Yo, I figured this would be a good new topic, so I took and "ported" the appropriate comments over to here.

This Chad Brock is neither inspiring or original.

Ted Nugent pulled that same stunt in Texas like a year and a half ago. The Hispanic contingent got pissed, demanded an apology etc. It was a big ol beef, but I don't think that Nugent claimed it off as an inspirational speech, just that he likes to piss people off.

You guys may get pissed at this point, but let's think about the situation. I admire anyone who has the courage to leave their country for another in hopes to secure a better life for themselves and their family. That is what the USA was all about from the start. BUT...........there are some things that seriously bother me about people coming into the country and thinking that they can get away with not learning to speak the official language of the place. I would never move to a foreign country and expect them to speak my language fluently (unless it was England I guess), or expect to be able to get away with not learning the official language. It is fucking ludicrous.

Let's say you were a business owner, and someone came to you for a job. This person was unable to speak the language used by all in your country. Would you hire them?? Hell no. Would you get sued for it......probably.

I really enjoy the diverse cultures in the US, and would never want to do anything that would diminished it. I don't think people should forget their heritage, stop speaking their native language etc, etc. But for the love of God, learn how to communicate with the people in the country you live in. (I realize that my post is now unConstitutional)

Or, better yet, KILL everyone in the country you move to who don't speak your language, proclaim that country yours, and then demand that everyone who comes there speak your language!

Yeah, that is the other way of looking at the begging of not only the USA, but a lot of courtries.

Now where is Afghanistan again?? Those guys need McDonald's just as much as any other place.

Is that picture the Chad Brock dill or one of the friggin' Village People?

That's him. I know what you're thinking: "A finer human specimen I cannot imagine."

You should dig his website. It's pretty astounding to see how they market country stars, i.e. the same way they market women's health products. Lots of photos of teeth and people in various stages of leisure. You get the distinct feeling that mainstream country music has very little to do with music.

About his inspirational speech: I agree that people need to learn English when they move here. You'd be foolish not to. But I think Chad Brock is griping about a couple things:

a) that it's annoying to him when he goes into a 7-11 to buy a Yoo-Hoo and some lottery tickets and the clerk speaks limited English.

b) he hears people speaking Spanish or whatever to each other.

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To a), I say: if that kind of thing is really that upsetting to you... fuck man, you're a big boy; you should have better things to worry about. Learning a language is a lifelong endeavor and no easy task, especially for an adult.

To b), I say: Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. "American" means lots of things- it's a plural society. Not everybody in the rest of the world is here to placate your arrogant ass. Let's give you a year of introductory Chinese language lessons, then send you to China with a group of Americans. When you're with the Americans, are you gonna speak Chinese to them?

I was considering writing a super-sarcastic letter to the editor along the lines of:

"Why can't these rednecks learn proper English? In America we have grammar and diction. These backwoods hicks make a mockery of our language and the purity of this nation. How can we fight those towelheads when we all sound different? All rednecks should be required to learn to speak proper English."

...although some would say that I should have better things to worry my pretty little self about than whether someone is saying "Jaguar" correctly.

Yale,

I think you are getting some good points across here, that seem obvious to most people (most people I wantingly associate with, I guess)

This Chad Brock is also an obvious dick-licker. What modern country artist isn't? I think what really bugs me is that I can't get over thinking it was all just for publicity (Duh). His sales probably took a jump after that deal, which is what he most likely really cares about. Yeah, yeah....we are at war....shop at Walmart ..etc, etc. He just wants his piece of the pie. What a dill.

jag-you-are or jag-u-r

Either way, bro-tha's.

I think you're right about the publicity (pronounced "pyoo-bliss-itee" a'la Ernest Goes to Camp) thing. The vast majority of Americans probably view Chad Brock's spiel as being patriotic and unifying, and therefore anti-terrorist.

First off, hadn't heard of this Brock fuckwit prior this and what a sad introduction. Yeah, it helps to know English here, but it's really not the "official language" unless you're for some unimaginable reason in North Dakota. English is the language most public schooling is done in, though there are plenty of others (many of them federally funded). Likewise it's the language most of us European descended folks know. Nation of immigrants = nation of many languages, and a stronger place for it. They'll still let you know that Kyle Petty's heading to the pit in English, so don't spill your Bud Lite, dickslap. It's all a matter of convenience. It's easy to conveniently assume this is a place largely inhabited by people real similar to yourself, when in fact there probably are close to as many Iranians as there are Wyomingites (ians?) in our country. That argument is played and we'd do better to replace the xenophobia with a legitimate concern like educating people so new country music will one day cease being.
That is all.