themselves into a ghetto lifestyle to the detriment of themselves and the larger society. The article made it sound as though he was putting down immigrants. Clearly that was not his intent. I am not much of a fan of Gingrich's and in general my politics are opposite to his. I basically agree with him on this point though but I feel much more strongly about the demonization of certain points of view and the detestable cult of political correctness than I do about the issue of bilingualism itself. We need to be able to debate one another with some degree of comity.
The government mandating that only English should be taught but no other language is like the government mandating that people should only drive vehicles with automatic transmission and make stick shifts illegal.
azaz09Apr 2, 2007
Or If you want another metaphor for the difference between republicans and democrats try this:Imagine there is a competition to design a device that takes people from the floor of poverty, to the upper floor of sustainable wealth. The republicans have designed a device for getting to the next level. Their device is a ladder that grows. Its wider at the bottom so more people can stand on the lower levels, and the rungs automatically stretch vertically further and further apart over time. It only works if all of the rungs are full. Eventually the rungs are so far apart that moving from rung to rung is impossible. Not many people try to climb. They just stand there waiting, letting the ladder lift them, hoping it will eventually take their rung to the next level. The republicans are very proud of this achievement, even if the people on the lower rungs never go very far. People riding the top rungs think its great. Clearly, it only partially fulfills its purpose of getting all of people to the next level. They think it works better than what the democrats have. Libertarians want each individual to invent their own device and a number of very sketchy inventions show up ranging from human cannonball to trampoline type. None work, but libertarians are very proud of their individualism and creativity. Wacky libertarians. Democrats, having built stairs, realize their device is not automated like the republicans. People have to work to move from level to level, and there is a handrail for weak, troubled, or clumsy climbers to hold. The republicans whine to the judges--indicating that the climbers are lifting themselves up not the device. Some people are milling about and aren't even going anywhere. The democrats re-read the original written specification from the contest, and point out to the republicans where it very clearly calls for an escalator. Democrats concede that their solution is not ideal, but decide that it is closer to spec. Social programs are like the handrail.
aardvarooApr 2, 2007
Remember those flotation devices you uses as a kid to keep you above water? Well guess what happens reality if you stick a pink in those flotation devices and they deflate? You drown. That's why it's imperative to learn how to swim. Teaching kids within a bilingual framework is like using a flotation device, without ever forcing the kid to jump in the water in a vulnerable state. Eventually, they rely on the accomodations of bilingualism so much that they can't stay afloat with English alone.
drmangrumApr 2, 2007
Wow ricky, way to set up a straw man.He never said he had any type of disrespect for any other cultures, he said if you can't speak English properly, the only way he would hire you is to do a job that requires very little communication with the customers. Why would a business owner hire someone who can't 1) communicate well with the clientèle 2) communicate well with co-workers. They wouldn't. That person would be a liability to the business. Any business that makes it common practice to increase their liabilities is a business soon to be filing bankruptcy. And for the record, not speaking proper english could also refer to those who prefer to use ghettotastic english instead of actual english.
Closed AccountApr 3, 2007
when I first read what newt said I thought I had my mind already made up. I mean, I am from Georgia. I've had to listen to this sort of small minded bigoted crap since I was a kid. But after reading all the comments I am not as sure as I was before. There was a comment from an immigrant father who said he wanted his kids to learn English. There was another that pointed out that in spite of state mandated Mandarin classes, all the different dialects in China still survive. there is no denying the fact that speaking unaccented English does give you advantages. Remember, I am from Georgia.I know linguistic bigotry exists. Strong English classes will benefit and help the ESL students. but that should be the motivation behind it, to help and benefit the student. It shouldn't be motivated out of hate and ignorance. The language Gingrich used clearly shows his own motivation. For the record, I am prooud to be from Georgia. I am sad Gingrich is as well and ashamed of the fact that people in Georgia voted for him.
harbeasApr 3, 2007
It's about time Newt said something right!
harbeasApr 3, 2007
What the hell do you mean by HTML tags? Furthermore, why do I have to keep entering the damn test below before I can submit a comment?
hyperlexicApr 3, 2007
Only in America is it frowned upon to speak more than one language.
marbyApr 4, 2007
The strongest impression I got from the CNN story was how it subtly changed the tone of Gingrich's remarks by using the term "ghetto: differently than he meant it. He seemed to be saying that by not learning the dominant language immigrants force themselves into a ghetto lifestyle to the detriment of themselves and the larger society. The article made it sound as though he was putting down immigrants. Clearly that was not his intent. I am not much of a fan of Gingrich's and in general my politics are opposite to his. I basically agree with him on this point though but I feel much more strongly about the demonization of certain points of view and the detestable cult of political correctness than I do about the issue of bilingualism itself. We need to be able to debate one another with some degree of comity.
mikehartorMay 2, 2007
Perfect post! I couldn't see any graphics in IE7 or FF.
sportfan99May 30, 2007
Good thing we didn't because in oklahoma we have six native languages and they are literally native.... Let the states decide.John - Essay<a class="user" href="http://www.essaytown.com">http://www.essaytown.com</a>
mikehartorAug 16, 2007
Very useful. I dont get it. <a class="user" href="http://coffeepages.blogspot.com">http://coffeepages.blogspot.com</a>
samsmartjrApr 14, 2009
The government mandating that only English should be taught but no other language is like the government mandating that people should only drive vehicles with automatic transmission and make stick shifts illegal.
stevelectricMay 30, 2009
Andrakon- You are right. The Los Angeles Unified School District has 80 languages that it has to provide teachers for, 112 of them hired in Mexico!It is funny that Newt Gingrich is finally coming around to a problem that was created during President Reagan's administration:<a class="user" href="http://www.communati.com/redwriteblue/think-newt">http://www.communati.com/redwriteblue/think-newt</a>You would be surprised at what citizen Gingrich has been up-to lately:<a class="user" href="http://www.flixya.com/post/stevelectric/1369412/Real_Change">http://www.flixya.com/post/stevelectric/1369412/Re ...</a>