Pledge in English, Spanish sparks anger
www.mywesttexas.com
11/14/2005
Pledge in English, Spanish sparks anger
Ruth Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram
By Ruth Campbell
Staff Writer
Youngsters throughout Midland Independent School District participated in the recent Veterans Day celebrations -- some with a multicultural flavor.
At DeZavala Elementary School, Principal Dalia Benavides said many students are recent immigrants or their parents are native Spanish speakers. In the first part of their Veterans Day program, students said the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Spanish and entertained with songs in both languages.
"We say it in both languages because we have so many of our students come here and they don't speak English. We want to cultivate patriotism," she said.
"We don't want to wait until they learn to speak English to teach them about patriotism and service to our country," she added.
A recent Letter to the Editor in the Midland Reporter-Telegram said some schools in Midland say the Pledge in Spanish and questioned the need for things to be put in Spanish and English.
Midland County Republican Party Chair Sue Brannon echoed the letter writer's sentiments. When immigrants come to America, she said they should speak English, come here legally and go through the proper channels.
"I feel like English is the No. 1 language," Brannon said. "This is our country and if they're going to live here, they need to learn to speak English."
She said it costs "tons of money" to print ballots, for example, in both languages. And when we travel to other countries, you don't see English everywhere.
"I don't know why the U.S. needs to be an exception. I feel like I have rights also," she said.
Republicans welcome Hispanics to the party. "Democratic values have left a lot of our Spanish people and they have come to the Republican party because they believe in the same values I do -- family, country and religion."
Superintendent Robert Nicks said each campus makes its own decisions on issues like saying the pledge in English and Spanish.
"With DeZavala Elementary being the school for our recent immigrant program, I'm sure that plays a role in their decision," he said.
Felipa Lara, president of the local LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) chapter, said Travis Elementary also says the pledge in both languages.
"I don't see the problem É To me it's like translating anything else," Lara said.
"To me it's not an issue. It shouldn't be an issue. We have more severe issues than that. ÉStudents when they're saying it (are) still honoring the American flag in their own native language. Even the kids that are non-Spanish speakers are learning it," Lara said. "Some people are not willing to accept the fact that we are the majority and we continue to grow."
She said Hispanics make up about 32 percent of Midland's population.
Research indicates the best time to introduce children to a foreign language is when they're young. "It's just a tremendous asset to be bilingual. In most countries of the world, learning multiple languages as part of their school program is almost a given. Only in the United States, we don't accentuate it," he said.