Archive for July 7th, 2008
English Only Please at Graduations
4:15 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · language · 2 Comments
7 Jul 2008
Imagine your parents are immigrants to the United States (not a stretch for many of us). Through their sacrifices (and some of your own, no doubt), you graduate high school at the top of your class. At graduation during your valedictorian speech, you give a shout out, in your family’s native language. Now the school district wants to make a policy so that all future speeches are English-only. This is what happened to two students in Louisiana.
Here’s what one school board member told the Associated Press: ”’I don’t like them addressing in a foreign language. They should be in English.”’According to the article, it sounds like Cindy, 18, said a sentence or so in Vietnamese–and then translated it for the wider audience. I know that if I were sitting in the audience, and say, it was my son, I would be damn proud–probably crying–to hear him say something in Vietnamese or Chinese.
Here’s Cindy’s point of view, according to the AP:
‘Ms. Vo said her statement in Vietnamese was aimed at her parents, who do not speak fluent English. “Out of the whole speech, it’s one sentence dedicated to them to give thanks,” she said. “Mine was personal and general for the entire Vietnamese community and something I wanted to share with graduates.”’
She made it very clear–her parents do not speak fluent English, and this was in a way, a tribute to her parents.
Summer Monday Musica : Maria Volonte Celebrates Argentina’s Independence Day
2:15 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Events|history|Music|New York City · Comments Off
7 Jul 2008
Direct from Argentina, Maria Volonté, Latin Grammy-nominated singer, and winner of the Gardel Prize (Argentina’s Grammy award) celebrates Argentine Independence Day by introducing her CD, “Sudestada”, to New York City tonight at the Americas Society and Wednesday July 9th at Joe’s Pub.
Besides her numerous shows in Argentina, Maria has performed in Europe, across Latin America and in the United States. In Munich, she sang the title role in the opera “Maria of Buenos Aires,” composed by Astor Piazzolla. She has performed in London, Zurich, Vienna, Belgrade and at the Helsinki Festival in Finland. Maria has opened for the famed jazz pianist Brad Mehldau.
In Buenos Aires, Maria has headlined several runs of the successful show “Enamorandote” together with Chico Novarro. Around the world, Maria performs in festivals and theaters either with her trio or presenting her solo show “Maria Volonte: Intima.”
Besides her numerous shows in Argentina, Maria has performed in Europe, across Latin America and in the United States. In Munich, she sang the title role in the opera “Maria of Buenos Aires,” composed by Astor Piazzolla. She has performed in London, Zurich, Vienna, Belgrade and at the Helsinki Festival in Finland. Maria has opened for the famed jazz pianist Brad Mehldau.
In Buenos Aires, Maria has headlined several runs of the successful show “Enamorandote” together with Chico Novarro. Around the world, Maria performs in festivals and theaters either with her trio or presenting her solo show “Maria Volonte: Intima.”
Maria has released six albums. Her latest, “Sudestada” (released December 2007 on Intrepid Patrol) features four of Maria’s own compositions and was produced by famed singer-songwriter Raul Carnota. “Yo soy Maria” (2006), explores the fusion of tango with jazz and bossa nova and was nominated for the 2007 Gardel Prize. “Tangos” (2004), brought together a classic collection of tangos from her repertoire and was nominated for the 2005 Gardel Prize. “Fuimos” (2003), a duo project with the legendary pianist Horacio Larumbe, won Maria the 2004 Gardel Prize and was nominated for a Latin Grammy. “Cornisas del Corazon” (1999), was recorded live at the historic Tortoni Cafe in Buenos Aires while her first, “Tango y Otras Pasiones” (1996) was chosen by the “La Nacion” newspaper as one of the top 100 tango recordings of all time.
In 2007, Maria was inducted into the Tango Hall of Fame.
What is So Scary About the Undocumented Going to College?
12:15 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Education|Immigration · 24 Comments
7 Jul 2008
Of all the fears people have and create around undocumented immigrants, I just don’t get the fear and opposition of immigrants, regardless of their status, getting a higher education.
In reaction to an article in USA Today titled Well, I Would Hope So [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
“Illegal immigrants face threat of no college”, Katherine Jean Lopez of the National Review Online (full disclosure, she graduated from the same high school as me) writes in response (with no further explanation: Well, I Would Hope So.
Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain Claims Life
10:15 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Spain|Sports · Comments Off
7 Jul 2008I don’t get the Running of the Bulls, an extreme annual sport in Pamplona, Spain that involves thousands running away from charging bulls let loose on the street. Maybe it’s revenge for all those bulls killed in bullfights (which I don’t get either). Actually it’s partially a religious feast, celebrating San Fermin
This year’s running of the bulls has already claimed one life, but not from a bull. The man apparently fell from an ancient wall that circles the historic center of the northeastern town. Was he drunk? Was he pushed? The body, found with an Irish issued bank card, had been laying dead for hours before it was found.
While I was Camping and You Were Watching Fireworks: Jesse Helms Died, Nadal Wins Wimbledon
8:15 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Politics|Sports · 1 Comment
7 Jul 2008
I need a vacation from my vacation, but la Mala is back and as she was roasting marshmallows controversial political figure Jesse Helms died and Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon.
Former North Carolina Republican Senator Jesse Helms died on July 4th, of natural causes. Other natural causes Helms was for include opposing abortion, gay rights, racial equality, arts funding, and aid to what he calls “foreign rat holes.”
His agenda is driven by a lifelong opposition to democracy and diversity. In his first months as Foreign Relations chair, Helms called for tougher sanctions against Cuba, accused Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide of unleashing “vigilance committees,” and moved to gut support for developing nations. On the home front, he introduced a bill to eliminate all affirmative action programs, which he denounced as “reverse discrimination at the hands of ruthless bureaucrats.”
Meanwhile back at the tennis courts:
Hola!
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