Are we a bilingual country or what!! Usually it’s some lower level functionary, but this morning the second most powerful person in the White House is speaking Spanish to America.
I feel so bad for my grandparents today. How is it that Roosevelt never gave one of his fireside chats in Yiddish? I mean, there were lots Jewish immigrants from the shtetls in the country at the time. I guess they had to learn English.
The translation is offered by President Obama, who served up the address in English. It includes this egregious little lecture:
We are only here because this country welcomed our forebears, and taught them that being American is about more than what we look like or where we come from. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal — that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.
The subtext of the first sentence is that those who oppose Obama on immigration do so out of racism. That conservatives don’t want a bunch of Latinos running around ruining white America, and we’ve got to remember, that “being American is about more than what we look like or where we come from.”
Thanks, Mr. President, I’ll try to stop being such a hater.
And then there’s the second line, about the American ideal “that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.”
Again, first let me express my appreciation for the reminder that others are my equal even though they be not white. It’s something I need reminding of as I immerse myself daily in the rapture of my superiority.
But I would in turn remind the president that this is not by itself “what makes us Americans.” This and lots of other things do, including love for the Constitution and for freedom, which implies an executive branch that doesn’t rule in the manner of King George III.
And while we are indeed “all created equal,” we are not all created in the same place, and this country cannot be an open door with a welcome mat for all our equals. And equal does not mean the same. If we flood this country too quickly with other cultures, we will lose our own.
The basis of culture is language. It’s the narrative for the culture.
This is not Latin America. Spanish is not co-equal with English here. There is Latin American culture within American culture, but the two are not equal. Latin American culture is wonderful, but American culture is better. That’s why they are coming here, and not the reverse.
And that’s why there should be one weekly White House address, spoken in the language of our culture.
58 thoughts on “White House Chief of Staff Delivers Weekly Message in Spanish”
Another poke in the eye! They WANT us to go ow, ow, ow!
He’s going to keep doing it Star.
I feel that he delights in our negative reaction.
Star,
I need to learn to curse in Spanish to describe how I feel about the Obama regime
Ah chihuahua! Now the bad stuff is in two langs! I can’t keep up.
I remember during the 2008 campaign, Himself said to learn a second lang–but also said he had not. More do as I say not as I do. I have a computer Spanish course but got diverted–something about a yellow cat–gato amarillo–I forget. I had a yellow cat at the time, so it stuck. Most people in AZ can speak a little–Walmart Spanish. No bueno.
Too bad El Presidente can’t speak the language himself. Though he has people to do that for him, but no one available to retrieve his “blackberry” ?
Isn’t a foreign language required for Harvard ?
http://static.fas.harvard.edu/registrar/ugrad_handbook/current/chapter2/language_requirement.html
Interesting. But is that only for “Arts and Sciences” — or does it also apply to Law School?
Or would finding a Muslim prayer “the most beautiful sound on earth” get extra credit points?
My older son did his master’s at Yale and a foreign language was required. He was able to “test out” because he was totally proficient in Italian.
My kid can’t graduate high school without two years of a foreign language.
I had HS German–and collitch German and can sprecht next to nichts.
If you don’t use it, you lose it. I studied German and Russian for four years in the 90s and three years of high school, four years of college French long ago, but I would struggle to have the simplest of conversations in any of those languages today.
How true. I had two years of Latin in high school which was a help in many areas.
I studied Japanese when I lived in Japan and because I was an English teacher, I knew English grammar in my sleep which made it easier to learn Japanese. I could hear it and comprehend but I could not speak it…it came out with a Southern accent. The Japanese could not understand me and the Americans made fun of me….embarrassing!
I also took and learned Italian (really fun and not too difficult) but I could not use the language now at all.
My son who is fluent in Italian subscribes to an Italian Daily newspaper (he lives in NYC) to follow world soccer…he is a soccer nut!!!
I have a bestie who took up teaching Eng as a Second Language as a late-in-life career–learning to teach is it VERY complicated, and (she teaches adults) the students can really get in the weeds asking her for “rules”–Eng is difficult. She draws pix, pantomimes etc–but does not allow Spanish in the classes at all–such as one student quickly translating for another–they have to figure out her pictures, etc. It is interesting to think about how people learn langs. She also takes the classes to restaurants or venues–they have to order in Eng, buy tickets, take tours…
Weird, tho, how some can cling in there somehow–I can watch a movie in German and suddenly realize I was getting some of it… The brain! Amazing.
`The cowardly SOB has been waiting with gleeful anticipation for six years to stick it to Americans. This was the plan all along. He hates us with a vengeance. Just as he pitted blacks against whites, he is messaging hispanics to ‘punish their enemies’ at the voting booth in 2016.
At this point, I would love to see Congress table the entire immigration thing until after 2016. Don’t give him the satisfaction of putting immigration reform on his resume. Why the rush? The king has decreed that there will be no deportations.
Let him yell ‘Pass The Bill’ for two more years. He’s a lunatic!
Too bad El Presidente can’t speak the language himself.
