Knowing more makes you stupid
1:10 pm By la Macha · Bilingualism|children|Education|Immigration
7 Oct 2009One of my biggest pet peeves about anti-immigration pro-nativist rhetoric is how it has created this universal idea in U.S. culture about what “stupid” really is, especially in the area of language. Specifically, if you don’t speak English, you are actually (among other things) stupid. Irritating logic to say the least, but somewhat understandable how easily racism can twist lack of comprehension into stupidity.
What is beyond fathomable–what just destroys my faith in humanity every time I hear it, is the idea that being *bilingual* (or speaking more than one language), means you are stupid. Or “lagging behind.” Or somehow unable to keep up with the world or simply unprepared for life.
Witness: This very interesting clip from CNN that showcases a white family that decided to send their white children to a school that teaches it’s kids in Spanish. Which means that the kids are fluently bilingual before they graduate.
Notice how many times the reporter let us know that the kids are not “lagging behind?” And that there is a waiting list to get into the school? And that, holy Jesus, it’s actually a GOOD thing to know more? That when you know more, you are actually SMARTER?
I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it again here. Only in the Good Ol’ U.S. of A. could the population be so blinded by racism that we actually refuse to be educated in the attempt to ‘be smart.”
Only here could we honestly take pride in and form a national identity around ignorance.
- Tags: bilingual, Immigration, language, nativism, spanish
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6 Responses to Knowing more makes you stupid
Katie
October 7th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Is it really not that way in other countries w/ their often-looked-down-upon migrant populations’ dominant mother tongues?
Antonio
October 8th, 2009 at 3:56 am
A bit cynical, I see?
If a similar occurrence were to happen in, let’s say Puerto Rico or Spain — which it so often does — it would clearly be about the preservation of this so called heritage; whereas if it happens in the United States, it’s clearly based out of stupidity and ignorance.
Perhaps you have fallen into this abyss of ignorance that you speak of…
la Macha
October 8th, 2009 at 8:08 am
ah, yes, I surely have. Except in almost every country in the world, you are required to learn English from a very young age, along with your native language. Even the French, who are as nationalistic as U.S.ians are about their language, have nationalized systems to learn english.
Maegan La Mala
October 8th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Right and Puerto Rico, which you raise Antonio, is an especially interesting case since as a U.S. colony there has been movements to try and destroy Spanish. After all you can’t have a 51st State that doesn’t speak English.
Candy
October 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am
What’s really frustrating is that we have white children that are encouraged and praised when they speak a second language. While Latino children are reprimanded and are denied the opportunity to maintain their native tongue in the classroom and are expected to only speak English. I remember even as a child when I would say something in Spanish in the classroom I would get scolded. The racism is so blatant.
Antonio
October 9th, 2009 at 12:10 am
As I thought.
Yes, as I would expect. I mean, English – it’s only the international language, and no one should have to learn that; especially if you migrate to a country in which that’s the native language of the majority.
@ Maegan: Puerto Rico already has English as an official language.
Personally, though, similar to the way most Americans want to retain their native language, Puerto Ricans want to retain theirs, and I think they should be able to keep it.
In regards to them being a colony, I say give them independence. Not only would they get to keep their native language, but we would save billions from the welfare that PR born-residents receive when they migrate here — which is a sizable amount — and from the Nutrition Assistance program.