Deseret News | Reader comments: Allegiance to English

Reader comments
Allegiance to English

Anonymous | 4:54 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Comparing Spanish in Utah to French in Canada isn't reassuring, considering the threats over the years from the Quebecois to leave Canada and start their own country.

Wrong question | 5:18 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

The question isn't whether to say the pledge in Spanish or English. The question is whether to say it al all. It's a forced loyalty oath (just like in a communist country) that also has a forced religious phrase.

Many people think it's an act of patriotism to say the pledge. It's a greater act of patriotism to refuse.

Diversity | 5:27 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Perhaps the Deseret News could lead the way by publishing a Spanish version each day.

Comments continue below

Ray | 5:42 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

This might be a nice gesture, but perhaps students should be taught that learning English is going to be the ticket to success in their lives.

David | 7:30 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

The Reference to French in Canada is misleading. French is not just part of the fabric of Canada - along with English it is, and has been since Canada became an independent nation, one of the two official languages of Canada.

And Wrong Question is wrong that it is "a greater act of patriotism to refuse" to say the pledge. You have the right not to recite it, but I would hardly call that an act of patriotism.

Anonymous | 8:28 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Clearly it's not the act of reciting the pledge in Spanish that bothers the editorial board. It's the act of doing it while there's still a chance of passing sane immigration legislation at the state level. Wait unil after the legislation has failed, thanks to all the bribes and pressure from big business and charities supported by your dollars (like the United Way).

Somehow I suspect that if this happening in April the News would be all fine with it.

Anonymous | 8:37 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

*** "The school was not trying to be political" ***

Complete nonsense.

OF COURSE they were trying to be political.

Perhaps today a few more parents who voted against school choice are wishing they had voted the other way, after realizing exactly who's running our schools.

The Raven | 9:02 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

My ancestors were German. They learned English to become Americans. To become an American you should learn English. You should also renounce any allegiance to the "old country." I was infuriated when I saw marches last year with people carrying the Mexican flag around. If Mexico is so wonderful, perhaps they should return there.

Big Al | 9:16 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Anonymous, of course since everything to you is political, you cannot imagine that someone else might not think the same as you.

Somehow, Anonymous seems to try to relate everything to the voucher issue. It went down to a flaming defeat, get over it.

2 bits | 11:24 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

That no one in Quebec Canada complains that their national anthem has to be sung in 2 languages is NOT a good rational FOR proposals and trends like this in Sandy. Personally, I don't want to be like Canada. They have more language and national identity problems than we do. I used to travel to Quebec on business frequently and can attest that the language factor is more a divider than a uniter for both locals and for outsiders visiting their community. I could share some enlightening personal experiences here but I only have 100 words.

If the DMN editorial board really believes their statement in this article that, "Immigrants from any other land quickly understand they must learn English to get along here", haven't worked as a police officer who doesn't speak spanish or worked in fast food recently, or taught "English as a Second Language" in our Elementary Schools. How many businesses already feel the need to put up the "Se Habla Espanol" sign in order to succeed in some Utah communities?

I know I will be seen as "Closed Minded" and "Racist" by my Progressive friends, but I think English first is a good policy.

Lionheart | 12:25 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

This entire editorial is patently dishonest. Have the editors never heard of the Quebec Seperatist Movement? Saying the School proposal was non-political strains credulity. However, it appears that the Utah Legislature is going to follow the will of the Utah people and perhaps some of the chaos we have been subjected to, will begin to subside.

oxymoron | 12:40 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Why is it that to be more united we must accentuate our differences? The Pledge is exactly that, a pledge of allegiance. To the flag, to the country it represents, to its principles, its laws, its government. What a meaningless ritual to have kids recite the pledge in their native tongue when they can not, and their parents do not, have any allegiances to this country. They obviously are not bound by our laws. Nor seemingly are they subject to them. Illegals, especially those who are Latinos, swear no allegiance to our country. Asking them to recite the pledge, whether in English or Spanish makes a mockery of the pledge. The DMN editorial board has really wandered off the path on this issue. What a disappointment.

Davis Teacher | 1:13 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

We started saying the Pledge in Spanish this morning in my class. We're going to do it every day from now on. We might say it in French next month, and German, too. I'm trying to find someone who can provide it for me in Chinese. Anybody want to help? By the way, several of my colleagues are doing the same. What a great way to learn a little foreign language and develop a little sensitivity at the same time.

Lionheart | 1:31 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Davis Teacher, a few parents in Davis County may not appreciate your sensitivity training being rammed down the throats of their children.

Anonymous | 1:29 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

*** "Anonymous, of course since everything to you is political, you cannot imagine that someone else might not think the same as you." ***

A) Giving the the pledge in Spanish was a political act, and the principal knew it (pushing "diversity" is a common leftist cause). If she really wanted diversity why not say the pledge in German? Or Gaelic?

B) The principal is incredibly naive, stupid or uninformed and unaware of the debate over illegal immigration now taking place, around the country and in the state legislature.

I'm going with (A). If she wants to claim (B) then she may do so, but that doesn't reflect very well on her, either.

To Lionheart | 1:56 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

You must not know about Davis County teachers. Going against the wishes of parents is an act of honor among union members.

Davis Teacher | 3:08 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Thank you, Lionheart. I'm honored. Come and be rammed some time. You might get a little sensitive, though.

2 Davis Teacher... | 3:21 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I can't wait till the video of your school kids reciting the pledge in German hits YouTube.

For added affect, may I suggest having the kids click their heals and extend one arm while shouting the pledge in German. This will really help it go over well.

Getting real now... I doubt this writer is really a teacher anywhere. What kind of teacher would really do something like this without even consulting with school administrators or parents? And what kind of teacher thinks doing this would go over well with Davis Co. parents and administrators (who are his employers)?

Davis Teacher's comments are obviously a hoax.

vietvet | 3:24 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Davis Teachers-diversity is devisive-next step is to put up the flag of the language you are celebrating. Most kids today, by design I'm afraid, don't know enough about America or patriotism or english. Good thing you focus on these.

viet-vet | 4:23 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

There is no such thing as a hyphen-american. You are an american or you are not. If you are, hello, if you are a hyphen then have a good visit to this most blessed country and go back to whatever hyphen you came from.

we'll see to it | 7:00 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Yea! Yer either a American or ya ain't!
English rules! Si?
And if ya ain't gonna learn good English -
we'll see to it that ya DO learn!
Dang ya anyway!

Utah Visitor | 7:09 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

The Canadian Anthem in Quebec in French is not without its controversy. Special French interests have occasionally tried to sneak in modifications to the words to suit their own nationalist agenda. Others try to erase references to God in the Anthem. Meanwhile, 5 hours drive west in Toronto, the federal 'Culture-Nazis' continue to push for changes in wording to suit their own agendas, including exclusion of God. (These same people seemingly want to dump the Queen from Canadian coins and bank notes and replace her with their own Liberal heroes from past decades). There are potentially millions of Canadians who do not exactly know 100% of the current words to our Anthem as a result of these silly changes.

Anonymous | 8:55 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Melting pot.
Great idea but it will never work in Utah.

Anonymous | 9:29 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Any smart person knows that to get ahead you have to speak the language.

Those so called "latino rights" people really just want to keep the immigrants down so they tell them to keep speaking spanish and hang on to their "culture".

They have to have someone below them to make themselves important...

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