Obama: Your kids should learn Spanish
posted at 7:46 am on July 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Barack Obama addressed the issue of official languages yesterday by endorsing one: Spanish. Instead of worrying about immigrants learning English, he told an audience, America should be teaching its children Spanish. Every child should be bilingual, Obama said, but listen to the language he chooses later:
It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup,
Well, which is it — should we teach them Spanish or French? Maybe we should teach them Chinese, or perhaps Arabic. Immigrants come from around the world to live in America. Perhaps Obama doesn’t realize this, but they don’t all speak Spanish. If our children have to learn foreign languages so that immigrants feel at home here, then we’d better plan on keeping them in school for about 30 years.
Also, Obama’s argument here makes no sense. He’s complaining that Americans don’t speak the native language when we visit Europe, but that we don’t speak the immigrant language when people move to the United States. With that argument, shouldn’t we expect Europeans to speak English when we travel there?
I agree that everyone should learn a foreign language. I spoke French for a while, and I know a little Spanish from growing up in Southern California, and I studied Irish for several years. The study of foreign language not only broadens one’s cultural perspective, but it also helps in understanding one’s native tongue. However, to argue that Americans should learn Spanish as a higher priority than insisting that immigrants learn English is nonsense, and Obama’s argument for it is a giant non-sequitur. It carries a strong whiff of America-bashing, too.
Update: Andrew Leonard has the usual counterargument at Salon:
There’s nothing particularly exceptional about Obama’s position, unless you are an English-only partisan cowering in fear of your cultural identity being swamped by funny-looking people from strange lands. Or one of the similarly insecure patriots who believe any criticism of the U.S. is a sign of “blame-America-first” treachery. And I suppose the whole comment about “going to Europe” opens Obama up to more charges of elitism, and disconnection from the lives of those who, right now, can’t afford to even think about going to Europe.
But to most people who actually grasp the fact that we live in a complex, interconnected global economy, being able to speak more than one language just makes a lot of sense. Maybe those of us who do feel threatened by Spanish-language signs in government offices would sleep a little easier if we understood what they they were saying.
No one argues that a second language doesn’t help, but like Obama, Leonard seems to have divided the world into English and Spanish. Government offices produce literature and signs in a multitude of languages; are we to learn all of them instead of having immigrants learn English? Putting the onus of assimilation on the host is not just impractical, it’s downright rude.
If I emigrated to a country where English was not the language, I would not demand that the government produce signs and panphlets in English; I’d learn the language. My children would learn it as well if I expected them to succeed in their new land.
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er sorry ’bout the strike.
RushBaby on July 9, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Maybe they are emigrators? They are leaving a place they don’t want to be (for whatever reasons), though they are not welcome as immigrators.
So, illegal emigrators or my preference in illegal aliens. To me, they don’t deserve the more honorable and legit term of immigrants.
Semantics though.
Darksean on July 9, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Sure, though I don’t think being welcome would have anything to do with the term being used.
I guess that’s the issue then. I just don’t see it as any more or less honorable.
But I get your point about semantics.
I personally don’t care so long as people keep the illegal part in. Otherwise they’re painting us as racists.
Esthier on July 9, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Just moving from one country to another is not ‘immigrating’. That’s why we have the word ‘migrating’. The illegals we have in the US are, for the large, large majority, migrants who are just moving with the jobs. They have no national aspirations, other than to want to stay wherever the best pay and services are. This is ‘migration’, to a tee.
Back in the old days we all used to learn about the ‘migrant farmers’ that flowed up and back from Mexico. The illegals we have now arose out of that system. They are migrants, just not restricted to farms anymore. The minute the economy in the US turns bad enough they’ll be out of here and migrating somewhere else.
Well, as you’ve surely found, the ‘illegal’ part falls away after the first two sentences, usually, leaving discussions about ‘immigration’, which is not the issue, at all.
Look Esthier, the question is this, What would people who like to talk about ‘illegal immigration’ even define as a ‘migrant’ and not an ‘immigrant’?? I think that should straighten this all out.
progressoverpeace on July 9, 2008 at 3:54 PM
This entire thread reminds me of a plant-wide safety meeting we had on site with over 3,000 people standing around listening…
After one guy gave a lengthy discussion about the importance of communication to maintaining safety…another guy gave the same lengthy speech but in Spanish…then another guy gave the same speech in some language I could not recognize.
