think4yourself:

brooklynmutt: fuckyeahseptumblr: luapula:

Here’s the scene: a bilingual Bishop wanted to know if he could ask a question in Spanish at a town hall meeting on health care in Connecticut. Presumably, he did this because he felt more comfortable speaking in his native language and knew that Jim Hines is conversant in Spanish. As a result, the many in the crowd reacted in a completely rational manner, by immediately heckling and screaming at the man, and starting an “English!” chant while he was in the process of asking his question. In other words, it’s a totally pathetic display of xenophobia and ignorance towards a bilingual man who is trying to get involved in the political process.

Notice I pointed out that he’s bilingual twice; I’m curious to know how many of the “Real Americans” in that audience would be able to learn a second language. Apparently, showing up at town hall meetings and screaming at your fellow citizens that have the gall to ask questions in a language other than English is what patriots do. Anyway, I’m getting off point.

The language question always struck a nerve with me because I’m from a bilingual family. Granted, I’m not Hispanic, but my first language (and the language I still converse with my parents in) is Greek. My parents (who both got their citizenship long ago) worked long hours and never had time to learn English terribly well; well enough to get along certainly, but I’m certain that if they were inclined to go out more and were given the opportunity they’d much rather speak in their native tongue. I don’t know that I’d have the nerve to react as calmly as the Bishop did if someone had the nerve to lecture or harass them or myself for not speaking English outside the house.

These people are a fucking disgrace.