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I think the next time I have to give a speech to a bunch of thin-skinned English only followers, I'm going to do it in Spanish just to irritate them. And I'm not even Hispanic or would have a reason to do so.
I had a French speaking colleague. We used to chat in French just to annoy the office busy-bodies
As a left wing "bleeding heart, pinko-socialist" I find this totally unacceptable. The speech should be delivered in the Official language of the country he resides in . Period. A Valedictorian speech is supposed to be inspiring and uplifting to other pupils who have shared the journey to that day and to deliver it in Spanish is disrecpectful and churlish.
If His parents do not speak English then the speech should have been transcribed for them rather than having to do it for an entire class and audience which is patently absurd as well as illogical.
I also wonder why the parents do not speak English. You come to live to a country you bloody well learn how to speak the language. That too is utterly disrespectful. I assume the kid had been in that school for at least a year to be Valedictorian and presumably his parents had therefore also been residing for at least a year ( I am assuming much longer in reality). A year is plenty enough for ANYONE to learn to speak almost any language ( especially Spanish to English) to a reasonable conversant degree.
I would NEVER dream of moving somewhere and not learning the language. It is so arrogant, complacent and shows utter contempt for your adopted country. I am all for retaining a modicum of your Native culture and Language but this is just plain ridiculous.
Anyone who thinks this is xenophobic or "racist" is intellectually disingenuous and utterly wrong IMO. I desire full integration for immigrants, I think it is the most positive thing for them ( as well as the host society) and it starts with language. I WANT immigrants to blend in and not be excluded from society ( exclusion leading to social problems and often economic deprivation so exclusion to me is the shortest way to nowhere) which is exactly the opposite of racism or xenophobia.
Language is the most important tool we have for communication and interaction with others, complacency in learning a new language or refusal to do so is baffling to me and only shows a great deal of disrespect for the new country. I moved to the US from France and was fluent within 3 months. I would have never dreamed of staying within my own little French enclave and refusing to speak English.
It would have been arrogant beyond belief to do so and incredibly stupid as well. What opportunities will you have if you cannot genuinely interact fully with the people which make up your new Nation?
If I moved to China I would learn Chinese, Russia, Russian, Portugal Portuguese. Not exactly a difficult concept to grasp. It really bugs me to hear stories like this because it damages the relations between different groups in a community and is harmful to the very people it involves.
A Valedictorian speech in Spanish in a country with English as an Official language is an insult, and aridiculous thing to do.
I am pro immigration by the way so none of that "english nativism" crap please.
You nailed it! The arrogance and lack of respect of those who immigrate here legally or illegally and refuse to respect our laws, learn the language and assimilate to our culture is simply outrageous.
You cannot be in the habit of both antagonizing authority and honoring your parents. They are mutually exclusive.
Exactly! Antagonizing authority? What authority? I thought graduation speeches were for the students mostly. Why snub hundreds of your peers and their parents to so-call honoring one set of parents? How is speaking in Spanish honoring them? It would have dishonered them to deliver the speech in English? I still haven't read that they couldn't understand English and even if they didn't he could have honored them privately or a Spanish translation could have been provided to them. It was selfish, rude and inconsiderate!
I think the next time I have to give a speech to a bunch of thin-skinned English only followers, I'm going to do it in Spanish just to irritate them. And I'm not even Hispanic or would have a reason to do so.
Nice, you're just as rude as this graduate was. This is an English speaking nation get used to it!
Would I have been considered pretty nasty if I walked out in the middle of his speech? I think I could stand to be seen that way and I sure as hell would have walked out on him.
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