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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSantorum: Ich bin ein Puerto Rican-er ("I never said only English should be spoken here. Never...")
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Rick Santorum came to Puerto Rico and promptly waded into the emotional debate over the role English should play in the island's future, sparking a furor that led the former Pennsylvania senator to insist his remarks were misreported.
Santorum was forced to repeatedly clarify remarks he made Wednesday, when he said English would have to be the "main language" for Puerto Rico to become a state.
"I never said only English should be spoken here. Never did I even intimate that," Santorum told local reporters gathered in El Capitolio, the island's Capitol building. "What I said was that English had to be spoken as well as other obviously Spanish is going to be spoken, this would be a bilingual country."
"As the son of an Italian immigrant myself, I continue to believe that English is the language of opportunity in America, under statehood or the current status," Santorum said in the statement. "What I want is for every child in Puerto Rico to speak English fluently, in addition to Spanish of course."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/santorum-says-puerto-rico-should-adopt-english-if-it-hopes-to-be-state/2012/03/15/gIQAAeBKFS_blog.html
d_r
(6,907 posts)Is he saying that the USA would be a bilingual country if Puerto Rico became a state? Or is he saying that Puerto Rico would be a country?
yardwork
(61,698 posts)liberal N proud
(60,339 posts)The throw this shit out there and then take back whatever gets them in trouble.
think
(11,641 posts)bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)lukkadairish
(122 posts)Here is another thing. I distinctly recall that as recent as an hour ago that the Republican Talking Machine repeatedly asserts Obama's earthshattering mistake of 'I've been to all 57 states'. WOWEEE BIG OLE FAUX PAS THAT ONE ERE MURICAN KNOWS THERES 50 BLABLABLA
1. the 50 states we all know
2. Puerto Rico
3. Washington DC
4. Guam
5. U.S.V.I.
6. American Samoa
7. Northern Marianas
8. Minor Outlying Island Atoll (Tuvalu)
That is 50 + 7 wingers. If you ridiculed the POTUS for including those delegate territories (Yeah you Romney), why should we give a flying fig about your opinion on them now? Oh Wait.....NOW you need them for your delegate math..........
Most folks in Puerto Rico are bilingual. Are you Rick? Obviously not, or you would be blushing at what they are saying about you right now....
muriel_volestrangler
(101,352 posts)In 1974, the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status. As a consequence Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati. Tuvalu became fully independent within the Commonwealth on October 1, 1978. On September 5, 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu
You've still got your +7 - but you don't get to annex the valuable .tv suffix!
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)We'd take the approach of Canada, and though we wouldn't have an official language, all kids would be taught both Spanish and English, just as Canadians are all taught both French and English, and we'd embrace Spanish as being just as American as English.
But I make that proposal and all the xenophobes start running around with their hair on fire.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,352 posts)The purpose of the Act is to:
ensure respect for English and French and ensure equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in federal institutions;
support the development of English and French linguistic minority communities; and
advance the equal status and use of English and French.
...
Parliamentarians and the public have the right to use either English or French in Parliament. For its part Parliament is required to provide simultaneous interpretation of its debates and other proceedings.
...
All acts of Parliament are enacted, printed and published in both official languages. Also, federal institutions that, pursuant to an act, are required to publish public notices must do so in both English- and French-language publications.
...
http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/act_loi_e.php
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Canada can do what it wants.
But I think that establishing official languages is something that's used to alienate, disenfranchise and oppress.
Like I said, since we have 45 million Spanish-speakers in the country, all kids in the U.S. should be required to learn it, just as they're required to learn English, simply because the languages are so commonly used here.
I know, it seems somewhat contradictory.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,352 posts)Your post read as if Canada didn't have an official language - just that they taught both. Your approach sounds quite reasonable to me for the USA.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)MineralMan
(146,325 posts)What happened was that he asked a Puerto Rican how to say, "I am a Puerto Rican" in Spanish. That's what he was told to say. The reporters just didn't catch it.
LeftinOH
(5,357 posts)aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)I'm almost certain Romney will try to say something in Spanish.
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)he can use while he's there. Oh, yes I can.
LibertyLover
(4,788 posts)and didn't want to get into the 'man on bird' sex thing.
MineralMan
(146,325 posts)amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)are such....well...clowns
IcyPeas
(21,901 posts)like to one of them foreign countries (a la palin... wasn't it true she never stepped out the the U.S.)?
pokerfan
(27,677 posts)Is he not benevolent?
Santorum told El Nuevo Dia newspaper Wednesday that English is key to developing Puerto Rico's economy. "I have no doubt that one of the requirements that will be put forth to Congress is a requirement that English would be universal here on the island," he said. "That doesn't mean that people can't speak Spanish in their homes, or in their business, or on the street, but that everyone would have a proficiency in English."
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/03/santorum-claims-he-was-misquoted-on-englishinpuerto-117652.html
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Fascists always do things in steps.
Mr.Turnip
(645 posts)Most relatively young people in Puerto Rico? THEY ALREADY SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY!
This whole thing about wether people in Puerto Rico need to be taught English is largely irrelevant because schools in Puerto Rico ALREADY teach English and they have done so for decades.
This entire debate that Santorum and friends want to have is entirely pointless because they are asking Puerto Rico to do something it generally ALREADY DOES.