America's Resurgent Nativism

By: Kenton
Published On: 12/11/2005 2:00:00 AM

After disappearing for a short time, I have returned to RK.

Newsflash: Speaking Spanish Gets You Suspended!


"It was, like, totally not in the classroom," the high school junior said, recalling the infraction. "We were in the, like, hall or whatever, on restroom break. This kid I know, he's like, 'Me prestas un dolar?' ['Will you lend me a dollar?'] Well, he asked in Spanish; it just seemed natural to answer that way. So I'm like, 'No problema.' "

16-year-old Zach Rubio recalls, in fluent English, the two words in Spanish got him suspended for two days. Next time, perhaps, he should tote an Arabic phrase book. Then it will be determined that he is a terrorist.

I would, of course, laugh if Endeavor Alternative offered foreign language classes.  In an age where the CIA screams for translators, they're kicking around the assets!

This paradoxical logic extends to visas--there is continual wailing and bellyaching for more scientists and engineers, and yet we exclude prospective students by keeping visa quotas low.

I'm rather troubled by the sudden surge in anti-Hispanic (and anti-immigrant) rage simmering throughout the nation. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty, after all, didn't say "Go away, you tired and poor," now, did it? The ferocious zeal the Herndon Minutemen are motivated by seems rather abnormal to me.

They go, every day, and stalk contractors who hire day laborers and record their license plates, hoping to end illegal immigration by plucking off the Mexicans on the corner. Right. Let's go to the town border and hammer down a little stop sign, advising illegals to go away. Right.

If we want to stop illegal immigrants, plucking them off at the border of West Virginia isn't going to cut it. Illegal immigration is overblown, in my view. Complaining? Then you go pick tomatoes. Truth be told, if the Herndon Minutemen want to stop illegal immigration, they should stop eating vegetables and fruits, because crops drive illegals across the border and the farmers? They complain of a shortage.

Streamlining legal immigration would go a long way. It would make enforcement easier when more immigrants are choosing the legal path. They aren't going to go away--businesses need immigrants, after all. We might as well.


Comments



The only way you get (Chris from ASL - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
The only way you get fluent in a language is if you practice it...every day. Knowing that, I see great problems for our country and our future generations if "the people" back up this sort of action.  Very sad.


Another reason why t (nova_middle_man - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
Another reason why there is no black and white on so many issues in America.  When will politicans treat citizens like adults.

Just posting a bunch of words about the topic

Prejudice, Love, Blue, Southside, Visa, Welfare, Opportunity, Alien, Economy, Understanding, Spanish, Benefits, Crime, Jew, Republican, Business, Hate, Arabic, Quota, Family, NOVA, Border Patrol, Greencard, Student, English, Christian, Ignorence, Korean, Democrat, Fear, Benefits, Red, Freeloaders, Richmond, Islam, Tolerance, Illegal, Citizen, Racism, Taxes, Southwest, English, Worker, Purple, Children, Tidewater, Necessity.

Let's see I think everyone fits oh I don't know at least 5-10 of those things :) 



Kevin: Like, you ar (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
Kevin:  Like, you are so like, right, you know?  And, like, stuff. :)


As a teacher, instea (Tom Joad (Kevin) - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
As a teacher, instead of being worried about speaking Spanish, I would be more worried about the use of "like".  He uses it four times in the one quote highlighted.  Just take out his "likes" and the quote sounds better.  That's the communication skill I'd work on.


Oh, and welcome back (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
Oh, and welcome back, Kenton!! You been hiding out at NLS or something? :)


if the Herndon M (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
if the Herndon Minutemen want to stop illegal immigration, they should stop eating vegetables and fruits

Something tells me they already have... all red meat for those guys!  :)



I certainly hope the (Mark T. Blair - 4/4/2006 11:30:12 PM)
I certainly hope they sue the school for that.