Matthew Rothschild: School Superintendent Threatened over Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish

[marmar]

from The Progressive:



School Superintendent Threatened over Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish
By Matthew Rothschild, April 21, 2008


The Pledge of Allegiance is creating an uproar in a high school in southern Wisconsin. Not the Pledge itself, but the language it’s recited in.

For many years now, Edgerton High School in Wisconsin has allowed students in its Spanish class to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish over the Intercom one day of the school year. It also invites foreign exchange students (the school now has three) to say it in their own language.

This year, when Spanish students recited the Pledge on March 11, it caused a ruckus.

Parents complained. They demanded that the Spanish teacher, the principal, and the superintendent be fired. And they intend to press the issue at the school board meeting on April 28.

The superintendent, Dr. Norman Fjelstad, has even been physically threatened.

“There were a couple of people who made threats,” he said. “I said, ‘It’s a felony to threaten me,’ and they apologized. Once they got set back on their heels, we had a good discussion. It’s the people who leave the messages on my phone—it’s like shooting you in the back. I don’t even know who they are.”

Fjelstad has been superintendent for 20 years. The current controversy has taken a toll.

“It’s not been fun,” he says. “When I went to vote I was confronted. When I went to the grocery store, I was confronted. I get about five phone calls a day. They want me removed from my position unless I’m willing to put in writing that this will never happen again. And I won’t do that. We don’t allow bullying in our schools, and I won’t be bullied by this.”

Fjelstad realized he had a problem on his hands when the phones started ringing at the administration building on March 12.

The following day, the Janesville Gazette ran a story entitled “Spanish Pledge Angers Veteran.”

It quoted Todd Dix, whose son goes to the high school.

“This is America; we speak English,” said Dix, who retired from the National Guard last year. “I don’t want any of my three boys coming home saying, ‘Dad, we did the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.’ ” .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.progressive.org/mag_mc042108b

[tblue37]

1. I hate bigots. In fact, you could say I am bigoted against bigots. n/t

Oh--and K&R

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Don't know why he's bitching.

Probably included "bajo Dios" in the recital.

http://www.bboed.org/schools/bhs/world_languages/spanish_pledge.htm

[Aristus]

3. Dix sounds like, well, a dick.

Has he ever eaten a taco? Or maybe, since this is America, we should call it an "open-face rolled sandwich made from a deep-fried flour shell and filled with meats and vegetables." Kind of hard to say all that when ordering dinner.

Has he ever watched a rodeo? Or maybe, since this is America, we should call it a "big cowboy roundup with calf-roping, bull riding, and displays of expert horsemanship." Tough to put that all on a promotional poster.

Has he ever eaten at a cafe? Or maybe, since this is America, we should call it a "small, family-owned restaurant serving coffee and excellent food is an intimate, casual family-style atmosphere." Kind of hard to put that all on a restaurant sign.

Screw him and his anti-language bigotry...

Viva Espanol!

[Reader Rabbit]

4. That superintendent sounds pretty brave.

He could be cowering in a corner, but he's standing up for what's right. That's a true American!

It's too bad that ignorance and bigotry are so prevalent and accepted.

[cynatnite]

5. I think we should rewrite the Pledge of Allegiance to fit our idea of what it means....

This is how I said it as a kid:
I pledge a legion to the flag of the United States of America and to the repubic for witches stands. One Nation Under God. Invisible with liberty and justice for all.

Here is how I say it now:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Federation of Planets, and to the galaxy for which it stands, one universe, under everybody, with liberty and justice for all species.

Thanks goes to an 8 year old for that...

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/21/star-trek-pledge-of-.html

Here it is in Klingon:
*America* Sepmey tay' qum 'oSbogh joqwI'vaD jImatlh 'e' vI'Ip: HochvaD
tlhab ruv je lay'bogh wa' wo''e' Devbogh Qun, wo''e' wavlaHbogh pagh.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Jesus Fucking Christ. One day a year, as a learning experience, and they throw a tantrum?

As an aside, I know some of the well-known boneheads who have a DU account are preparing as we speak to type some distorted argument to defend or attenuate the bigots' bigotry. If you are one of those, I declare you an asshole right now, even before you begin to type.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. This is AMERICA! Here, we speak AMERICAN!

Um, what? The language is called "ENGLISH?" Well, hrrumph - next you'll have us eating TEA!:crazy: