STORM2K

MARYLAND GOVERNOR REJECTS MULTICULTURALISM

This is rare in American politics...forget rare, it's almost extinct. Imagine a politician saying something, then getting criticized for being insensitive, then standing by his remarks. It happened recently with Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (a Republican.) So just what is causing all of the uproar? You're going to love this.

His original comments came in the defense of a political ally, the state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (who's a Democrat, by the way.) Schaefer had said he would no longer eat at a particular fast-food restaurant because of an encounter with a cashier struggling with English. That is irritating, to be sure. Ehrlich's response? He said "I reject the idea of multiculturalism. Once you get into this multicultural crap, this bunk, you run into a problem. With respect to this culture, English is the language." Amen to that. Three cheers for the Governor of Maryland!

Judging by the response, you would have thought the governor had joined Al-Qaeda. The Montgomery County Council passed a resolution demanding an apology. The Mayor of Baltimore addressed the issue in his weekly radio address, in Spanish no less. Immigrant leaders and advocates gathered to protest his "far right" remarks and demand the government do more to teach them English, which by the way, should solely be their responsibility.

So after all this, what does Governor Ehrlich do? Did he apologize? Did he "clarify his remarks?" No, he did not. He came right out and said it again: "The words stand on their own. We should celebrate the common American culture , the common American values and the common American language." He's got that right. We need more politicians like him.

If you are going to live in the United States of America, learn the language. If you are not going to learn to speak English, then get out (that is, after you empty my trash cans.)

Mas ingles, mas dinero. That simple.
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This is horrible. I hope that you don't believe this.

I can't believe a governor would say such a thing......

I'm moving to Maryland!!!!!

awesome!! we cant have a balkanized america. of course i belive you should speak english here.

If you are going to live in the United States of America, learn the language. If you are not going to learn to speak English, then get out (that is, after you empty my trash cans.)

Talk about arrogance and superiorism. I believe that all of our families were "multicultural" at one point.

Perhaps the person is trying to learn the English language. Also, he/she IS WORKING and not on the welfare rolls.

As usual, Stephanie, you are absolutely right. Closed minds like that governor seems to have cause nothing but trouble.

I agree with the governor. If they want to migrate here then they need to learn the American language which is English. It is about time someone in office finally said it.

Try calling a credit card company or Avon and get help. The people on the other end of the phone do not even speak English hardly. I always ask them to transfer me to someone who speaks English well. Just had to do this last night when I called to order something from Sears.

Stephanie wrote:

If you are going to live in the United States of America, learn the language. If you are not going to learn to speak English, then get out (that is, after you empty my trash cans.)

Talk about arrogance and superiorism. I believe that all of our families were "multicultural" at one point.

Perhaps the person is trying to learn the English language. Also, he/she IS WORKING and not on the welfare rolls.

That quote that you quoted Stephanie is downright horrible. I bolded the part that is so rude!!! I don't necessarily disagree with what was done, but the rudeness of the author of this article makes those involved tacky. If anyone should apologize, it should be for the rudeness displayed in the article itself. The person who wrote this needs to go back to school and learn how to write an article without interject crap like that.

Pburgh wrote:I'm moving to Maryland!!!!!

Me too!! We need more of them "closed minded" governors. heehee.

I agree with the stance that the Governor makes. I am very intolerant of illegal immigrants and the whole "viva el reconquistador" ("long live the reconquering") movement in which immigrants, particulary Mexicans, believe that if enough of them come here (legally and illegally), they can take back what they believe is theirs by winning political seats and supervisory positions and by increasing their legal population by procreating.

Please understand, I am NOT saying that Hispanic people are bad nor am I saying that they should not be placed in positions of power or have babies. I absolutely love and adore this great big melting pot of people from all different backgrounds and nations and races and religions. That's what makes America so great -- we have the freedom to be who we are. And to strive to be more. Every citizen, regardless of what color or religion or nationality they are, should have that right.

But what I am saying is that there are some who believe very strongly in this reconquering movement in the same way that there are some people of other groups (races, religions, sexual preferences, abortion views, gun control views, animal rights views, etc) who have strong extremist views. Unfortunately, those of us who desire to put a stop to these extremists are viewed as politically incorrect, intolerant, bigoted, racist, and close-minded. There is a gray area where many, many right-wingers and left-wingers meet in the middle to avoid the violent, intolerant extremes on both sides. We do this when it comes to issues like animal rights, censorship, abortion, and others. We still disagree in our views, but we don't like what extremists do for our arguments. Some abortion foes like me are appalled when someone kills an abortion doctor. Many animal lovers hate the blood-throwing tactics of PETA. Most of you know where I stand when it comes to in-your-face militant gay rights protestors. It seems to me that many people on both the right and left would fight together if they saw our country being taken over. I'm sure it would happen if the group was a band of Muslim extremists.

However, I do agree that his last statement (about emptying the trash cans) was pretty harsh.

Good post Duck. Sometimes people need to think about what they are saying before they say it.

Garrett - my reply was mainly for that piece. That's why I quoted it.

like i said, a balkanized culture doesnt work well.
i like the fact that the gov didnt apologize. bush, are you listening? hehe

Of course the governor is correct. Dont speak our language? Learn it or leave, just as everyone else has had to do throughout history

OK...so I'm Danish, Irish, Norman French, German, Sephardic Jewish and Dutch ancestry, and I can at least understand, and/or speak most of those languages.

But the first thing I think of, re: "multiculturalism" is the motto of the Danish Brotherhood In America...Denmark Our Heritage, AMERICA OUR HOME".

My ancestors all knew this, and quickly learned the English language of their new homeland. Why should today's newcomers be held to a different standard? THEY SHOULDN'T, IMHO.

The Maryland Governor WAS coarse, and blunt, but I understand his statement in context; it is born of frustration with those well-meaning, but ill-informed "utopian" people who would have us all see ourselves as "Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, etc." FIRST, THEN hyphenate "American" as a tag line. "Divide, and conquer" works very well for these people...the cultural friction thus generated keeps them empowered. as long as they are PERMITTED to split the American "body politic" into warring, dependent factions.

It should be the other way around...AMERICAN first. Celebrate your heritage, yes...but not to the exclusion of those who do not share it.

"Por la Raza?" Pul-EEEZE...

I'm glad the governor did not apologize. In order to become a citizen, it should be required that you pass an English test. It is our country's official language. I get so annoyed that we are supposed to respect all these other cultures, but what about American culture? Should we sacrifice OUR culture for outsiders? I don't think so.
...Jennifer...

mrschad wrote:I'm glad the governor did not apologize. In order to become a citizen, it should be required that you pass an English test. It is our country's official language. I get so annoyed that we are supposed to respect all these other cultures, but what about American culture? Should we sacrifice OUR culture for outsiders? I don't think so.
...Jennifer...

Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a former resident of "Bawlmore", I think it's time for Schaefer to retire. He's turned into a grumpy old man.

No apology needed imo either. Either you speak the language or leave. Like a few others have said here nothing more annoying then trying to yap on the phone with someone who clearly cannot speak english. Its bs. And like mrs chad said they need to require this test to become a citizen of this country.

I agree 100% mrschad!!!!!!