I leaned over to a co-worker and said, “Good thing we’re only building an LNG plant and not the Tower of Babel.”
I think the joke was lost on him.
(LNG=Liquified Natural Gas, if you must know)
ynot4tony2 on July 9, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Bingo! Well said.
Darksean on July 9, 2008 at 4:04 PM
I suddenly feel bitter and clingy.
ThePrez on July 9, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Oh cool I have another internet Stalker!
upinak on July 9, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Apart from his arrogance, it’s becoming very evident that this man absolutely loves himself.
Also very evident is his inability to speak with out a telepromter. Uh, you know, uh, uh, I mean, uh, you know.
waterfall on July 9, 2008 at 4:14 PM
his punchline……..”all we can say is merci bo cou” (or how ever you spell it) sounds an awful lot like something Jeremiah Wright would say.
He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny!
Dpet on July 9, 2008 at 4:16 PM
I listed them, they are all liberals…imagine my surprise.
Imagine, a liberal not liking me…there are hundreds of other posters on HA that would feel the same pride.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 4:25 PM
yeah but least they aren’t stalking you! heh!
upinak on July 9, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Sign me up for some Japanese so that i could translate my favorite Anime and Mangas. >:D
w00t!
Chakra Hammer on July 9, 2008 at 4:32 PM
people don’t like you because you twist what they say, and lie about them. make false accusations, as you did to me, on several occasions.
you need professional help.
right4life on July 9, 2008 at 4:37 PM
The only reason to learn spanish is to order the food at Quatro Milas in San Diego.
Their tacos and chili is so good that I forgive them for not speaking English. To be served food like that, is an honor, it can only come from true Mexican heritage. The hand made tortillas, or the best (except for Los Hamachas in Bahia de las Angelas).
Therefore I decree that all heritage based restaurants never need to learn to speak English…the best Italian (Boston), the best Kosher (New York and L.A.), best Mexican (San Diego), Armenian (Montebello, Ca), Vietnamese (Garden Grove), Chinese (many places) all of them allowed not to speak English, it may change the food.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 4:44 PM
He’s baaaaaack.
You were saying uninak?
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Quatro Milpas
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 4:46 PM
given that you have posted quotes of mine from old threads, you are the one stalking me.
right4life on July 9, 2008 at 4:47 PM
You’ve written some pretty silly stuff since you moved over here to Malkinland, Ed, but this is just about the silliest.
Sen. Obama could have picked any language to support the point he was making. He happened to mention Spanish. He could have said French, Italian, Portuguese, Swahili, German or anything else. He was making the point that learning a second language is a definite advantage to anyone seeking to earn a good living in today’s global economy. And you choose to attack him because he mentioned Spanish.
Ed, please, move back to your own website. You’ve really sunk low since your move over here.
Len on July 9, 2008 at 4:48 PM
whatever language he would have chosen, his ‘point’ would have been just as arrogant, condescending, and offensive.
right4life on July 9, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I am not stalking everyone. I hate everyone equally! I love everyone equally! And I bee-atch at everyone equally!
I am a equally hating racist and proud to call America my home!
Don’t hate the playa!
upinak on July 9, 2008 at 4:50 PM
so let all the illegals and immigrants get a better advantage by learning english while living here.
palefaced on July 9, 2008 at 4:58 PM
The point he was making was incorrect and stupid. English is the dominant language in just about every sphere of human activity. This asymmetry is the reason for the language differences. I guarantee you that, if China were producing all the movies and TV shows that people aroud the world were dying to see, people would speak Chinese. But, in entertainment and almost all of the other fields, the language is English and the culture is often American. This is something to be proud of, not to be embarassed by.
Either BHO doesn’t understand the concept of asymmetry or he hates the US’/English’s position. Not a pretty picture, either way. With BHO, between dumb and self-hating it’s hard to tell, sometimes.
progressoverpeace on July 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM
The point would be no different if he said Swahili. His whole idea is completely ridiculous. The only reason Europeans know English at all is because it is a global language that they need to use if they wander outside of their own country. Americans don’t have that disadvantage, because most of the world speaks English.
