12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - A-List on Americanism by Rich Valdes

NEW YORK, July, 24 2013 — A community college nursing student inArizona was suspended for harassing Spanish-speaking students in herclass. Now Terri Bennett is suing the community college; the collegestates that her rights were not in any way infringed upon.

Bennett, 50, was suspended for harassing Spanish speaking students inher nursing class. Her lawsuit claims that the use of Spanish by otherstudents in class created a hostile learning environment for her. Bennetsued Pima Community College for allowing students to spake Spanish inthe classroom.

SEE RELATED: Obama courts Hispanic support using ‘jobs’ pretext,Leaders skeptical

Is America still free? Perhaps not, if you don’t speak English. Recentheadlines highlighted a blizzard of discriminatory, anti-Hispanic remarkson Twitter, targeting American-born Latin/Pop singer Marc Anthony forsinging “God Bless America” at the Major League Baseball All Star game.Bennet’s lawsuit is yet another example of hostility to people who use

Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanishspeakers files lawsuit

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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languages other than English.

What happened to America being a melting pot? What happened to theBill of Rights that affords Americans Fist Amendment rights to freespeech? Isn’t speech in Spanish still speech? What’s happened to the“mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, andher name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-widewelcome,” as inscribed on the tablet held by our Statue of Liberty?

Conservatives and Libertarians argue against government intrusion intopersonal life; the government-run college did not interfere in the personallives of students who were speaking Spanish in the classroom, nor wouldthey impose an English-only rule just because one student in a no doubtcrowded classroom had a gripe.

America has faced these challenges before. In 1794, a German-speakingcongressman and his constituents from Augusta County, Virginia,presented a petition to Congress to have a “certain proportion ” of U.S.laws translated and printed in German as well as English at the expenseof the federal government. In 1795 the proposal lost by a very close voteof 42 to 41. Allowing students to speak Spanish in class is a far cry from acongressional petition to have legislation printed in German, so why all thecontroversy?

University of Illinois linguistics professor Denis Baron observed on PBSthat:

“Since that time, American nativists have sought to eradicate minoritylanguages and discourage bilingualism wherever it could be found: inMaine and Louisiana, California and New Mexico, Hawaii and PuertoRico, as well as in Pennsylvania. Complaints about Germans as well as

other non-English-speakers became all too common in the last quarter of the 19th century, and againduring and after World War I, when the fear of immigrants and their languages prompted protectiveEnglish-only legislation.

“Many Americans considered non-Anglophones to be less than human: in 1904 a railroad presidenttold a congressional hearing on the mistreatment of immigrant workers, “These workers don’t suffer —they don’t even speak English” (Shanahan, 1989.) Today as well there is opposition to non-Anglophones and bilinguals — this time not Germans but Hispanic and Asian Americans.”

This apprehension toward those who speak languages other than English is not so much about historyrepeating itself as it is fear of change, a fear of losing our identity or culture. Of course the problem isnot just fear of change. Benjamin Franklin said of the assimilation of Germans, “Why shouldPennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous asto Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, anymore than they can acquire our Complexion?” Clearly, anti-immigrant sentiment, whether it be culturallypreservationist or bigoted and discriminatory has been part of the fabric of our nation from thebeginning.

The stakes are much higher now than they have ever been before. The percentage of Hispanic highschool graduates enrolling in college has surpassed whites, and Hispanics in politics are increasing instrength and numbers. For evidence of that, look no further than the recent elections Senators TedCruz and Marco Rubio, and Governors Susanna Martinez and Brian Sandoval, as well as theappointment of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. That Hispanics form families at a rate higherthan their black or white counterparts all but ensures that Hispanics are here to stay and grow in theU.S.

The National Council of La Raza posted the following census data on their website: “Most Latinos arenative-born Americans, and nearly three in four Latinos (74 percent) are U.S. citizens. As of 2009, 62.7percent of all Latinos are native-born Americans and 37.3 percent are foreign-born. Another 10.9percent of Latinos are naturalized U.S. citizens. Hispanic children under age 18 are also more likely tohave been born in the U.S., with 92 percent being native-born Americans and 93 percent being U.S.

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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citizens.”

With Hispanics on pace to remain the largest ethnic group in the U.S., this debate is sure to beimportant to both Republicans and Democrats, who have been strategizing over who can stake claim ofthis large and growing voting bloc. However, the battle for political real estate will hardly address thefear of change or bigotry that is at the core of the underlying issue in this case and many others like it.

