Newt Gingrich: Independentista

I knew that Newt Gingrich was contemplating a run for president, I just didn't realize he was aiming for the ticket of the Partida Independentista Portorriqueño.

But I can't see what else we can make of the news (thanks, Steve, for the link), that Gingrich advocates official monolingualism:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich equated bilingual education Saturday with "the language of living in a ghetto" and mocked requirements that ballots be printed in multiple languages.

"The government should quit mandating that various documents be printed in any one of 700 languages depending on who randomly shows up" to vote, said Gingrich, who is considering seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. He made the comments in a speech to the National Federation of Republican Women.

"The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. ... We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto," Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.*

I'm reluctant to assume from these statements that Gingrich is simply pandering to a roomful of xenophobic monoglots. I'll admit that his statements seem to reveal a reprehensible contempt for Spanish-speaking citizens and a disgusting and undemocratic enthusiasm for voter suppression, but I don't want to leap to such an uncharitable conclusion.

Let's try to be kind and to see if there isn't some way of interpreting Gingrich's remarks that, despite the evidence he has presented, doesn't force us to conclude that the disgraced former speaker is a monumental douchebag.

Perhaps what Gingrich really means by all of this is that he supports Puerto Rican independence. After all, it makes no sense to speak of English as the "official language" of the United States while we retain sovereignty over a territory that is home to a population of native Spanish-speakers. So the only way to bring about the homogenous, monolingual America that Gingrich desires would be to allow, or to force, Puerto Rico to become wholly independent from the U.S.

Unfortunately Puerto Rico isn't the only, or the most difficult, obstacle to Gingrich's plan. The United States also seized other, much larger territories that are also home to native Spanish-speakers. And during the 159 years since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, most of those territories have been accorded statehood.

Here we see the truly radical nature of Gingrich's English-only scheme: He wants to cede California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah back to Mexico.

At this point in history, I just don't think this plan is very practical. And despite the enthusiastic response from the Republican Women, I doubt this proposal will prove very popular.

I suppose it's possible that I'm trying too hard to read some non-repugnant motive into Gingrich's remarks. Maybe this wasn't what he really meant. Maybe he wasn't suggesting that there should only be 46 states in the English-only U.S. of A.

But if that's not what he's suggesting then I'm afraid we're left with only the one possible interpretation: Newt Gingrich is a monumental douchebag.

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* A "crowd of more than 100." Good to see that the National Federation of Republican Women is still every bit as relevant as the National Black Republican Association. If Gingrich keeps up this kind of thing, though, I'm guessing the RNHA will have a hard time getting even 100 people to show up at its national convention.

Comments

[Hysterical Woman]

Now, I'm going to Hungary this fall, and I'm learning some Hungarian. I hope to become fluent in that language. However, I would still prefer, if I have to sign any important document, that that document be in English, my native language. I'm sure immigrants to this country feel the same way.

[cjmr]

I didn't think there was ever any question that Newt Gingrich was a douchebag. Or at least not since he was impeaching Clinton while simultaneously carrying on his own extra-marital affair. Why does anyone even listen to the schmuck anymore?

[Carl]

Don't forget about the situation in Hawaii. Printing English only ballots is yet another slap in the face to the Native Hawaiian population (although they pretty much all speak English now, it's still mean not to let them use their own language), and also there are a ton of Asians here.

[Rachel]

Why does anyone listen to Gingrich? Because it's a refreshing break from listening to Bush.

[Darryl Pearce]

...I like your perspective. It's why I keep coming back and hope I can learn to emulate your example.

[jonathan peterson]

I think there are some financial/cultural integration arguments for making english an official language (though I'd be surprised if those arguments wouldn't actually end up making english AND spanish BOTH official languages).

The key would be spending a LOT of money to get english as a second language taught to anyone who needs it to speed their entre into mainstream US culture.

It could, however, be devastating to native cultures and frankly we're a more interesting nation with pockets of other cultures - even if it's in recent arrivals best interests to learn operational english as quickly as possible. The key there is making sure that there are counter-incitements to new cultures to maintaining their integrity.

Oh, and Newt IS a monumental douchebag.

[coriolis]

My local Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Tribe want their land back. Unfortunately, France won't take me back.

[julia]

Depending on who randomly shows up to vote?

I can't imagine who he's got in mind to take the reservations.

