Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Hispanic family night... or not

FORO PARA FAMILIAS HISPANAS
(page 8 of the Sherwood Middleton Messenger newsletter)

"For Hispanic families"

Ciuda de niños: en la biblioteca, con cena

(day care for the kids, dinner will be provided)

When my wife brought this to me I was astonished. Not by the blatant racism, I'm used to that from government, but that Sherwood was doing this literally in my backyard.

Thankfully things weren't as bad as I thought. I'm not sure who put this page together (my suspicion is Leslie Garza-Murphy who I overheard had worked "very hard" on this event) but both the Sherwood school district superintendent and a school board member said that it was a mistake and should have been "for Spanish speakers."

But initially I thought that I would catch these folks by suprise doing the dirty deeds of helping illegal aliens with tax dollars. I started in the parking lot looking for any state vehicles but wasn't able to find any. (note: any employee who showed up would be reimbursed mileage for their personal vehicle)

When I arrived I was serenaded by Spanish music...


And quite a spread was offered up for dinner:


I then took the time to talk to Dan Jamison who is the district Superintendent. Bottom line: I like this guy and the event was not what the page from the school newsletter portrayed it as.

I asked some pointed questions about English immersion, how come the newsletter said "for Hispanic families", how much these events cost, what demographic percentage you have to hit before you get a session in a particular language and so forth.

Mr. Jamison was very candid and after a bit I told him the real reason that I was there: I'm concerned about illegal immigration and government agencies pandering to these folks. He didn't blanch or end the conversation and we continued to talk about my concerns and what this event really was. (part the the Sherwood 2020 plan which holds numerous forums and this was one for "Spanish speakers") He even noted that "pandering" would be "renaming a street" after Caeser Chavez and that kind of stuff was nonsense.

While I indicated that I'm not a fan of the Spanish language nonsense that we seem to do (and in a forum where Sherwood is getting feedback from the community I think that the overwhelming majority of the population agrees with me that we're tired of "pressing 1 for English") the event was simply a mirror of similar English events but in another language.

It ended with me encouraging Jamison to call in to the Lars Larson show (I did try to call you from the event when I first got there Victoria but my cell never works in the school cafeteria) to get feedback from "his customers" (his words) who are the parents and taxpayers.

All in all I'm dispointed that Sherwood went Spanish on me but it wasn't the illegal alien love-fest that I thought it would be and so I left early. Glad that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, doesn't make for good blogging but makes for a better community in Sherwood.

33 comments:

Polish Immigrant said...

C'mon Daniel. We can't be objective. We are racist, remember? We always have to criticize anything that has to do with Latinos. That's what the lefties think of us and we should obey.

Anonymous said...

Dear Daniel:

I know hearing the Spanish language spoken makes you foam at the mouth with rage so I thought I would send this along to you. You've read my posts regarding my children and my decision to place them in a language immersion program. You were about as open minded as a virgin sphincter on a first date with Huse...so today in our local paper we learned this:

Dual-language program a huge success

By Jason Horton

The Woodburn School Board Thursday night heard a stellar report on its dual-language program, which first started in 2003.
The first group of students to go through the program are in fourth grade at Nellie Muir and were tested last year, while in third grade.
The results were staggering.
Every student in the classroom met or exceeded the state benchmark in reading and math - in English.
In third grade, the assessment tests can be given in both languages.
"One hundred percent of the kids made the benchmark in English," said Superintendent Walt Blomberg. "All would have made it in Spanish as well. "That third grade class at Nellie Muir - that was the very first class. They're in fourth grade now, they were the first class to take the statewide assessments and they all succeeded at a high level."
The dual-language program had 24 students in it when it was started.
"It's doing great," Blomberg said of the program.
"That is the future. We now have more kids in the dual language program (around 700) than we do in mainstream English (about 500). Parents are gravitating to that program and I don't know if we'll continue to see 100 percent, but we'll continue to see it exceed the benchmarks, which is why we started this program."
In four years, the program has lost just one student.
"The families that went in to it have stayed with it. I think they are staying because it's reaping such great benefits," Blomberg added.

Now, before you fly off the handle and accuse the Woodburn Independent of being a liberal rag second only to "The Fishwrapper," visit their website and read this week's editorial.

So much for your theory that teaching Spanish as a second language is a big fat waste of "your" tax dollars.

Anonymous said...