Leadership expert Andy Stanley has said that some problems can be solved, and some perceivedproblems aren’t problems at all; they are tensions that don’t go away, such as work and life balance,and therefore are tensions to be managed, not problems to be solved. In that vein, we need to managethe tension of discrimination masquerading as fear or resistance to change. We must hope that just asAfrican Americans have succeeded despite oppression, that Hispanics and those who espouse anti-Hispanic sentiment will soon also peaceably coexist and eradicate this “tension” for good so we canprogress as Americans despite our diverse ancestries.

About the author: Rich Valdes is a former official in New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’sAdministration, an award-winning marketing director, and manager who has led staff and projects forvarious colleges, state policy initiatives, celebrity entertainers, faith based organizations, and non-profitcharities. As a frequent TV, radio, and print media contributor, Rich’s commentary on social issues andpopular culture have been featured on Hot 97 FM, CNN Headline News, Telemundo, Univision, HHRand Fox/My9. Rich attended New York University and is pursuing a master’s degree at LincolnUniversity while raising his two young daughters and caring for his elderly father in the New York Citysuburb of Bergen County, New Jersey.

Follow Rich Valdes on Twitter: @richvaldes

This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com.

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

Rich Valdes • a year ago

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Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and opinions; I genuinely appreciate thedialog. Many of the comments made support the stated thesis; that, in the purview ofsome, the freedom and liberties we expect as Americans are only available to thosethat speak English.

The Arizona case does not state that the Spanish-speaking students were illegalimmigrants, nor that they were Mexican. The very idea of being afforded firstamendment rights is to ensure that we have the inalienable right to speak freely in aconstitutional republic such as ours, to challenge our government, and speak ourminds with no mention of doing it in a particular language.

I am not defending illeagal immigration, suporrting Amnesty, or advocating for Spanishas a 2nd US language. But, the notion that more government regulation will remedythe underlying root problem here is not consistent with libertarianism or conservatism.It's a big-government'/liberal approach to analyzing this problem, and it supports theprogressive agenda to create a nanny-state; a government that solves the ills of itspeople rather than a limited government that keeps out of the lives of its citizensallowing them to lead their own lives. This case is merely a symptom of the problem athand; lamentably, there are many fellow Conservatives that harbor resentment toward

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• Reply •

NJHuguenot • a year ago

My paternal grandfather and I spoke Calabrese to his mother because she didn'tspeak English well. My Maternal Grandfather used to speak in Jersey Dutch to me.But. We only used it at home. We were never rude enough to speak in a language thatothers didn;t understand and make them feel excluded.

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• Reply •

DonMann • a year ago

Melting pot is one thing, but becoming bean stew is another. Mr. Valdes, acts asthough his people just got off of the boat, well that is the problem. they didn't. We allknow what these 3rd world people bring with them. their 3rd world culture and all ofthe ills that come with them.. The U.S. just celebrated it's 237 birthday and Mexico isnot that far behind, but after over 200 yrs of sovereignty, look at the country and it'speople.. Mr. Valdes, had better get used to the push back, because we are beinginvaded and occupied, by Mr. Valdes 3rd world culture.. I as an American Citizenwhose family has been on these shores since 1773, with many of them fighting anddying for this country, will stand with other American's to stop the INVASION andOCCUPATION.. I will not just stand by and watch my homeland turn into theirs. withall that comes with them.. NO Amnesty!! Stop The Invasion!!

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

Legal__Immigrant • a year ago

"What happened to America being a melting pot?"

Valdes, unfortunately America has become a quilt instead of a melting pot. Peoplerefuse to assimilate, especially the Hispanics. Everyone is Hispanic American,Philippine American, African American. Funny, you don't hear "I'm a Black German" or"Black French" over in Europe.

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• Reply •

rsticks • a year ago

Melting pot means we are in one pot together Not a pot for English and another potfor Spanish snd another pot for German and so on. One pot just Americans. Nohyphens. Speaking ENGLISH.

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• Reply •

JudyGreenEyes • a year ago

An amendment making English (American) the official language of the USA wouldsolve this issue.

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• Reply •

Legal__Immigrant • a year ago> JudyGreenEyes

The politicians don't have the political (gonads) fortitude to do this. △ ▽

• Reply •

JudyGreenEyes • a year ago> Legal__Immigrant

Over 31 states have declared English as the "official" language. But youare correct about the politicians (and they're supposed to be workingfor the GOOD of our country). Thanks for immigrating, you have addedto the greatness of the USA. My gramps served in the German Army(WW1) and not by choice. At his funeral service our National Anthemand God Bless America were played at his request. My Dad (9 year oldimmigrant) had a military funeral. Every time he heard the NationalAnthem tears rolled down his cheeks. When I asked him why, he'd say,"You just don't know how very lucky you kids are." He's right, we are.