Negotiating an English-language ballot in California, with all those damned initiatives, is a PITA even if you are a native English speaker. I can only imagine what it must be like if you are only barely fluent. I'd much rather print the ballot in multiple languages and have truly informed citizenry (or as informed as you can be from those things, anyway) voting.

On the other hand, I wouldn't necessarily mind it if California became an independent republic again.

[cjmr]

On the other hand, I wouldn't necessarily mind it if California became an independent republic again.

The GOP probably wouldn't mind that, either...

[Zorya]

My mother used to opine that the best way for a person to learn a foreign language was to drop them into the middle of a city in the selected foreign country. With nothing but their wits and a willingness to survive. She said that was one sure way for a body to pick up enough of the language to get by.

Maybe Mr Gingrich should try this technique.

[LL]

I third (or whatever) that motion: Gingrich is, and always has been, a giant douchebag. But Democrats should hope he runs. He'll peel off the xenophobic wing of the Republican Party and virtually assure a Democratic president in 2008. If you think this is laughable, remember that Perot got nearly 20% in 1992, even after he went back and forth on his candidacy several times.

[Daniel Martin]

Don't forget about the situation in Hawaii. Printing English only ballots is yet another slap in the face to the Native Hawaiian population (although they pretty much all speak English now, it's still mean not to let them use their own language), and also there are a ton of Asians here.

All 1000 of them? If Wikipedia is to be believed, that's the current estimate on native speakers of Hawaiian. (Admittedly, there may be as many as 27,000 non-native speakers) If you want a native US language with a tolerable number of speakers still, Navajo has 178,000 native speakers.

By way of comparison, according to the 2000 census, there are in the US about 35,000 native speakers of Armenian who speak English either "Not Well" or "Not At All".

[Alexis]

Hey! Don't forget part of New Mexico!

There are not only many recent immigrants to New Mexico who are native Spanish speakers, but quite a number of native Spanish speakers (usually fully bilingual) descended from the Spanish who arrived in the 15th & 16th centuries. They've probably been here longer than Newt's family, come to think of it...

[Reverend Ref]

Not to mention Alaska and the Inuit population there.

[Llelldorin]

On the other hand, I wouldn't necessarily mind it if California became an independent republic again.

That's a great idea! We could hold a Constitutional Convention at the same time, and come up with a form of government that would be at least partially workable.

If we're lucky, we could get the E.U. to let us join as a member state. That'd give us easy access to markets for our wine that'd probably be a lot friendlier than many US states are. With Hollywood in the E.U., Eurofornian culture would also be world-dominant.

(If you're European and have been underwhelmed by Californian wines in the past--we drink the good stuff here at home. I've been underwhelmed with those CA wines that make it to Europe myself.)

Besides, you just know Schwarzenegger would go for a scheme that would leave him in charge of a sovereign state.

[Lurker]

My best wishes to the Republic of California, but I am quite sure you would not be accepted a member state of European Union. You fail two absolute requirements:
1) Human rights. California uses death penalty. Pretty easy to change. However, the overall prison system would require overhaul. European states don't use even the "life without possibility of parole" sentences. As the protection of minorities is required, the Spanish-speaking would have to be given at least the right to study Spanish as a mother tongue in schools. (Not necessarily fully Spanish schools, but all minorities of respectable size have to be given the education in their mother tongue and culture. In California, Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese etc. would have to be given this.)
2) Geography. The Union can only accept memberstates from Europe, according to the treaties founding her.

Requirement 1 is workable, but requirement 2 would require divine intervention.

Basically, joining European Union is not easy. It requires a large-scale legislative effort, where the whole legal system of the aspiring member country is brought in line with the Union. EU actually has even wider powers than the US government in the area of economy (the weakness lies in the foreign policy), so joining is not just the act of sigining a declaration. When Finland joined the union in 1995, it took over 1000 Acts of Parliament and Governmental decrees to accomplish the necessary changes in legislation.

The differences in legal traditions don't really mean too much. EU incorporates both the UK with a common law system, France with a system of civil law, and Sweden with a system of Nordic tradition.

[grenadine]

The future Republic of California doesn't have to be a member of the EU. It should just have a treaty that gives it favorable terms for trade. It could be the founding member of the Pacific Union. (Of course, this is all happening in the Land of Make-Believe anyway).

[ako]

I know in Oregon there's a lot of (jokey) support for becoming an independent country. While the state wouldn't want to become part of the Republic of California (you all would take our water), then we might join the Pacific Union.

[Susan]

I'd be fine with it if Mexico would take Texas, along with all citizens of Texas, including....