Having an American learn Spanish, French, or German is only useful if they’re actually going to move to countries that speak those languages, because otherwise, all you need is English!
Americans should be focusing on learning the English language better, or using their time to learn other skills, rather than learning another language they will most likely have no use for.
That’s what is elitist about Obama’s statement: he supposes it is useful for the average American to learn another language when it isn’t. Sure, it would be fun to learn another language, but tell that to the guy working in the coal mine. What use is French to him?
Seixon on July 9, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Also, Obama seems to not know that every high school curriculum requires you to take a minimum amount of credits in a foreign language. I spent four years taking French (I think you’re only required to take 1 year) - and I haven’t had any use for it what so ever. Meanwhile, we’re spending millions of dollars printing signs and information in Spanish, Chinese, etc in addition to English because immigrants are failing to learn English.
Talk about misplaced priorities.
Seixon on July 9, 2008 at 5:06 PM
His Wife is ashamed and he is embarrassed of America. We don’t live up to his expectations. Hmmm. “All these people talkin (no g) about English” Um, well, you are in the United States Bambi. How bout we teach all our children Polish? That was the language spoken in my Dad’s home. How about German? That’s what was spoken in my Mom’s home. Both my parents spoke two languages, but only felt us six kids should learn one, English. I think there might have been a reason for that. I am sorry that Bambi is embarrassed of me and what my parents did. NOT!!!!!!
oakpack on July 9, 2008 at 5:07 PM
I’d speak spanish if I were from Spain. Or if I was hitting on Selma Hayek. Other then that…
tlynch001 on July 9, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Well, imagine that, a liberal not liking Ed…doing to good of a job for you? I figure that if you felt he was doing a bad job you would want him to stay.
Obaaaaaaaaama the little sheep, has left the fold, I think he is going to be eaten by the big bad wolf.
Now, what languages does Obama speak? English and, and, well that is two languages, because he talks out of both sides of his mouth. By the end of this cycle, Nader will be pulling in more votes then Obaaaaaaaama, a sheep that has to be led by the polls.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Absolutely. Wanting to educate other people’s kids is more important than wanting to educate our own.
Nonfactor on July 9, 2008 at 5:31 PM
this is emblematic of one of the many fundamental differences between the liberal mind and the conservative one. when i travel internationally and talk with people in english, i am not embarrassed that i only speak one language and they speak many; instead i am proud that my country (following on the foundation of the not so proud tradition of british imperialism) forced this issue with totally optional commercial imperialism and at least somewhat requested diplomatic imperialism and therefore english became the international language by necessity. so i don’t really have to learn another language, because increasingly things are handled on a multi-national basis and therefore everyone needs to speak one language, not several, and that language is english.
to the liberal this is closed-minded, xenophobic, and hubristic; to the conservative, it is just reality, not worth judging one way or the other, and kind of lucky for us, if nothing else. so obama can be embarrassed all he wants; i am proud that in any international situation, it is the other party that adapts to us. it is also a big advantage in political discussions because it is always easier to express oneself in ones own native language. ;)
all over the world, from china and japan to germany and france, grade school children are being taught english so that they can succeed later in life at the highest levels of business and politics, yet in our own country it is considered taboo (at best) by some on the left to want to emphasize the same thing for our new immigrants here (of course, by immigrants, in this case, we are almost entirely speaking of mexican immigrants - no other immigrant group actually rejects english immersion).
truecon on July 9, 2008 at 5:38 PM
My kids took four years of French (they lived in a Hispanic dominated community so they knew Spanish, or at least every swear word), now they both say they have a tough time finding a French gardener.
The only use of learning a language, is the skills needed to learn the language (unless you are a linguist, or work directly with the culture you studied). Like most of school, it isn’t the knowledge, it is the skills needed to obtain the knowledge that helps you through life. The knowledge you can pick up from a book, but the, writing, the analysis, time management, the general learning process is what is important.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 5:40 PM
No way in hell should we be made to learn Spanish. If the illegals want to communicate with us, they can learn ENGLISH!
Mooseman on July 9, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans want to remain citizens of their home country while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.
Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I, Mexico allowed German spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S.. During World War II, Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the U.S. from Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico. Today, Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, new Mexico and Texas. If you don’t believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their schoolchildren.
- David J. Stoddard, 27 year veteran of the Border Patrol
MB4 on July 9, 2008 at 5:42 PM
All of what you wrote is excellent, but this is the money phrase…”so that they can succeed…”
A liberals head would explode talking to you, you closed-minded, xenophobic, and hubristic conservative.
*
Some of the best posts have been written in this thread.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 5:44 PM
I really hope you’re being sarcastic.
So, if I can communicate in three languages (I actually can: English, Spanish and ASL) and a brain surgeon can only speak English (or Spanish or Swahili, take your pick), he or she is automatically less “educated” than I am?
For that matter, I can’t fix a car or build a house but there are plenty of vocational school grads who are pretty damn good at it. Are they less “educated” than me?
I respectfully suggest that you either expand your definition of “educated” or rethink what looks like the same elitist, faux-cosmopolitan attitude that’s gotten Obama into such trouble today.
People have a limited amount of time to learn things and I’m all for spending educational time learning foreign languages. But knowing them doesn’t automatically make one person more “educated” than another.
inviolet on July 9, 2008 at 5:45 PM
I could see your point if as an immigrant the individual integrated into American society fully. Waving the (name the country) flag or professing your allegiance to (name the country) does not make you an immigrant. La Raza is not an immigrant rights group. It is for all intents and purposes an alien rights group.
Right from Websters.
VikingGoneWild on July 9, 2008 at 5:46 PM
I really
hope you’re being sarcastic= hope you’re joking.inviolet on July 9, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Less educated than I. Yes, I CAN communicate in English! :)
inviolet on July 9, 2008 at 5:48 PM
I am not so sure about that (but not sure your wrong either)…the ones that worked for me could hardly wait to become citizens…but then that was just a couple of hundred.
It would be interesting to see stats of how many Mexicans (I mean we can be real and say Illegal=Mexicans, right?) each year become citizens.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 5:48 PM
You can bet that the illegals increased by more then 3% in that time period.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Since Obama has already told us that he doesn’t want to promote the idea of American exceptionalism, I’d say it’s the latter.
It’s hard to believe that a majority of American voters will choose to put into the White House a man who doesn’t understand or appreciate just how exceptional this nation is. I continue to hope that the American public (or at least the ones who are currently being duped by Obama) will come to their senses by November.
AZCoyote on July 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Link
there is a table showing Ca with 45% of the illegals have been naturalized, and this shows NC has basically a zero, which bears MB4 out. But the CA, doesn’t support MB4, although 45% is not a majority, still a signigicant number. However, many of the illegals are moving to other states, Ca is basically static, if 50,000 come and stay, then 50,000 have become citizens. According to this study (a little old).
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM
That doesn’t make sense…if educating other kids is more important, then it would be more important for them to educate mine…this is why liberals are dangerous…
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Could be wrong but I think Nonfactor was either kidding or (looks to me like) was being sarcastic to put down those who think limited time spent on education other than in foreign languages is also valuable.
inviolet on July 9, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Yes, and even worse. He is embarassed by the US’ accomplishments. Unfortunately, this describes the emotional landscape of much of the left. They usually get to hide it, though. Obama, hopefully, brings it too much into the open even for many of them. They are very sensitive to public opinion about them. The left are extremely fashion-conscious, in all areas.
progressoverpeace on July 9, 2008 at 6:09 PM
I know what the word means. I also know what immigrate means.
The part that doesn’t necessarily fit most illegals in this country is that many aren’t moving here permanently.
However, many are and only want to go back to their home country (they’re not just Mexicans guys; many illegals are people who’ve overstayed their visas) for a few months at a time but for all intents and purposes live here.
Waving the American flag isn’t a requirement for someone to be an immigrant, not if you’re talking about the literal denotation of the word.
The truth is, the words just don’t bother me much at all unless they’re being used without “illegal” in front. Even aliens aren’t necessarily illegal.
To me it seems a small thing to fret over, but I completely understand your rationale.
Other people’s? Um, who said we were talking about other people’s kids?
The immigrants in the phrase you quoted would also be Americans, new Americans, but Americans nonetheless.