He could do it in Arabic though.
He knows how to say Pock-ee-stan.
It has been interesting to me – and really, something I cannot explain – that this administration is intent on becoming a bilingual country – with Spanish and English becoming native languages.
I have been a resident of other countries – and it has been my experience that every other country requires learning the English language. Children are taught their school subjects in English. Their parents have acquired conversational English.
And yet, this administration is forcing Spanish on its citizenry.
This administration is abysmally unworldly.
Trust me, you do NOT want a bilingual country!
French Canadians, due to their long history in Canada, “deserve” bilingualism far, far more than the illegal immigrants in the USA do. French Canadians have been here since the 1600s, and Quebec has played a major role in Canada’s history. Still, bilingualism is expensive, and French is only spoken regularly by a small minority of Canadians. Even so, to get a job with the federal government, or to enter federal politics, you must speak both official languages. Bilingualism, basically, is a pain in the ass!
Re: your final comment: So are far too many FCs.
And yes, I agree. Although having written and spoken English readily available – a great blessing to me – I encouraged the residents of other countries to maintain their native language.
I am 3d generation American, my ancestors (on both sides) having come from Quebec. When I started school in New Hampshire in the mid ’40s, the French Canadian nuns teaching at the school (St Louis de Gonzague) in NH pounded English–reading and writing–into our little noggins, beginning in Kindergarten.
Most of us spoke only French at home and with our little friends, so during the Kindergarten year, we spent half a day in English-spoken classes and the other half in French-spoken classes. It was a transition year, language-wise. After Kindergarten, it was English all the way.
Everyone in our Petit Canada (as we called our neighborhood), understood that learning to speak and write in English was absolutely necessary, the most basic skill of all, required to succeed in the United States. And so we learned English. Period. No whining, no talking back. Just do it. And we did.
Speaking of twisted language, here’s the latest OFA email from Jon Carson (whose original intro tape mysteriously never posted any comments):
“Some in Congress have threatened to block the President’s nominees in protest. Others have said they should sue the President again. And there’s even been talk of shutting down the government over this.” (((Hey, Jon, isn’t that talk coming from YOUR side???)))
“The debate seems to be between people who are working hard to find common-sense solutions, and others who just want to stand in the way and keep the status quo.” (((Oooh, those evil Republicans!!!)))
(((And, of course, it’s yet another chance to STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT and again ADD YOUR NAME to the endless list of lists of names added.)))
Wash Times says yes, they are fundraising on this amnesty thing.
Bill had that Ramos guy on–the silver fox (small f) spokesguy for illegals. His “legal” argument was: We wanted it and he said he would. Well–why didn’t you say so–you wanted it. Well, OK!
Plus I think this “undertaker” guy should always have subtitles–an improvement.
Three letters will do DOA.
Not sure I was prepared to read that but I just tried to call the WH. After explaining that my wife and I don’t speak spanish and wondered if there were plans to issue the address in english the operator mumbled something and switched me to a recording telling me to call back Mon.
For the first time in my adult life I’m ASHAMED to be an American. (after flouts)
Mike,…Obama nurtured the attitude that you have for 6 years.
I for one am ashamed that this Country allowed this imbecile to get to where he is.
Abject stupidity and a blind eye resulted in this debacle we are entrenched in.
Hopefully, enough people have been awakened to the mistake that we made, and are willing to rectify it.
I’ll be perfectly honest and I’ll say it in ENGLISH:
If Latinos are the only ones running around demanding English as a second language schools, ballots in Spanish, and flying Mexican flags above the American flag then yes, I am AGAINST Latinos.
All those immigrants that came before left their homeland behind and were proud to assimilate into their new American identity. The Mexican illegals and Central American invaders demanding that they just be given legal status because they’re here is an affront to everything this nation is.
But then again I guess that’s the point with them isn’t it. I mean, after all, we “stole” the southwestern United States from their “Mexican” ancestors so it’s rightfully theirs right?
Never mind the little fact that “Mexicans” today have as much of their Spanish conqueror’s DNA running through their veins as they do any native blood.
Mexico wasn’t even a country until 1821 for crying out loud.
If they want to be angry then for be angry at the Spanish, it was they, not us that invaded them. But that doesn’t work will with the America is the evil, oppressive gringo narrative does it?
Yeh, I’m pissed.
I just got back from the store. Busy! I was so disappointed again. In other words, I thought maybe, just maybe there wouldn’t be anymore bad news. It is like a revolving door.
Just think, yesterday morning I noted the issue of Press 1 for English and Press 2 for Spanish still made me upset to deal with.
Come home from “Thanksgiving” shopping to read about the Cheif of Staff insulting everyone American citizen!
My mother always told me when her parents came here from Italy after World War I, they embraced our culture. They learned the language, spoke English at home, and didn’t even live in the “Little Italy” section of town….they happily integrated with blacks, whites, and people from other countries. They were proud to be here. My grandmother took all the citizenship classes and was honored to become a citizen. Most of the illegal “immigrants” of today do not fit this profile – and I resent them being constantly compared to the real (legal) immigrants who made our country what it is.