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• Reply •

Legal__Immigrant • a year ago> JudyGreenEyes

Your dad is absolutely correct in his statement. We take somuch for granted in this wonderful country. Sure we have ourproblems and I think we are sinking deeper, BUT the USA is stillthe greatest country in the world and we can kick the rudder tocorrect our course. I tell the people who complain to just visitother countries - even Mexico, and you'll come homeappreciating what the US is all about.

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• Reply •

Andrew_S • a year ago

I think language is not the only problem here in the US and it can only get worse. Butthat is American politics at it's best, part of federal policy is to create enmity fromenmity we get greater profits, from greater profits we get more control. From morecontrol we get more government, from more government we get more rules and ofcourse fees and taxation. The good thing is nothing has changed, the sad thing isAmerica is going backwards and fast gulagizing. Want to live in a gulag ?, if not thenstop being a consumer or get with the program, alienate everything. Heck half thechildren in this country hate their own parents, never mind different flavors of human.

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21st Century Pacifist • a year ago

Knowing another language should be encouraged, not harassed. I applaud thecourage of the college in suspending the nursing student that couldn't handle notknowing Spanish. There is no exclusive requirement in this country for people to

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

knowing Spanish. There is no exclusive requirement in this country for people tospeak any language.Reality is that if you don't speak English in the USA, you are not going to besuccessful. The argument that people should be forced to speak only English is a redherring as the "marketplace" has already taken care of having to know English.I find that when people complain about someone speaking a different language thanEnglish, is because they are afraid they are talking about them. Stop your narcissism,nobody cares about you, you are not that interesting.

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• Reply •

Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

Actually, in a professional setting, if you tend to speak mainly in Spanish, yourclients (patients and their families) will believe that you are intentionally hidingsomething from them (or else why would you not say it in a way that they canunderstand it?) Perception--Yes. Possibly wrong perception--Yes, possiblywrong perception that can harm the nurse-patient relationship? Definitely yes. Now, if you were having a class called "professional Spanish for the health careprovider, then it would be appropriate to have most of the class in Spanish.

Your last paragraph accidentally states the problem. "I find that when peoplecomplaint about someone speaking a different language than English, itbecause they are afraid they are talking about them. Stop your narcissism,nobody cares about you, you are not that interesting." You want to have a real-world RN tell that to her critically ill patient or their family. I see the narcissismin reverse. Nurses should strive for clear communications at all times. If there isa possibility of misunderstanding, that should be avoided. The nursing studentswho are talking in ways that one of their patients might have the feeling of"being afraid they are talking about them" (which may be true) should haveknown better.

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• Reply •

Jim • a year ago

This "college" should lose its accreditation, assuming it has been accredited.

Jim 5△ ▽

• Reply •

21st Century Pacifist • a year ago> Jim

I guess you also resent not knowing another language. 1△ ▽

• Reply •

Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

I know three, but if I was a medical professional, I would not use alanguage as a nurse that a patient or her family might not understandand might perceive that I am hiding something from them by using aforeign language in their presence. I am not that narcissistic, as one ofthe posters said.

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• Reply •

NJHuguenot • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

I have two, one not commonly spoken here but I don;t use them in frontof people who don't understand them. That;s plainly rude.

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Jim • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

21st Century Pacifist-

The students who are being allowed to speak Spanish at the expense oftheir using practical English are being cheated out of an important partof their educations. The class should be taught in English and aninterpreter should be provided to help ease them through theirtransitions. Your comment makes no sense - it is a non sequitur.

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

Jim 1△ ▽

• Reply •

Keith • a year ago

The pot can't do much melting unless everyone speaks the same language. Thereason that people avoid learning/speaking English is a refusal to assimilate. Andthat's just the way the liberals like it.

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• Reply •

21st Century Pacifist • a year ago> Keith

You are showing either your illiteracy or your prejudices. This article and thesuspension of the student is not about whether people need to learn English,try reading the article again, slowly.The student was suspended because s-he decided to harass other studentsbecause they were speaking Spanish. They obviously already knew English asthey were registered in college courses.

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• Reply •

John Johnson • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

Community colleges accept students generally based on Pell grants. It'sabout 70% of their operating funds. The educational standards are low,very low. Most 4 year schools accept a 2.0 gpa, Community collegesaccept lower. You don't have to know English to be admitted...

