Cry me un rio
To clarify: The main point I was making Wednesday in a posting here was that I am not intimidated, threatened, or driven into fits over the use of languages other than English, particularly when it’s ONE PARAGRAPH of Spanish.
That’s what got this whole back-and-forth started. One paragraph of Spanish. In fact, I agree that immigrants would do well to learn English and should encourage their children to do the same. But all anyone has to do is mention Spanish and yahoos fall out of every tree waving the U.S. flag, yammering about the demise of “American” culture.
Would readers have been as worked up if it was one paragraph of Italian, or German, or Korean?
I think a creative writing award should go to the genius who suggested that the Times panders to Hispanics in an attempt to stay afloat and that the result is “abysmal journalistic quality.” It must be liberating to know so little and feel so terribly well-informed.
Not to mention that the one paragraph of Spanish WAS A QUOTE FROM A SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER! And it was on a blog, not in a news article.
Get over it people.
Posted by: jeff | February 21, 2008 at 02:04 PM
"I am not intimidated, threatened, or driven into fits over the use of languages other than English, particularly when it’s ONE PARAGRAPH of Spanish." This is common sense. Those who feel intimidated, threatened, or driven into fits over the use of other languages are just ignorant.
Posted by: Jack | February 21, 2008 at 04:26 PM
"Those who feel intimidated, threatened, or driven into fits over the use of other languages are just ignorant."
No, not ignorant - just pathetically stupid and suffering from brain constipation. They're in need of an enema to loosen that up!
Posted by: Meeomy | February 21, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Can Steve Lopez ever articulate an argument that goes beyond the "You are all dumb and irrational. I am smart and above all this."?
This is the same argument he made concerning the "Let Malibu Burn" article of a few months ago.
Mr. Lopez, please, I enjoy your columns, but please expand go beyond this line-of-argument. It is evident to the 99 percent of us who are not raving racists or maschonistic fools.
Posted by: Lost in Pearlblossom | February 21, 2008 at 07:16 PM
What a pathetic attempt at back-pedalling, You told native-born Californians to "get out" of their own state just because they don't like the Mexican assault on our language and culture?
How come it only ever works one way with people like you? Anglo-Californians who want to preserve our unifying culture and language are "bigots" and '"racists?" But Mexicans and other Hispanic immigrants who refuse to "give up" their precious language and culture are considered heroes?
Did you major in "double standards" in college?
Posted by: MaryJ | February 22, 2008 at 01:25 PM