PS: Even Sherwood can't boast these kinds of scores, hell, NO ONE in Oregon can. It's UNHEARD OF...and it is indeed a first. Learning a second language early on, any second language, primes the brain for more effective and efficient learning that lasts a lifetime. Too bad your kids won't ever have the edge that knowing language learning has given these kids....and don't forget to read the part where the program has lost only ONE CHILD IN THREE YEARS.

Anonymous said...

"For Hispanic families"

... I was astonished ...

... Thankfully things weren't as bad as I thought ...

... initially I thought that I would catch these folks by suprise doing the dirty deeds of helping illegal aliens with tax dollars ...


Because:

[drum roll ...]

Hispanic families = illegal aliens

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work Daniel. Keep these bureaucrats on their toes!! We are winning this fight and the people who scream "racist" the loudest are starting to bring it down a notch after they have realized that even democrats are tired of the invasion.

R Huse said...

Logic Guy

>Because: .....[drum roll ...] .........Hispanic families = illegal aliens

Hardly. Given the state and local governments historic aid to illegals in this region, it would certainly be reasonable to think this would be yet another aid program. After Ted's efforts to grant divers licenses, proud and vehement non enforcement or aid to the federal government in immigration law issues among other things, it is not a stretch to think that there would probably be more government aid given to illegals at this event.

What a strange twisting of logic, to take a perfectly reasonable conclusion and try and turn it into something the person never said in an attempt to pointy the bony finger of righteous indignation.

Moondog

Kind of weird to see my name come up in a post so quick, before I had even commented on this thread. Its really sort of flattering in a way for you to be thinking of me.

Hmm, ..... you posted at 9.30 at night.... thinking about me having anal sex with a virgin...... sigh, that is a nice image........me with the virgin thing that is...............not you sitting there at night imagining me having sex...........well, who knows, maybe that is a nice image, for all I know you look like Brad Pitt........ Anyway, I am flattered you thought of me............ people might begin to talk you know.

Anonymous said...

AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IS A LONG WAY FROM SAYING IT IS A GOOD THING

Anonymous said...

ONE dual language program finally works, woooo! it is still a waste of OUR money.

When tens of millions of people flee Mexico/Latin America it is proof that their country is a cesspool, even they do not want to be there, why would we spend one dime copying their ways?

Most of the rest of the World speaks (or is learning) ENGLISH,(47% of Europeans for example) their is NO economical advatage to learning a turd world language, none.

These kids could have gotten much needed excercise in a sports program or (OR. has no daily P.E./music/art program until middle school)REALLY expanded their minds with Music/Instrument instruction or even Art would use the other side of their brain.

No these dual language programs are our Government again figuring out how to hire more Gov't union employees and expand the budgets and spend every penny they get, so next handout session they can whine that they have no money and the Democrats can justify raising taxes.
Disagree? Feb. 2008 will be proof soon enough.

Anonymous said...

RHuse, I don't know whether to laugh at your naivety or be exasperated by your unwillingness to admit the obvious. How much clearer could Daniel POSSIBLY be? He got a newsletter, saw an invitation to "Hispanic families," and immediately the alarm bells go off in what passes for his brain: Illegal aliens. Bottom fucking line: For Daniel Miglavs, Hispanic families = illegal aliens. Presumption of guilt for all. Guilty until proven innocent. It's not a matter of "twisting" words, or even putting words in his mouth. They're his words. Words either mean what they say, or they don't. Miglavs may be a pathetic prick (you’ve gotta wonder what kind of man stakes out a high school family dinner videotaping tamales and refried beans and then triumphantly posts it on the Internet!) but he deserves credit for at least being articulate: He means what he says, and he says what he means. Sherwood “went Spanish” on him. Not went “illegal alien” on him, but Spanish. We Anglos will never be able to shop or eat in Sherwood again because the entire city “went Spanish.” They’re everywhere! The “press 1 for English” option is gone forever! We'll never see a hamburger again! The horror!

Anonymous said...

Wasn't it the same kind of "presumptions" that got RHuse all in fluff a few weeks ago. He was screaming "bigots" at many of us for "supposedly" engaging in the same thing with regards to his sexual proclivities. Someone made a sweeping judgement about his ilk regarding pedophilia and he blew a gasket or two...Daniel makes a sweeping assumption about Hispanics and people who speak Spanish and he not only gives him a pass, but rationalizes Daniels bigotry by saying labeling it a "reasonable conclusion." Classic Miglavian logic...it's a fluid as mercury...wait a minute, doesn't mercury cause severe brain damage?