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• Reply •

Keith • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

Obviously you and I are both illiterate. I said "avoid learning/speaking".Did you not read my comment? Can you refute the comment? No. Soyou delve into the minutiae of the details to attempt gain a falseintellectual superiority. Sorry, that dog don't hunt with me. when youmake derogatory comments instead of debating my statement showsthat you operate on emotion and not intellect, i.e., typical liberal. --------------------------------------------

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JudyGreenEyes • a year ago> 21st Century Pacifist

My immigrant grandparents (and father) told me speaking a foreignlanguage in front of others who do not speak that language is RUDE.Speak whatever language you want inside your home.

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• Reply •

DonMann • a year ago> JudyGreenEyes

I agree Judy, but they think they're special. NOT!! △ ▽

• Reply •

JudyGreenEyes • a year ago> DonMann

Thanks, Don. Neighbors on one side of me are immigrants fromPeru and struggled with English but now do pretty well. Theother side are from El Salvador and after 15 years are still limitedEnglish speakers but we do greet each other. My neighbors fromChina and VietNam do well, too. English is not an easy languageto learn, but it's the one thing that should be binding us together.I would not want to be treated by a doctor/nurse who did notspeak English well enough for me to understand. Afterall, if Ican't understand them, who's to say they can understand me?

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DonMann • a year ago> JudyGreenEyes

Judy, I work in IT and it's just as bad working with the EastIndians, we have conference calls and I have NO idea what they

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

even say, so I tell them that the line is bad and to send an email..We are being sold out on many fronts. Even when working withthem in the same room and I'm speaking to them, they say,come again, we didn't get you..

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• Reply •

JudyGreenEyes • a year ago> DonMann

HA HA! I'm retired but found out if a call (for prescription refill,example) is answered in India & i can't understand the call taker,ask for a speaker in the U.S. and it will be transferred back. Anemployee of the company told me that trick & I've used it severaltimes. My nephew (IT) had the same problem you are having.After 2 years of frustration the guys started keeping track of timelost over miscommunication. They submitted it, the companyrealized how much $$ they were losing and closed the IT end inIndia. Guess other divisions still do other types of work. Perhapsyou could try that angle. Nephew is young guy (39) and thestress was so bad he actually got the shingles (on Christmasmorning, no less)! Keep paying those taxes, my Social Securityneeds it! Cheers, Judy

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• Reply •

BlackGumTree • a year ago

Arizona law requires all classes to be conducted in English. Apparently the teacherand school officials are unable to understand Arizona law because the laws are writtenin English.

Those who immigrate to this country are expected to learn English so that they canread and understand the laws.

While there is nothing wrong with speaking Spanish, in a public setting such as aclassroom where the students use different languages, English must be used as thecommon language for all of them.

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• Reply •

ARRRGGGHH • a year ago

Guess whose interest it is in for America to be divided into many sub-groups whocan't get along and would be at war with each other? All civic policy is manipulatedtowards these ends, so that each group will be sure to vote for more government todefend them from the other groups. It's a good thing that government is filled withslothful, overpaid democrats since their republican counterparts are actually doing realwork out in the real world. Everyone's tax money is taken to pay the unproductive,rent-seeking class.

Why do Democrats and the president continually deride success? Because if peopleare personally successful they don't need government! Yes, that's right, there wouldbe less justification in society for growing government, and hence, the left's politiciansand public worker class. Successful people vote republican - those who areentrepreneurial, small business-oriented, etc. In other words, people who are self-reliant and want to be left alone to achieve something. Note, this is also why anynotions of accountability let alone personal accountability are anathema to dimocrats.

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• Reply •

Proud Conservative • a year ago> ARRRGGGHH

All I hear in this thread is conservative Republicans looking for moregovernment involvement with a government mandate for English and aconstitutional amendment making English our official language (after 237years). The Democrats seem to care less about this issue - its the conservativerepublicans that are further dividing the GOP and giving Hispanics a reason tobecome Democrats and worse, to leave the Republican Party,

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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• Reply •

Marv4546 • a year ago

What has bound us all together has always been a common language - English.Pandering to Spanish-speakers serves to further fragment us. We only have to look ashort distance north (Quebec) to see the divisive nature of two languages.

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• Reply •

John Johnson • a year ago> Marv4546

Or Europe, the basis for the EU was politicians promising unification madeEurope an economic powerhouse like the US. In Reality all the EU's done islower and threaten the Economic status of leading European economies. Multi-Culturalism has the same effect here... it's important to speak one language,very important.

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• Reply •

Serferdude • a year ago

Let us all hope Mr. Valdes next visit to a Hospital is full of Dr's and Nurses who cantunderstand each other!! Maybe He'll learn why all science ,technical people and thepatient need to speak the same language!! The Serferdude

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• Reply •

Rich Valdes • a year ago> Serferdude

Mr. Serferdude - It's a good thing I speak a few different languages, just incase I run into that situation. Thanks for your concern.

