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riverine

(516 posts)
Mon Apr 15, 2019, 09:20 PM Apr 2019

Obama says it's OK to ask immigrants to learn English [View all]

Former President Barack Obama recently suggested “it’s not racist” to say immigrants in the U.S. should learn English.

“Should we want to encourage newcomers to learn the language of the country that are moving to? Of course. Does that mean that they can never use their own language? No. Of course that doesn’t mean that,” Obama stated at a recent town hall held in Berlin, Germany.

“It’s not racist to say if you’re going to be here, then you should learn the language of the country that you just arrived at, because we need to have some sort of common language in which all of us can work and learn and understand each other,” Obama continued.

Some used that comment to criticize what they see as Democrats’ transformation into a party opposed to immigration enforcement.


https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/04/12/obama-says-its-ok-to-ask-immigrants-to-learn-english/23711095/

President Obama - always with the right nuance on a difficult subject.
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Love Obama, but too many who say that, mean it as hatred and a way to Hoyt Apr 2019 #1
Many want to learn, and attend ESL classes. It just makes life easier in most situations The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #2
Exactly. Hoyt Apr 2019 #3
And those who don't learn enough? Igel Apr 2019 #15
Exactly loyalsister Apr 2019 #7
That's the thing, those who want to hate are like water; they'll always find the bottom uponit7771 Apr 2019 #14
I agree with him. Doreen Apr 2019 #4
Uh no... uriel1972 Apr 2019 #10
OK, thanks for letting me know. Doreen Apr 2019 #12
If you go to China NewJeffCT Apr 2019 #18
I do too, since he said 'ask' not 'require' Amishman Apr 2019 #19
Teachers in CA were required to have ESL training to get a job BigmanPigman Apr 2019 #5
If the children don't speak English, the grandchildren will. hunter Apr 2019 #6
That's how I look at it. Newly arrived adults want to live with others of their culture if they can Hekate Apr 2019 #13
I should think that immigrants would be very motivated to learn the language of their new country. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #8
How about Republican Presidents ? W Bush and Trump ???? JI7 Apr 2019 #9
No, but it's racist to "be offended" by someone speaking another language in your presence meadowlander Apr 2019 #11
If I moved to a country with a language I didn't understand I would be eager to learn it. Vinca Apr 2019 #16
He is exactly right. We have the same issue in Germany. DFW Apr 2019 #17
"language of the country" WTF is that? aikoaiko Apr 2019 #20
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