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:10:

ONE class FINALLY passes? Hardly...do some googling...these kind of results are popping up all over and will continue too as more language immersion kids reach testing age (3rd grade). Most of Oregon's public school language immersion programs didn't start until 4 years ago, so the vast majority of the students haven't even been tested yet. When they do, which will increase substantially next year, the rest of the students coming up will likely have similar results. By the way, I pay taxes too, and I am 100% okay with MY tax money going to educational programs like this, and so are millions and millions of other tax papers. You guys act like your the ONLY ones who pay taxes, lol.

PS: I just love how you left out the fact that Spanish is the THIRD most widely spoken language, behind English. Mandarin Chinese is the first.

Only a dolt could fail to acknowledge the benefits of speaking a second or even third language.

Anonymous said...

papers: payers.

Anonymous said...

It's been said before and is worth saying again:

Press 1 and get a life.

Good grief.

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:10: Really, Oregon has no PE or Music programs until Jr. High? Hmmmm, thats funny, the same school where my children are part of the language immersion program provides PE three times a week and music twice a week, and they are constantly bringing art projects home.

R Huse said...

Basic logic class for Eli and the Anons:

Going to check something out at an event, to see if it offers benefits to illegals, based upon past events of the same nature offering benefits to illegals is not racist. Its simply seeing if this is yet another such event.

I did not get irate at someone making sweeping judgments. I got irate at someone making a specific judgment, to wit, words to the effect that they wouldn't want me around their kids based upon my sexual orientation. Sorry dude, when I was addressed directly, it not longer is a sweeping judgment, it is a specific one. That person was clearly a bigot as he had based an assumption of child molestation based upon me being a member of a sexual minority group. Yet another left wing bigot, they are common here.

Daniel made no sweeping judgment, he made a specific one, he went to an event and had an assumption based upon past behavour by the government at just this sort of thing. The big difference is, Daniel seems to be able to admit he was wrong in his assumption, unlike any of the Eli's and his Anon cronies on the left who comment here seem to be able to do.

And that my friends..... is that.

Anonymous said...

He made a sweeping assumption of all sado masochists. Go back and read it.

Anonymous said...

Youre an apologist for the bigotry that comes from your side Rupert, but at least you do it elegantly. And that my friend, is that.

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute. I thought the reason we are trying to solve the immigration problem was all about national security and budgetary concerns. What does the Spanish language have to do with it?

Anonymous said...

Rupert's responses are always interesting. Smart guy, overall, I think. He recognizes bigotry easily enough when he's the target, but not when his Blog hero is Sherwood's own Archie Bunker. It's an ongoing question here in Miglavia: When the bigots deny their bigotry, is it because they're being dishonest and lying? Because they're too cowardly to admit what they are? Or is it because they're so stupid they actually believe their own "I'm-no-bigot" bullshit? Look: Here's the deal: If Mexicans were white and spoke flawless English, it wouldn't matter if there were twice or three times the number of illegal immigrants there are now. Everyone here understands, at some level, that if this were the case, we would not be having this conversation. Miglavs might be online "musing" about one thing or another, but it wouldn't be about "illegal aliens." I know it. Huse knows it. And Daniel knows it.

Anonymous said...

....and Brother, I know it too.

Miglavian Sixth Sense: I see brown people.

R Huse said...

>He made a sweeping assumption of all sado masochists. Go back and read it.

Re read chestnuts of bigotry from the vaunted holier than thou, bony finger of indignation racialists of the left? I think not.

R Huse said...

As anyone who frequents these pages knows, I am not an apologist for bigotry when it comes from my side. I have said on numerous occasions that there has been plenty of bigotry from my side on this issue. This is obviously far different from the pro illegals side, who never will criticize one of their own. They can never, ever, admit to wrong on their side.

Thus, when I see accusations of bigotry from the other side, its quite hard to take them very seriously. When they cant admit to the abhorrent racism and bigotry of many on the pro illegals side, they are already starting from a very weak position. When your side includes overt hate groups like La Raza, and MEChA that carry Klan like banners in protests, you have a long way to go before people will treat your claims of bigotry as anything but a little silly. You don't win an argument by insisting that anyone who opposes you is racist. This is why the Amnesty bill went down in flames. This is also why virtually every presidential candidate runs from the issue of granting amnesty. And this is why insisting that Daniel, who is apparently married to a Latino woman, and posted that he was wrong about an event with a clearly bigoted title, is prejudiced against Hispanics, is getting a little tired.

Frankly it is fairly obvious that the demonizing of opponents as racist does not win arguments or sway opinion. Thus I have opined here before, and will do so again - you guys don't even really care about illegals, or amnesty. You really just like calling other people racist. The over use of the word by people who are so transparently inconsistent in its application is almost turning the accusation into something of a joke. The possible gradual changing of the words meaning, from serious to laughable, is perhaps the only thing of interest in the current usage.

Anonymous said...

Daniel's married to a Latina, therefore, cannot be racist. BULLSHIT. Daniel is part of a common dynamic...I've witnessed it time and time and time again. I grew up with it. Daniel can indeed be married to a minority and still be a bigot. Ask me, I'll tell you how it's done from first hand experience. It's not unlike a Priest who hides his pedophia with a collar and robe.

...and you don't think you were stretching and "over using" the word bigotry just a tad when you were whining about being discriminated against because you like whips and chains? If that wasn't a stretch, I don't know what is. Bigotry doesn't have to involve water cannons and German shepards to be bigotry Rupert. In fact, it's the subtle stuff that causes the most destruction. You're an apologist Rupert, and it becomes clearer and clearer with each post. Calling your cohorts out on the carpet for only the most extreme offenses doesn't absolve you. I think Anon 10:24 nailed it. And that my friend...is that.

Stewie says: LOL, Rupert, you're funny...

Anonymous said...

Mr. Huse: Words mean what they mean. Miglavs says what he means, and he means what he says. Miglavs saw "Hispanic," and immediately turned it into "helping illegal aliens." Until, apparently, he was able to convince himself, trusty camcorder in hand, that they were not "helping illegal aliens." In other words ... in other very plain and completely justified words: Guilty until proven innocent. Read that again very carefully, RHuse, and THINK about it: Guilty until proven innocent. As far as Hispanics are concerned, that IS the philosophy of Daniel Miglavs, expressed clearly by ... Daniel Miglavs.

What more can one say? What more must he say? If you need it explained to you, then it cannot be explained to you.

Anonymous said...

I am an American of Mexican descent. I have a spanish surname and dark skin. Not a day goes by that I don't hear some sort of reference to my race or my
"status." Illegal immigration must be dealt with. A seething disdain for the Spanish language and for "brown people" is the reason why more folks like me don't join groups like OFIR. They have injected bigotry and mean spiritedness into this issue. They don't just want to "get rid of Mexicans," they want to cleanse "their country" of any bit of Hispanic culture: music, language, tiendas, fiestas...all of it -- they want it GONE because they "don't like it." I bet Daniel doesn't even let his kids have pinatas. I don't know how his wife can stand to be married to him. I feel bad for her. I wonder if he even lets her visit her Mexican family. They can deny, deny, deny all they want. If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck... it's a duck. Daniel is a bullshit artist and so is this Huse character.

Anonymous said...

Rupert --

"That person was clearly a bigot as he had based an assumption of child molestation based upon me being a member of a sexual minority group. Yet another left wing bigot, they are common here.

Daniel made no sweeping judgment, he made a specific one, he went to an event and had an assumption based upon past behavour by the government at just this sort of thing. The big difference is, Daniel seems to be able to admit he was wrong in his assumption, unlike any of the Eli's and his Anon cronies on the left who comment here seem to be able to do.

And that my friends..... is that."

Now you're just lying. I'm the one who suggested I wouldn't want you around my kids after your occupation came to light, and unless you conveniently forget, I also, later, admitted that was a form of bigotry and wrong.

That you give Daniel a free pass for "admitting he is wrong" is laughable. When has he ever admitted that his ethnically tinged remarks are, on their face, ethnocentric?

I actually haven't seen you call him out on the carpet once for the same type of bigotry, which, when coming from me, got your chaps all in a bunch.

Anonymous said...

You know Daniel, if you stopped equating Hispanic or spanish-speaking with illegal, videorecording their community gatherings and belittling the music and other cultural elements of Hispanic immigrant populations and posting it on your website, the people of said group might feel less of a need for group solidarity in the face of what any rational human being might interpret as a somewhat hostile reception, and therefore, more likely to participate in the mainstream of society. In your language, I can only infer that this is what you want; but in your actions, it seems that you really desire the oposite (i.e., a reactionary ethnic group formation)

Anonymous said...

Daniel - which is it? Are you against illegal immigration or are you tired of dialing 1 for English? They're not the same thing, and I'm not sure why you conflate them?

Anyone?

Anonymous said...