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• Reply •

Hank Halle • a year ago

The largest ethnic group in the US is German Americans. But my Grandpa and othershad to learn to speak English in the classroom.

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• Reply •

MacDaddy12345 • a year ago

My dear old Granny told me that it is impolite to speak a language that others do notknow, in front of them. My kid brother and I were caught by her making fun of group ofoka nahollo (whites) in Choctaw. The subsequent punishment ingrained into me thedisrespect of using a language around an individual or a group that do not speak thatlanguage. The class should have given the lady respect by speaking English in theclass room and the school should have supported her instead of suspending her..

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• Reply •

Rich Valdes • a year ago> MacDaddy12345

Pima Community College suspended the student for "harassment", not forpolitely asking students to stop. Of course, I agree, we shouldn't speak inanother language in group setting because that is just plain rude.

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MacDaddy12345 • a year ago> Rich Valdes

The memory of my sore rear agrees with you. 1△ ▽

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Sharpshooter • a year ago

Back when we had a "real" President and a "real" immigration policy, one of therequirements was to learn English and assimilate into this country. Now that we haveno immigration policy, (other than lets allow all the dregs of their society into thiscountry), the rules of changed. We can thank people like the "gang of eight", McCainand the rest of the traitors!

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SFLBIB • a year ago> Sharpshooter

We do have an immigration policy; it’s just ignored. My grandparentsimmigrated to the United States in 1913, and I found their names on theirship’s manifest on the Ellis Island website. That manifest included the following

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12/4/2014 Arizona student suspended for harassing Spanish speakers files lawsuit | Washington Times Communities

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ship’s manifest on the Ellis Island website. That manifest included the following“Affidavit of Commanding Officer”, dated 1913, as required of each shipcarrying immigrants to the United States. (Thousands of these can be found onthe Ellis Island website.)

I, (name of ship’s commanding officer) , of the (name of ship), from (port oforigin), do solemnly, sincerely, and truly (swear) that I have caused thesurgeon of said vessel sailing therewith, or the surgeon employed by theowners thereof, to make a physical and oral examination of each and all ofthe aliens named in the foregoing Lists or Manifest Sheets, (number ofsheets) in number, and that from the report of said surgeon and from my owninvestigation, I believe that no one of said aliens is an idiot, or imbecile, or afeeble-minded person, or insane person, or a pauper, or is likely to become apublic charge, or is afflicted with tuberculosis or with a loathsome ordangerous contagious disease, or is a person who has been convicted of, orwho admits having committed a felony or other crime or misdemeanor

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Sharpshooter • a year ago> SFLBIB

Thank you so much for posting that. I have never seen it before. Blessyour grandparents!

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SFLBIB • a year ago> Sharpshooter

Thx. A lot of history has been forgotten. △ ▽

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Chief • a year ago

All that is great but the United States is an english speaking country where studentswho cannot speak the language should not preempt english speaking students simplybecause they're here.

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Robert MacKay • a year ago

I wonder if the author of this typical racist drivel is aware that this type of attitude iswhat hurts race relations in America? Calling someone a bigot who is playing by therules and expects others to play by the rules as well a bigot shows us that Mr. Valdesis the true bigot not the student in Arizona.

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Madisonian2 • a year ago

She is 50 years old, and the only person in the class that does not speak Spanish. Thenon-stop chatter of Spanish makes it impossible to concentrate on your studies. Andnothing can make a bunch of Mexicans shut up, even for a moment. The laws andconstitution of Arizona, and the state charter for the school is in English. The moneyshe paid for the course is printed in English.She has every right to demand English in the classroom.

This author asks "what happened to the melting pot"? Well, Mexicans don't want tomelt. They want to be Mexicans in America.

See, there's your problem right there. 15△ ▽

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roma8989 • a year ago

she has a right to bully minorities boo hoo.... △ ▽

TexasJester • a year ago

Well, I see the anti-English and anti-white bias is alive and well....

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Mr Valdes asks "what happened to the melting pot?" I ask it myself. Part of thatmelting pot is you leave your old society behind ( isn't that why you generally leaveyour home country for another - you didn't like it for whatever reason?) and assimilateinto the new country. My brother is engaged to a Swedish woman. If he were todecide to emigrate to Sweden, it would be logical for him to learn the local language,as well as abide my their customs.