[Jeff]

I know in Oregon there's a lot of (jokey) support for becoming an independent country. While the state wouldn't want to become part of the Republic of California (you all would take our water)

There was a movement, which never really got very far) to split California in two and join Oregon and Washington as a single sovereign state. Because Northern Californians don't like Southern californians stealing all their water either.

[Mouse]

You left out Texas on your list but then again, would Mexico really want their fingerprints on that trainwreck?

[Llelldorin]

Yeah, the human rights objection would be tough. California has a HUGE number of widespread minority languages (I remember one city near where I grew up was experimenting with placards in police cards with "pull over" printed in their leading seven languages or so.) Support for our death penalty is also unfortunately fairly widespread (68% from a Field Poll three years ago), which is a showstopper, I agree.

California needs a governmental overhaul desperately in any case--the phrase "ungovernable" is frequently used these days, so something on the scale of the severe legal changes necessary will probably be necessary even in the real world where we remain a US State. (Well, not quite the same scale--we won't really have to replace the UCC with the EU enabling legislation.)

The European geographical restriction is disappointing but understandable. If nothing else the back face of Euro coins would look somewhat ludicrous if Europe had to be shifted over to accommodate California.

Ah, well. Even if we can just get favorable trade treaties with Canada and with the EU, we'd be well-enough off. The remaining US might want to get into a trade war with us, but since we control US production of garlic and artichokes, we'd have them on their knees in no time.

[Jeff]

I work (indirectly) for the County of Los Angeles and all our documents are to be printed in what's known as Threshold Languages (where there's enough of a population to "matter"). I love looking at the notices in Spanish, Armenian, Thai, etc, and working out How to write Department of Public Social Services in each. (It's easy to find becuase it's often repeated, and has "(DPSS)" in Roman letters, regardless of the notice language.)

[X]

The republicans claim they'd be happy to see the back of Cali AND New York... which glee, I suspect, would last right up until the part where it dawns on them that those two states pay the bills in the USA. If the "blue states" broke off from the red, you'd have a rich country and a not-nearly-so-rich country, and the republicans would be on the wrong side of that line.

[Zzyzx]

Ah the Cascadia idea. I love the concept of a country starting around San Jose and going up through British Columbia to Alaska. It would definitely work for this Seattlite.

[Salamanda]

Zzyzx: ...a country starting around San Jose...

And let SoCal have Monterey? Harrumph. I think not.

Otherwise, carry on. :)

[ako]

Ah the Cascadia idea. I love the concept of a country starting around San Jose and going up through British Columbia to Alaska. It would definitely work for this Seattlite.

Oregon would never go for it. There's no way you could talk Oregonians into being part of the same country as California without at least twenty other states in there to balance it out. Otherwise y'all might take over with your sales taxes and your gasoline you have to pump yourself and your weird beach laws and all your Californian ways.

Honestly, there is a bit of generalized hostility to California as a political entity and against Californians in Oregon (look at then-Governer Tom McCall's famous "You're welcome to visit Oregon, but please don't stay" line), and while Oregon would gladly join up with Washington, throwing Northern California into the mix might be a deal breaker.

[Michèle]

ako -- "weird beach laws"??

[ako]

Multilingual education wouldn't be a problem, though. In Oregon, bilingual public schools are the schools parents wait-list their kids to get into. Granted, they're mostly designed towards native English speakers, and are aimed at languages that American-born English speaking parents would find it cool for their kids to learn (French, German, Japanese, and yes, Spanish), but that would probably help knock down the resistance to setting up bilingual schools aimed at linguistic minorities.

ako -- "weird beach laws"??

Privately owned beaches. In Oregon, the whole coast is public land.

[bulbul]

If we're lucky, we could get the E.U. to let us join as a member state.
As the official representative of the EU here (try and stop me!), I support your candidacy and I will campaing and lobby on your behalf.

2) Geography. The Union can only accept memberstates from Europe, according to the treaties founding her.
Well, these are not written in stone (unlike a certain "two thirds of a person" constitution I could mention). Plus, it depends on how you define Europe. The Council of Europe (not affiliated with the EU, nor a representative thereof) includes countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (the other one). And I vaguely remember someone discussing the possibility of Tunisia and Morocco joining.

Don't forget about the situation in Hawaii. Printing English only ballots is yet another slap in the face to the Native Hawaiian population...
... not to mention all the users of Hawaii Creole English (a.k.a. Pidgin).

