Proposition 227 (was Re: NP Ebonics)

[S.R. Prozak]

> "Culture" isn't just food, music and festivals. That's tokenism. Language
> and culture are inseparable. Wiping out a language is one of the strategies
> of genocide and imperialism.

Also, genetics are part of culture, right?

> Of course people in a "free" society must be free to speak African-American
> English, or Spanish, or whatever,

We live in a capitalist society. This is what does and will dictate what will be spoken. You want to speak Ebonics, or >339 1337, you'd better be a rapper or you'll stay in the ghetto.

(Obviously, I am not endorsing this.)

> The fact that people speak a
> language other than English as their first or chosen language does not mean
> that they're stupid, or that they can't learn to understand and use
> "standard" English to communicate in formal and informal contexts. But
> appropriate educational programs - and that includes acknowledging and
> respecting individual and cultural identities, and cultural diversity - need
> to be provided to ensure that they get the chance to do this.

Here we go into the world of political opinion, and I will dissent. Night school has always existed, and every immigrant group coming here has learned how to pick up English. If some groups are unwilling to do that, they should suffer for being less willing -or- less capable than previous immigrant groups.

> A society which institutionalises failure and exclusion for individuals from
> certain backgrounds - whether on the basis of religion, skin colour, wealth,
> language ability, migration status, IQ or whatever - is far from democratic.

I'd like to exclude retards from government.

That's undemocratic.

What to do?


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