If I (legally) emigrated to Mexico, I wouldn't have the right to insist that everything beprinted in English for the benefit of me and my family - I'd be expected to learnSpanish. Same thing with Germany, France, Russia, Iran - if I move there, and expectto work there, I should expect to speak the language and not be offended by thatculture, that country's flag, their legal system, etc. someone emigrating HERE shoulddo the same thing.

I occasionally fly an American flag on my truck. Over Independence Day weekend, Ihad it up - and several immigrants told me that it offended them.

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JudyGreenEyes • a year ago> TexasJester

I hope you smiled nicely at the offended and said, "Glad to oblige." 1△ ▽

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SFLBIB • a year ago> TexasJester

"I occasionally fly an American flag on my truck. Over Independence Day weekend, I had it up - and several immigrants told me that it offended them."

If you are in a country, you have to expect to see that country's flag once in awhile. If they find it so offensive, they need to find a different country. Whichbrings up the question, why is it that the U.S. is the only country not allowed tofly its own flag IN ITS OWN TERRITORY?

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wavesofgrain • a year ago> TexasJester

Agree!!! 7△ ▽

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Dcp5674 • a year ago

I support a law that makes English the official language of the US, which, BTW I'mpretty sure is already in Arizona's Constitution. My Grandparents came here fromGermany in 1901, and the first thing they did was learn English. It was the responsiblething, as legal immigrants, to do. If you move to Mexico, do you think you won't haveto learn Spanish? You want to live here then learn the language........English!

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wavesofgrain • a year ago> Dcp5674

Exactly! And immigrants of the past also had a purpose when they came to thiscountry....to WORK to make a better life for themselves and their children.Now, it seems our government is using them as voting tools, as they put upbillboards advertising all the free stuff they will be eligible for....including the800 numbers for the fast track to welfare. And many of them are sending foodand US taxpayers money back to their home country.

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wavesofgrain • a year ago

This is a prime example of deliberate diluting of American culture...which is beingforced upon us full force within this administration,.

This country should have several important common denominators required forcitizenship...such as understanding and obeying laws, adhering to this country's

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citizenship...such as understanding and obeying laws, adhering to this country'sculture and Language. I have been in hotels and felt very uncomfortable when theemployees gathered within the restaurant, bar or hallways and spoke Spanish...leeringat customers. Those paying for education in American colleges should be able toexpect English spoken in those classes, unless it is a foreign language class.

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SFLBIB • a year ago> wavesofgrain

Have you considered posting a comment on one of the travel websites thathave ratings of hotels, restaurants, and other travel industry businesses?

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roma8989 • a year ago> wavesofgrain

American culture now includes harassing fellow students? gee, I guess Imissed that part about American culture.....;-)

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SFLBIB • a year ago> roma8989

Where have you been? There is a TON of jurisprudence that coversharassment in the workplace and in schools, ostensibly to protectworkers' and students' rights to full participation. However, these lawsare meant to target Caucasians. You will note that when the studentcomplained, the school turned on her and blew off her complaint. Hadthe Hispanics complained, the school would have moved heaven andearth to assuage their hurt feelings. Therefore these laws should becalled what they are: intentions to persecute. It wasn't necessary toword them such that they target Caucasians; all that were needed werea wink and a nod and to hire the correct followers of the race-baiters toenforce them to ensure that selective enforcement was the outcome.

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TexasJester • a year ago> roma8989

How about those fellow students harassing those that want to learn, bydisrupting the classes?? Hmm??

Part of the American culture - and ANY culture around the world - isthat when you come into this culture, you LEARN AND USE thepredominant language - here in the States, it's ENGLISH!!!

If I go to Germany, say, and I'm in a class and disrupt it by speakingEnglish to a friend, and the course is being taught in German, the otherstudents have a right to shut me up and insist I speak German. Well,guess what, Roma - this is America. We speak ENGLISH. If you disruptthe class speaking Spanish, or German, or whatever, the other studentshave a right to insist you speak ENGLISH!! It's common courtesy, andrespect for others - but I guess when you're an illegal alien in thiscountry, you don't need to be courteous or respectful to others....

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indykat1 • a year ago> wavesofgrain

Puerto Ricans are US citizens at birth. Not all of them speak English, not evenwhen they relocate to the mainland. Would you feel uncomfortable in thepresence of these full-fledged citizens? If you visited Puerto Rico, also as acitizen, you would not be required to speak Spanish, and the residents wouldnot be required to converse with you in English (although most would).