If you're European and have been underwhelmed by Californian wines in the past--we drink the good stuff here at home.
Bastards, I knew you were holding out on us!

[Michèle]

ako:
> Privately owned beaches. In Oregon, the whole coast is public land.

Oh! I thought maybe you meant the nudity....

[ako]

Naw, nude beaches aren't considered that weird by Oregon standards. It's just generally too cold to bother. It's the idea of someone actually owning a beach that's weird (by the special Oregon-politics standard where if they do something everywhere but Oregon, it's the rest of the world being weird).

On an unrelated note, growing up in Oregon and going to law school anywhere else is a fascinating experience. "Wait, you mean it's not legal for a doctor to prescribe marajuana or give terminally ill patients a lethal dose of medicine? And it's legal to let people pump their own gas? Beaches are private property? I'm not allowed to bring up Oregon law in the middle of in-class hypotheticals anymore? Okay."

Then again, everyone thought Oregon was crazy for mandatory deposits on bottles and can to encourage recycling, too.

[Mnemosyne]

By way of comparison, according to the 2000 census, there are in the US about 35,000 native speakers of Armenian who speak English either "Not Well" or "Not At All".

And every one of them lives in my city. ;-)

Though if you see the Armenian-speaking population here, that statistic will not surprise you at all. A lot of people have brought their elderly, non-English-speaking relatives with them when they immigrated so they can care for them here rather than try and care for them when they're on the other side of the globe. At one point, my now-husband's old apartment building was a bunch of Armenian-speaking grandmothers and one lonely Anglo boy.

[WereBear]

...drop them into the middle of a city in the selected foreign country. With nothing but their wits and a willingness to survive. ..Maybe Mr Gingrich should try this technique.

I, for one, would be willing to drop him in the middle of any number of foreign cities. Like Baghad, or Calcutta.

And from a height.

[cjmr]

But would you give him a parachute?

[ako]

See, I'm nice. I'd give him a safe landing, one spare change of clothes (although no wallets or passports or credit cards or phones), and a job. Something where he could set a fine example for those poor people of work ethic, and how to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. I'd even pick a country where the poor people spoke a little English (although not fluently) and could help him work through the language barriers.

Specifically, I'd put him at the Payatas garbage dump in Manila. And as soon as he could jump through all the correct government hoops (forms, fines, interviews with officials) in Tagalog without assistance, using only the money he earned after arriving, then he'd be allowed to go home.

[Matt T.]

I was gonna ask "What's wrong with pumping your own gas", just as a matter of interest, you see, but then I remembered a story a friend told me. Recently, whilst pumping gas in a nearby wanna-sack store* and heard the trickle of spilling liquid. Next to him was a brand-new SUV with a nozzle unattended and gas pouring out the side. Soon after, a lovely young girlchild came to the SUV and my friend pointed out to her that her cup runneth over. Giggling, she replied, "I always do that."

My friend asked her to give him time to get down the road before she crunk up her SUV, but she just giggled again, shot him a grin and crossed her fingers. Truck crunk up, but no explosion. Matter of time, though, I imagine.

That's why Oregon don't let folks pump their own gas, right?

I need a move - I currently live in Athens, Georgia, which is nice but it's time - and I've contemplated uprooting and pissing Momma off by trying out Oregon. However, I must admit that any inquiries made to Oregonites come off, quite frankly, as very polite requests that the rest of the country stay the hell away. Really nice about it, but undeniably firm. However, I don't blame ya.

* Go to the counter with one item or two dozen, doesn't matter, they always ask "You wanna sack?" Maybe it's a Southern thing.

[ako]

That's why Oregon don't let folks pump their own gas, right?

Safety's part of it. Even though gas-station attendant's not exactly a high-skill job, someone who pumps gas for a living is more likely, on average, to do it correctly and carefully than anyone with a license. And there's accessibility concerns (although the gas station owners all swear, scout's honor, that they're going to believe anyone who pulls up and says their disabled, and provide attendants to pump gas for free, without requiring proof or having the person at the register refuse to help someone for not looking disabiled. It's also one of those things where almost nobody wants to have to pump their own gas, but a lot of gas station owners would love to offer self-serve because it's cheaper for them, and they can charge extra for getting your gas pumped by a professional.

I'm aware that I just described a libertarian's worst nightmare (the Evil Statist Collective forcing business owners to provide something just because people want it), but it generally works out pretty well.