Weird, I thought conservatives were supposed to be the xenophobic racists.
Esthier on July 9, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Check out my Post:
upinak on July 9, 2008 at 4:50 PM
I am a “multiracial” Unionized hater of all, yet I give everyone a chance.
upinak on July 9, 2008 at 6:12 PM
I’ll put my pesos on the 27 year veteran of the border patrol.
MB4 on July 9, 2008 at 6:18 PM
That’s what I’ve always said I love about South Park. It might make fun of my beliefs and tear them to shreds, but at least it does the same about everyone else’s.
Esthier on July 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
So why don’t we just take Mexico and make it ours.
It would be expensive and not worth the trouble in the early stages, but at least we wouldn’t have to put up with outright backstabbing.
And hey, the second riches man in the world lives in Mexico so that couldn’t hurt.
Esthier on July 9, 2008 at 6:22 PM
I dunno, but it would make a lot more sense than “Islamic nation building” on the other side of the planet for sure.
MB4 on July 9, 2008 at 6:28 PM
English and Chicagoian (i.e. BS)
aengus on July 9, 2008 at 6:38 PM
maverick muse,
You’re presupposing that America is the only, or at least the paramount issue, on which French people vote in their government. Isn’t it possible then when they went to the polls the French people had other considerations like national issues that you don’t know about?
aengus on July 9, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Immigration is a legal process that illegal aliens have failed to accomplish, or else they would be…well, legal.
James on July 9, 2008 at 6:54 PM
You are very nice, I know from your posts.
You give way to much credit to this liberal. She only posts to support the liberal ideas: Here is just one of her gems.
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Obama can speak arabic.
He can recite the koran in perfect arabic. FACT.
Should that bother anyone?
Of course not..it just means that Mohammed Hussein Obama is a well read and highly educated
jihadistindividualSaintOlaf on July 9, 2008 at 7:38 PM
I haven’t gone through the four pages of comments, especially the “you’re the stalker…no, YOU are!” stuff. Therefore, I don’t know if this has been covered yet. If it has, my apologies. But…
It appears as though the Obamessiah is lecturing us to learn a language that he doesn’t even speak himself! How do you say “hypocrite” in Spanish?
crushliberalism on July 9, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Michelle Obama is not proud of our country and noe Barack is embarassed by us.
Sen. Obama doesn’t recite or apparently believe in the Pledge of Allegiance so how could he understand that the one thing that makes us “one nation, indivisible” is our common, functional language - English. Ballots and other government papers should be in English only. It is the responsiblity of any immigrant to any country to learn and become functional in the language and laws of that country.
kaye on July 9, 2008 at 7:44 PM
It is the same as English…Democrat
right2bright on July 9, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Como se dice “pander” en Español?
The closest translation seems to be saconería, or insincere flattery. In some Latin American countries, the panderer is a sobón, or kiss-up. Others say he’s a chupamedias — literally, one who sucks socks.
But whatever you want to call it, Barack Obama and John McCain were doing it yesterday — en abundancia.
McCain, a former prisoner of war, came armed with el pander armado, the military pander. “When you take a solemn stroll along that wall of black granite on the national Mall, it’s hard not to notice the many names such as Rodriguez, Hernandez and Lopez,” he observed, lauding the “thousands of Hispanic Americans” in the military.
Four hours later, Obama countered with his own military pander. He spoke of the Hispanic soldier who “was denied burial beside the men he fought with and bled with because of the color of his skin.”
- Dana Milbank
PLENTY OF COMMENTATORS, including yours truly, argued during the Democratic primaries that Barack Obama had shown a weakness with Latino voters which could last through the general election and help John McCain on Election Day. McCain, known for his strong support for “comprehensive immigration reform” including a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States, would be able to make inroads into this growing demographic group. The thinking went like this: When you combined Obama’s perceived weakness with Latinos in the primary and McCain’s strengths as a candidate, the Republican nominee could hope to do at least as well as, and maybe better than, George W. Bush’s 40 percent of the national Latino vote in 2004.
Well, here’s a revised prediction. That’s not going to happen. Obama has already shown strength among Latinos in recent general election polls, strength that will likely continue through November 4. Obama will match John Kerry’s percentage of the 2004 Latino vote, perhaps do better
- Matthew Continetti
It would seem like Juan McBernie needs to suck harder on those socks.