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Carlos_Perera • a year ago

Total balderdash, Mr. Valdes! As my name indicates, I, too, am Hispanic . . . but I havegood enough manners not to use Spanish, in an American college classroom, todiscuss class material. And, apart from the bad manners involved, class discussionsare an integral part of learning; conducting them in a foreign language adversely

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affects the ability to learn and rehearse instructional material by students who happennot to speak that language. If Hispanic college students want to attend classes inSpanish, they should consider enrolling in a Latin American or Spanish institution.

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Rich Valdes • a year ago> Carlos_Perera

Thanks for your comment, Mr. Perera. What I am suggesting in this piece is notthat students should speak Spanish in the classroom, but more so, that manyof my colleagues in the "big tent" disguise their anti-Hispanic sentiment asfrustration toward immigration policy (or its lack of enforcement). Agreed, thoselooking to make the US their home need to speak English. However, I musttake exception when a fellow Conservatives hold onto the debate overimmigration policy and use it to advance an agenda that is rooted in bigotrytowards Hispanics. There are many immigrant groups in the US and HIspanicsseem to get all teh flack, as if there was something inherently wrong with beinga American of Hispanic descent. That my friend, is the issue - not immigration.Just read the first comment, which makes my case all too well.

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SFLBIB • a year ago

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> Carlos_Perera

I agree with you. The author is all over the place with this issue, but he nevermentions that a classroom is not the same as the government printing materialin another language solely to provide information to an individual.

What is not mentioned, and what you allude to, is that a class relies on thesynergistic effect more commonly known as the Socratic Method: The teachersays something; a student responds with a comment or question; this causesanother student to think of a third point, and so on.

The Socratic method (also known as method of elenchus, elenctic method,orSocratic debate), named after the classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is aform of inquiry and discussion between individuals, based on asking andanswering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. Itis a dialectical method, often involving a discussion in which the defense ofone point of view is questioned; one participant may lead another tocontradicthimself in some way, thus strengthening the inquirer's own point.

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Rich Valdes • a year ago> SFLBIB

Dear SFLBIB, thanks for your insight. You are correct, I did not mentionthat because that is not what I am addressing in this article; I amdiscussing the emotional offense and contempt that select fellowConservatives have towards Hispanics and how this country has seenthis before in 1795. The idea that adding laws and more governmentintervention will fix this problem, is exactly the big governmentphilosophy that I oppose. Moreover, the perception I am getting is thatthis anti-Hispanic attitude is rather contrary to the liberties that "We ThePeople" ought to expect in a constitutional republic that is free oftyranny - and that's not very conservative or American - its bigotrywrapped in sheeps clothing.

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SFLBIB • a year ago> Rich Valdes

There is a lot here that is true, but there are some other factorsthat have not been addressed at all in any discussions I’ve read.

There is racism in America, has been and always will be,because people are people.

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Back in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, Scientific Americancarried an article that asked, “Why do immigrant Vietnamesechildren succeed in American schools but not [native-born]Americans?” There was an accompanying photograph of awhole Vietnamese family [probably boat people] gatheredaround their kitchen table with books and papers spread all over.The whole family was studying together because it wasconsidered shameful to be uneducated. They recognized thatthere was racial prejudice in America, and their approach was toovercome it by becoming educated. Apparently, it worked,because, fast forward about ten years, I had in the meantimebecome a first-level engineering supervisor, and one day ayoung man of Vietnamese origin came to our office for

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Name • a year ago

The meaning of "melting pot" is centered around all the different ingredients blendingtogether while retaining their individual characteristics. Speaking the same language isa large part of the common broth in which we all swim. I'm not familiar with thiswoman's complaint, but I can say regardless of the language being spoken, it's rudeto speak in a language foreign to your listeners. If the Spanish-speaking students weremaking comments which disrupted the class and were not intended for everyone'sears, then the complaint isn't even language-related, but rather classroom discipline-related. If the Spanish-speaking students were answering questions asked by theprofessor, or were posing questions for the professor, these should definitely havebeen spoken in English, as a common courtesy to everyone in the room. What Icannot understand is why the woman was suspended, and why lawyers have insertedthemselves into yet another everyday common-courtesy issue.

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indykat1 • a year ago> Name

It's likely that the woman was suspended because she was rude, in violation ofcommon courtesy. The article does not say whether this was a one-time event,but if it was she might have raised her concerns in a more diplomatic way.

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Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> indykat1

She did. Her instructor cursed at her, suspended from the class, andwhen she went to the Dean's Office to complain, an unqualifieduntrained individual told her she needed counseling.

Now, if this was a class called "Professional Spanish for dealing withSpanish patients", then I could definitely see a strong use of Spanish inthe classroom. But if not, would you like your doctor and nurse talkingabout you in a language that you did not understand? I would actuallycall that rude, in violation of common courtesy.

