SELFISHNESS and FEAR...

[YvonneCa]

...is all I hear about the language issue. Obama's remarks about children learning Spanish becomes touchy because it ignites the 'English Only' crowd, an opinion sometimes voiced loudly among the Lou Dobbs Independents group. JMHO, but I think some in this crowd have two problems that THEY need to think about:


1. FEAR Many in this group are very afraid of change...especially in America's traditions as they see them. They want to keep English as our only language because...in their eyes...it has always been that way, and they fear losing what has always been. So people knowing more than English 'could' eventually erase English in importance.

2. SELFISHNESS Many in this group don't want to support...or maybe have to pay taxes for...anything that doesn't benefit them (or maybe their family) personally. So, even if it might be good to have a multi-lingual electorate (speaking of jobs), they don't want to pay for it. Essentially this is the argument about taxes paying for public schools...when people complain about having to pay property taxes to support a neighborhood school, but their kids are grown an no longer go there. Why should they pay for someone else's child's education? Selfishness.



So, intentionally or not, Obama recently waded into the issue. Some on this board say it was a 'goof', and some don't. The media, no doubt, will spin it as such. But I think it was a very honest answer to an important question...and the start of a good conversation for our country about a very important issue in 2008, education. So I posted this earlier today, in response to someone who was worried that Obama, in his comments, had made a mistake:





I'm glad you are concerned about your children's future. And it's clear you also see that...in your current circumstances...a language will help them get a job. That is a start at understanding where Obama is coming from. (And I agree with you, that some independents will balk on his words, without taking the time you are taking to learn about the issue.) That is a risk, and Obama is courageous to take it.

But, as a teacher, I have watched the futures of many of my students. They have varied goals...and for most of their future jobs, they will have a better chance to be hired (like your kids) if they know another language. The ones who want to do business with China, need Chinese. The ones who want to go into HLS or intelligence fields need Farsi. The list goes on and on.

But the general lesson I learned is...they ALL need a second language of some kind to be successful in THEIR future...which will be very different from my generation, or yours. It isn't about the importance of English...and, by the way, I want everyone to learn English (I have another story on that one, if you're interested. )

So you see and care about the future of your children. I see and care about a larger group...my children, but also my students. I think Obama sees and cares about an even larger group...his children, the many children he has met in schools across the country, and ALL THE CHILDREN he will be responsible for helping as President.

I think that is why he said what he said...and I think he means it. It was not a 'goof' or a mistake, although some may not understand (independents, for example) what he means. It was not a 'goof' or a mistake, although some may use it to their advantage and spin it as such (Republicans and some media).

And I think Obama is smart. I think he is RIGHT on this issue. He is making us think about issues that the country needs to think about and discuss. Just IMAGINE four year...or eight years...of doing that, and how good it will be for our country.

:patriot: