Schwarzenegger says “hasta la vista, baby” to Spanish media
Published by punkass marc June 15th, 2007 in Human Rights, Mutterings Of The Disturbed
Yeah, it should really say “in mouth disease,” but they both make tiggers sad.
Nowadays, politicians can get away with making many kinds of offensive conservative statements; they don’t even have to dress them up. So for the love of God, if even in this climate of hate and fear you still feel the need to offer the following disclaimer, odds are you should zip it:
“I know this sounds odd and this is the politically incorrect thing to say and I’m going to get myself in trouble,” he said.
Has any conservative ever followed that statement with something that didn’t get them into trouble? It’s scary to me that these are the same people who fight so hard to keep guns in their homes. “I know I shouldn’t be sticking this in my mouth, especially with the safety off, but screw it, I feel invincible!”
The “he” in that statement: Austrian biceps-licker turned Republican pin-up (he’s “May” to Fred Thompson’s “December”) Arnold Schwartzenegger.
The drivel to which it refers: telling Hispanic children to stay the hell away from their dirty, dirty language. Por ejemplo:
“You’ve got to turn off the Spanish television set” and stay away from Spanish-language television, books and newspapers, the Republican governor said Wednesday night at the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. “You’re just forced to speak English, and that just makes you learn the language faster.”
First of all, you have to love that he said this at the convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. It takes a lot of steroid-enhanced guts to walk into a room and tell the audience that a bunch of their jobs aren’t just wasteful, they’re harmful. Because (and I don’t doubt that this will blow Schwartzenegger’s mind) many of the attendees of the convention work for Spanish-language media.
Schwartzenegger’s misstep shouldn’t really be a surprise, though. It isn’t the first time El Gobernador has lamented the retention of language and heritage originating outside our star-spangled borders:
In October, the governor was criticized by Democrats when he said some Mexican immigrants “try to stay Mexican” when they come to the United States and urged them to learn English and U.S. history and “make an effort to become part of America.”
[Aside: I'm always amused when articles like this point to a widely offensive statement and indicate that "Democrats criticized it," as though there was some political hatchet job orchestrated by an opposing party instead of real human beings taking offense at something plainly wrong.]
Put the two statements together, and you get a picture of where Schwartzenegger stands on Melting Pot v. Salad Bowl. In California at least, it looks like you’d best hop in Uncle Sam’s molten lava cocktail and start enjoying “Two and a Half Men” like everybody else or the governor says you don’t belong.
Here’s a tip for ‘Nold: it isn’t Spanish TV that raises barriers to learning a new language. It’s your embarrassing lack of a support structure and the harsh living and working conditions facing many of the people inside your own state.
[President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition Alex] Nogales said immigrants need Spanish-language media to stay informed and “function in this society.”
Pilar Marrero, the political editor for the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion, chuckled at the governor’s comments, saying many Hispanics did not have time to learn English.
“They’re too busy working,” she said.
If only all people were all smart enough to come to America as internationally renowned meatbimbos. Then they could earn millions of dollars while learning English over the decades of their choice.
One of my great regrets in life is not having the foresight as a toddler to realize that I had many family members who were genuinely bilingual and could teach me Spanish from the cradle. I kid; I blame them. If I was able to speak two languages as fluently as my grandpa or mother, I’d speak to my children (if I lost my mind and had them) in Spanish to the exclusion of English as much as I could, in hopes they’d grow up bilingual.
As it is, I’m now a pinche guera. Which sounds prettier than it’s meant.
Marc, this isnt a conservative or liberal story. In fact you look pretty rediculous trying to make us believe it is. Rather its just easier to work, live, socialize, take advantage of this great opportunity (United Staes of America) if one speaks the language.
OK, so you hate A.S. Cool, I dont much care for him either, but its NOT the issue here. The guy has a good point. You want to immigrate to America? Great! You want to work here, and thrive in this land of opportunity? Awesome!. You are way behind the 8 ball though unless you can speak english. Native language (insert immigrant’s home language here) will only work in small pockets of the USA. Do yourself an enormous solid and become bilingual. Yes its difficult, yes its worth it. How do I know? Just ask those that have done it. They report its difficult work, which quickly gets easier, and success quickly follows. People are very willing to help those that help themselves. Watching local, English speaking TV is a short cut, fast track, and its cheaper than satellite.
The Governator, in his clumsy way, he actually made a valid POSITIVE point Marc. Your negative comments detract from the dialogue, and shed some unnatractive light on your political biases.
Marc, this isnt a conservative or liberal story. In fact you look pretty rediculous trying to make us believe it is.
Yes, I am trying to _make_ you believe it. My brainwashing powers are mighty. Behold the power of my middle finger!
Seriously, though, if you take the point he made as “POSITIVE,” especially in light of his previous comments about people “trying to stay Mexican,” then I’m afraid you’re the one who’s cast an “unnattractive light on your political biases.”
Amanda Marcotte grew up in the little town where I’m the “immigrant” (BTW, the local paper never published the “local woman pisses off Republicans” story, mostly because the acting editor had some high school vintage grudge), and what bothers me is the assumption Observant Mariner makes that all parts of the United States are — or ever have been — English speaking. The majority language here is, and has been as long as the area has been part of the United States, Spanish. Unless “Observant Mariner” is going to make a case for segregated schooling, even the “establishment” is going to have to learn Spanish if they want to do business. And, in the case of segregated schooling, the Spanish-language kids DID learn English in order to do business.
One oddity out here. Older African-Americans often speak better Spanish than the younger “Hispanic” kids. Why? There weren’t enough people out here for three school systems, and the African-Americans were sent to the “Mexican School”.
(BTW, the local paper never published the “local woman pisses off Republicans” story, mostly because the acting editor had some high school vintage grudge)
Really? I’m sort of surprised. I wonder what she’s got against me.