I don't want my kids to learn spanish. This is just a feeble attempt to make it easier for immigrants legal and not legal alike not to have to learn english. If I find my kids in one of these traitoris programs I will kindly ask the school to remove them from the class rooms when spanish lesson for what ever they are studying are offered.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 723: obviously, if DUAL language immersion has to be explained to you, you just don't get it. Dual means both. Both languages are studied in the classroom. Far from being "an excuse" for non-English speakers to continue to be non-English speakers, dual immersion puts them on a fast track to English fluency. Didn't you read the article? Everyone was tested in: ENGLISH? Sheesh!

Anonymous said...

hey MOONB----

HERE ARE SOME HEROS OF YOURS SPEAKING WHAT THEY REALLY THINK:


HISPANIC LEADERS SPEAK OUT!

"Go back to Boston ! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die . . Through love of having children, we are going to take over." Augustin Cebada, Brown Berets:

"They're afraid we're going to take over the governmental institutions and other institutions. They're right. We will take them over . . . We are here to stay." Richard Alatorre, Los Angeles City Council.

"The American Southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico without firing a single shot." Excelsior, the national newspaper of Mexico :

"We have an aging white America . They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population . . I love it. They are shitting in their pants with fear. I love it." Professor Jose Angel Gutierrez, University of Texas

"Remember 187--proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to non-citizens--was the last gasp of white America in California ." Art Torres, Chairman of the California Democratic Party,

"We are politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming citizens of this country . . . I gotta tell you that a lot of people are saying, "I'm going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them back." Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor.

" California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn't like it should leave." Mario Obledo, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton

"We are practicing 'La Reconquista' in California ." Jose Pescador Osuna, Mexican Consul General.

"We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . " Professor Fernando Guerra, Loyola Marymount University

Are these just the words of a few extremists? Consider that we could fill up many pages with such quotes. Also, consider that these are mainstream Mexican leaders.

THE U.S. VS MEXICO : On February 15, 1998, the U.S. and Mexican soccer teams met at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Mexican even though most lived in this country. They booed during the National Anthem and U.S. flags were held upside down. As the match progressed, supporters of the U.S. team were insulted, pelted with projectiles, punched and spat upon. Beer and trash were thrown at the
U.S. players before and after the match. The coach of the U.S. team, Steve Sampson said, "This was the most painful experience I have ever had in this profession."

Did you know that immigrants from Mexico and other non-European countries can come to this country and get preferences in jobs, education, and government contracts?

Corporate America has signed on to the idea that minorities and third world immigrants should get special, privileged status. Some examples are Exxon, Texaco, Merrill Lynch, Boeing, Paine Weber, Starbucks and many more.

DID YOU KNOW?: Did you know that Mexico regularly intercedes on the side of the defense in criminal cases involving Mexican nationals? Did you know that Mexico has NEVER extradited a Mexican national accused of murder in the U.S. in spite of agreements to do so? According to the L.A. Times, Orange County , California is home to 275 gangs with 17,000 members; 98% of which are Mexican and Asian. How's your county doing?

Is education important to you? Here are the words of a teacher who spent over 20 years in the Los Angeles School system. "Imagine teachers in classes containing 30-40 students of widely varying attention spans and motivation, many of whom aren't fluent in English. Educators seek learning materials likely to reach the majority of students and that means fewer words and math problems and more pictures and multicultural references."

WHEN I WAS YOUNG: When I was young, I remember hearing about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island . They wanted to learn English. They wanted to breath free. They wanted to become Americans. Now too many immigrants come here with demands. They demand to be taught in their own language. They demand special privileges--affirmative action. They demand ethnic studies that glorify their culture.

MOOONBITC- PLEASE HAVE A STROKE...JUST A LITTLE ONE.

Anonymous said...

When is Italian Parent Night or Vietnamese Parent Night? Oh, I forgot those immigrant groups WANTED to become Americans and learn to speak English.

Anonymous said...

Well, we have Russian Parent night where Im from. And my sister (Seattle) says that their elementary school has "parents - nights" three to four times during each school year that bring together parents from five different ethnic groups for support, companionship, compare notes, talk about what they can do as parents to help their children succeed in school. Many of these parents do not speak English so there are translators provided (usually a teacher who speaks their language, although their principal speaks four languages, so they're usually covered just by her alone, wowsa!). Anyway, there's usually a potluck and all are invited, regardless of whether or not you belong to said ethnic group.

Geez, sounds like the epitomy of evil, bringing parents together to learn how they can support their children's education success so those kids will grow to become productive citizens of the U.S. The nerve!

According to my sister, these are the groups that meet:

- Chinese
- Laotian
- Korean
- Hispanic
- and one other that is Asian or Southeast Asian but she can't remember.