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TexasJester • a year ago> indykat1

She went to several people in the school hierarchy trying to get somesatisfaction - and wound up be labeled a racist and suspended. And asfar as being rude - how about those that were disrupting the class,speaking a language that the course was NOT being taught? Thiswoman paid money to learn the subject, and through the rudeness andlack of courtesy and respect of others, she was unable to do so, andwhen she sought to rectify the matter, SHE got tossed out - not theoriginal offenders!

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indykat1 • a year ago> TexasJester

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indykat1 • a year ago> TexasJester

It would be interesting to know what words and phrases sheused in her complaints to the hierarchy. I suppose that will comeout when the suit is tried. But something is missing in thisaccount. My guess is that there will be some kind of modestsettlement -- the woman gets a refund, and possibly free tuitionfor another class, but no more than that. It's really a very minorissue.

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bob • a year ago

One question, were the students participating in Spanish? It might be an issue if theclass was being conducted in Spanish at a college in the U.S. and the student couldnot understand.

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TexasJester • a year ago> bob

The class was being conducted in English, and the Spanish-speaking studentswere interrupting and talking among themselves. Apparently the instructor(s)couldn't maintain control of the classroom..

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jim thompson • a year ago

This article says "the fear of change or bigotry...is at the core of the underlying issue."I disagree that this is Bennett's problem. Nothing I have read indicates that Bennett isafraid of change or is a bigot. Other articles regarding this incident stated that Bennettwas frustrated with the amount of class time that was devoted to translating thesubject matter for the non-English speaking students. I don't blame her. If aninordinate amount of class time was going to be taken away from the subject matterand used for translations the syllabus should have stated this.

Immigrants themselves have stated that language is the greatest barrier that keepsthem from succeeding in the United States. We understand their frustration andapplaud their efforts to learn the predominant language of their adopted country. Wewould all benefit from learning additional languages. However, like it or not, English isthe dominant language used in the United States and by approximately 90% of theworld. The solution is to encourage them to learn English, not force the rest of us tospend our valuable time and resources bringing them up-to-speed.

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indykat1 • a year ago> jim thompson

What is the source for your figure that English is the dominant language ofapproximately 90 percent of the world? I spent two years in China, which hasabout 19 percent of the entire world's population. I can assure you that whilemillions of Chinese know some English, it certainly is not a dominant language.

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jim thompson • a year ago> indykat1

My figure of 90% was from memory. I remember that figure noted inanother discussion regarding English as being the traditional universallanguage of people involved in industry, commerce, politics, medicine,etc. Air traffic controllers have to speak English. Why wouldn't nurses?They're both safety issues, aren't they?

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indykat1 • a year ago> jim thompson

You are correct in saying that English is used extensivelyworldwide in professional fields, and in air control. Nurses inAmerican clinics and hospitals certainly should have to knowEnglish -- but others in some areas of the country would alsohave to know Spanish. Social workers in those areas could notdo their jobs without being bilingual. That may not seem ideal,

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do their jobs without being bilingual. That may not seem ideal,but it's realistic. My point about the 90 percent figure was simplythat it's way high for the world's population in general. I wouldeven say that fluency/literacy in English does not reach 90percent even in America.

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Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> indykat1

And that is why they have classes called "Professional Spanishfor medical professionals". And the class presented was notsuch a class.

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James • a year ago

I speak five languages, and while I agree with the author that it should not be aproblem for people to speak any language in public, I fear that he conflates that issuewith using languages other than English as the official language of public affairs. Idon't want to have to print labels in two languages as they do in Canada. I don't wantlegislation to have to be published in Sanskrit.

I think we can--and must--distinguish between encouraging people to learn foreignlanguages and using those languages as part of our legal and economic system.

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Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> James

And, as an additional question, if you are stressing communications, do youreally want a health care provider of any type speaking a non-native languagein a room where you are dealing with a health-care issue? Doesn't matter if it isSpanish, Mandarin, or French, if the person you are providing health careservices to does not speak the language as a native language, there will be aperception that you are hiding information--not exactly what you want to dowhere clear communication can save lives. By analogy to air traffic control,English is the common language of international air traffic control so that allcommunications can be clearly understood....

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James • a year ago> Stephen Shelnutt

Quite right.

Just to make my position clear: I'm hugely in favor of students learninglanguages, especially at a young age. I have no objection to hearing orspeaking to someone in any language at the grocery store. But I dohave a problem when "official" communications have to be printed inumpteen languages, when some would have us use other languages incourt, and so on.

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Stephen Shelnutt • a year ago> James

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