MB4 on July 9, 2008 at 8:05 PM
What languages does Obama’s daughters speak?
James on July 9, 2008 at 9:56 PM
…….. did I miss anything?
Seven Percent Solution on July 9, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Correction:
It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all weez can say is merci beaucoup,
Heard that on the radio today. Wish I could remember the name of the hostess of that show who also fills in on O’Reilly periodically.
DannoJyd on July 9, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Like a broken broken broken broken broken broken broken record.
right2bright on July 10, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Umm actually Ed for some of us (like me) foreign language education doesn’t help. (To be blunt my experience with it to paraphrase Hitchen “If that wasn’t torture nothing is.”)
Dave_d on July 10, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Moron. This is the USA, We speak English. Learn it, or stay out.
tx2654 on July 10, 2008 at 1:40 AM
Does Barack Obama speak Spanish?
Does Michelle O. speak Spanish?
Do their kids speak Spanish?
His entire rationale, in that setting, aside from blatant pandering, was an idiotic one. He missed telling the Latinos that knowing English would make their lives easier here. But, heh, that w/b lecturing and
JesseVillaraigosa and Richardson might want to cut the remainder of his balls off.Aside from all this, any additional language is a plus and one can’t ever know enough of them. Life is way more fun.
Entelechy on July 10, 2008 at 1:59 AM
How ’bout yor stop tap tap tap tap tap tap tap taping your foot.
MB4 on July 10, 2008 at 2:29 AM
I just took a quick look at MM’s home site. She calls Oscar and Myers the LaRaza Twins. I like it. Pretty much sums it up.
MB4 on July 10, 2008 at 2:51 AM
Odd, why didn’t he say that then?
“Instead of worrying about whether Immigrants can learn English; they’ll learn English. You need to make sure your child can speak Spanish”.
Well, “need to make sure” isn’t the term he meant? It wasn’t what he was trying to say? It wasn’t the meaning he was trying to get across?
It would be helpful in some fields to know a foreign language (in a few, it is Spanish, French for working with areas of Canada, etc.), and in other fields, it’s more useful to know something else entirely, like regular expressions.
I don’t think you “need to worry about if your child can understand regular expressions”. If he can’t, he may not have a great career in several computer programming areas.
Which will limit his career choices (as will learning or not learning thousands of things). Teaching all kids all of these would take more than a lifetime of education.
But I guess we “need” a secondary language, even if we’ll never use it. And the concept of focusing on what someone will actually use isn’t worrying about what they “need” for some odd definition of “need”… Oh wait, that wasn’t what Obama meant, it was just what he said. I’m sorry about that.
But how do you know what he meant, when it was different from what he said? Is there an English to Obama dictionary somewhere I can get? If he becomes President that might be a useful second language to master… it might even be something that we “need” in order to know what he’s actually talking about.
Because trying to understand him in English seems to be causing all kinds of trouble.
gekkobear on July 10, 2008 at 3:03 AM
BHO’s oratory defies all attempts at static translation. He speaks in living words. Their meanings change with the context, our evolving standards of decency, and political expediency. The latest translations of Obama to English are kept on the BHO website, so you can always be sure of the current meaning … for at least a few minutes.
progressoverpeace on July 10, 2008 at 3:48 AM
haven’t read all the comments so may have been asked but did he just say “yo” it’s embarrassing?
and at the next chance someone has at an Obama rally to ask a question of him I would ask it in spanish with all of the cameras rolling.
RNC should run a loop with this and Michelle’s proud comments back to back.
yakwill83 on July 10, 2008 at 9:26 AM
My daughter has a degree in Spanish, culo.
Akzed on July 10, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Que?
right2bright on July 10, 2008 at 10:29 AM
RE: POLL McCain hurt more by age than Obama by skin tone–
1. No legislation specifies age discrimination a hate crime.
2. Politically Correct to antagonize a senior to the point that the senior is no longer recognized as a member of society–all elders are disfunctional–the “refined” residual message from the 1960’s “don’t trust anyone over 30″ mantra.