The Obama administration has purposely blurred the difference between illegal and legal immigrants. In Obama’s world, they are all “immigrants”. Your ancestors and mine and millions of others came here legally, and went through the correct process. They were bursting with pride when they became US citizens. It was a badge of honor they proudly wore all their lives. And they taught US to love the United States, and the American Idea.
If I were someone plowing through the cumbersome, legal, and expensive process of becoming a US citizen, I would be ticked off beyond words at the actions of the Obama administration and their illegal immigrant policies.
Democrats are using the Latino community for their vote as they have the black community over the last 50 years. Black leaders like
Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Charlie Rangel and the like have taken from their own communities to support their personal lifestyles.
Republicans and libertarians, for the most part, want ALL Americans to have the opportunity to succeed…all races and those with varied religious backgrounds, lifestyles etc.
Shame of Obama, Reid and Pelosi – they care nothing about the America and the foundation of democracy. They simply want to line their own pockets with taxpayer money.
Disgusting!!!
The immigration issue is to be solved, eventually, by the citizens’ elected Representatives and Senators!
The real ISSUE for Americans of every political party, or no party at all, is The CONSTITUTION! Don’t be deceived and distracted! bho’s goal is to subvert the democratic processes, because the American people refuse to submit to his extreme socialist worldview. He has weakened our military, created chaos in healthcare, and our safety and security in our communities and around the World are threatened!
bho is further dividing our country by usurping the peoples’ Congress with his ‘Supra-Adm Laws’ that are power grabs! As long as Americans are divided, we are WEAKER.
FOCUS on ‘uniting all Americans’ against bho’s assault on The Constitution and our founding upon Judeo-Christian Principles and Values! Call our elected leaders and tell them, regardless of their party, to fight for The Constitution, and NOT with others of different parties! Everything we identify as American is at stake! jb
¡Ya basta!
That chief of staff looks like Dead Man Walking….has the strangest eyes.
He is a case, isn’t he?
I think he is a zombie.
He is the second zombie to participate in public life. The very first zombie in public life, of course, is Harry Reid. If not, he is certainly the first certified zombie to be elected Senate Majority Leader. But those days are coming to an end for him.
Keith: “… fireside chats in Yiddish” Nice touch, I like your humor a lot!
Can’t wait till its in Arabic.
Maybe Esperanto would be a better idea. Then no one can bitch about “diversity”.
Your grandparents, my parents. As I posted the other day, all our problems with Latino immigrants started when California decided to publish every official announcement, sign, etc. in Spanish as well as English. Latinos don’t feel any need to learn English, but on the other hand they will never identify themselves as Americans. That comment is not intended for all Latinos, just the illegals.
I just got a new passport photo for which I paid $17 and filled out the forms to renew my passport at a cost of $110. I don’t mind proving that I’m an American citizen leave and return to the USA, but it peeves me to no end that illegal aliens are given free rein on our borders…and other freebies once they are here.
Oops, that should be ‘when leaving and returning to the USA.’ I’ve had a passport since I was 12 years old (over 50 years ago) and have never minded producing it.
Mr. Chief of Staff and any other government official choosing the address the nation in Spanish or any other language should be paid by their audience — in this case by illegal aliens who speak Spanish and in pesos.
POS WH.
There are quite a few Latin American countries south of here, most of which use Spanish, and all of which are inferior to the USA. The pro-amnesty, open-borders crowd evidently think there aren’t enough of Latin American countries, and that it’s imperative that we become one too.
Latino illegals in this country maintain that the culture they came from is superior to “gringo” culture even though they don’t want to live in it, and they also pretend that their “culture” is oppressed and they’ve got nowhere else to practice it so they’ve got to import it here and gradually impose it on the rest of us.
Here’s some advice: If you want to live in a Latino culture and you think whites are racist, stay the heck in Latin America.
Es un hijo de perra.
White house chief of staff that says it all, “Another brain dead Obama teat sucker’!
Caca del toro
“Latin American culture is wonderful, but American culture is better. That’s why they are coming here, and not the reverse.”
BINGO!!!!!!
Thank goodness for you Keith
Forgive the “picture worth a thousand words” but all we hear is how these kids are OUR future. Why is our future more important than say, Guatemala or Mexico or Honduras or -you get the idea:
http://www.gocomics.com/mike-lester/2014/08/12
Theodore Roosevelt said it best = “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” ― Theodore Roosevelt (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/26007-in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that-if-the)
Maybe those in the WH before the community organizer, understood this country was a melting pot that became one thru a common language. ENGLISH
Well, I have only one reply, beyond the observation that his Spanish pretty much stinks:
¡Besa mi culo, pendejo!
Now I have heard everything. We are through as a sovereign nation. This so called “administration” in order to expand the Democratic party has sold this country out to Mexico, Central and South America. So much pandering to our conquerors it makes me absolutely ill. Flooding the country with never ending numbers of impoverished and uneducated welfare seekers does not a good economy make. We are in for a very bleak future.
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