3. Regardless of race, most people tend to fear aging, and espond to that fear, consciously or not, with persecution.
4. The media has taught that message. The biased public swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
BIGOTS
maverick muse on July 10, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Magnifico! Bravo. You must send this on to McCain headquarters and El Rushbo to see that it comes to happen.
maverick muse on July 10, 2008 at 11:14 AM
No he wasn’t, you pandering douche. He never even hinted at that point, and I listened to the whole, mumbling, boring mess.
He cannot speak extemporaneously on any subject that I’ve heard him address so far. He is either illiterate on economics, or a Marxist. Let’s give him the benefit of a doubt and say he knows nothing about the subject.
What did he do at Columbia and Harvard? He knows precious little about law, can’t practice it, and despite his affirmative-action career at U of C, couldn’t figure out that John Roberts was a brilliant jurist and possessed the highest qualifications for his appointment to SCOTUS.
Exactly what does he know? Someone find us a tape of Obambi speaking fluently in another language, or even English, without a script.
And if you think he was addressing “today’s global economy”, then you’re either a mind reader or an idiot, and he knows nothing about that, either.
Jaibones on July 10, 2008 at 12:10 PM
There’s a reason that many Europeans speak English well, and perhaps one other language… they can drive for between one and six hours, and be completely outside their little linguistic sphere. English is their lingua franca Ironic, isn’t it?
The US population at large has neither cultural nor geographic reason to maintain another language. There is simply no reason to do so, unless you live in Miami or El Paso. In such places, speaking Spanish can be a real economic boon, because of the realities of life there.
I speak Portuguese, French and Spanish, and think it’s a great thing - but I got them because I needed them. Why? Because I was living in Miami, Brazil and France. One MUST become as fluent as possible in the local language. It is a sign of ignorance, rudeness, ill-will or incompetence to do otherwise.
Immigrants to the US - for their good and for the good of their adopted nation - really need to learn English. They don’t have to lose their accents - they just have to be competent.
During the years I lived in France, my kids got fluent. I didn’t speak French at home, though, and their English remained fine as well. Immigrants or long-term visitors have no need to lose their mother tongue, or hide it from the kids.
Asking immigrants to learn the local language is practical and courteous. It is an invitation to become a part of the community, to serve and be served. It is in no way discriminatory. Learning a few words of immigrant languages is a courtesy as well, and can smooth social interactions — but is not necessary.
Mr. Obama is clearly not clear on any of this. His shining examples of cosmopolitan voyagers are actually the vast minority in many Euro-zone countries, with the notable exception of the Germans, who tend to speak good English (possibly because we’re still occupying them).
The French and Swiss are usually far more provincial than your average American, in a number of ways. Only those who interact outside their country (by necessity or inclination) ever seem to pick up any foreign languages, in my substantial experience.
So yes, teach your children Spanish - when you emigrate.
Prufrock on July 10, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Obama is right - except for the group that should be bilingual. It’s not Americans that should be bilingual - it should be the Hispanics. Why should 80% of the people learn a language to speak to the other 20%? Shouldn’t it be the other way around.
bernieg1 on July 10, 2008 at 2:37 PM
When I was a kid (50s/60s), they told us in the future everyone around the globe would be speaking Esperanto.
At the above Wikipedia link I read this: The word esperanto means ‘one who hopes’ in the language itself so it sounds like it lines right up with BarryO.
electric-rascal on July 10, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Prufrock on July 10, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations on an excellent summation!
Entelechy on July 11, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Granted I’ve not read thru all the comments but I would just add an anecdotal comment to this Obama bi-lingual stupidity.
If you are going to live or do business in a non-English speaking country, of course you should learn to speak their native language. If for no other reason than the translations into English vary because of the variants in our English language.
BUT
I have a friend who is Bulgarian and speaks Bulgarian, Russian and some French. She taught herself English. She told me that the WORLD needs to learn ENGLISH because English is the international language.
Texas Gal on July 11, 2008 at 12:53 AM
It’s also the money language.
Mojave Mark on July 11, 2008 at 1:26 AM
And if there were a certain large voting block he was sucking up to and who just happened to speak Spanish…. Sheesh, what a transparent fool.
dhimwit on July 11, 2008 at 7:32 AM
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