First came the Jim Traber/Mark Rodgers tiff. Now, the state capitol is getting in the fighting mood. According to an Associated Press report:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, told the Tulsa World that Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, tried to pick a fight with him, using words to the effect, “I’ll whip your ass.”
Now, we can argue all day and night about the vast array of meanings a phrase like “I’ll whip your ass” can take on, but let’s just assume it was the most common usage. That means TheLostOgle.com’s favorite state congressman is not only a racist, but a bit of a bully. But, why was he so upset that he went after a member of his own party?
Oh, the usual. Terrill introduced a new, racist, bill** trying to outlaw Spanish being spoken anywhere at anytime, and the outcry caused Senator Anderson to get overloaded with calls from constituents attempting to persuade him to vote for the bill. Of course, that outcry was created by Terrill robocalling Anderson’s district begging like minded people to flood Anderson with calls. For his part, Anderson passed on those concerns to Representative Xenophobe by way of forwarding every single call to Terrill’s office, including a a call from Mrs. Anderson requesting that her husband pick up some tamales on the way home.
So, as one can see, it was a perfectly rational argument between two grown men. Regardless, we at TheLostOgle have been wondering why there has been a rash of scuffles lately. Then, we found out that they are all staged in promoting a local Battle Royale wrestling event. It made perfect sense when we uncovered the teams:
Team Ogle Team Wimgo
Mark Rodgers Jim Traber
Patrick Anderson Randy Terrill
Patrick Steve Hunt
Dixie Chicks^^ Toby Keith
Mike Gundy Jenni Carlson
Tony Sellars Bill Simonson
Good Taste Hinder
** Tony thinks the target of the bill is not actually Mexican immigrants, but The Oklahoman’s side project Viva Oklahoma!.
^^ The Dixie Chicks/Toby Keith feud was originally disqualified because the ladies are all from Texas. However, it was determined that because Natalie Maines’ husband once played a vampire from Oklahoma, they were reinstated.
I don’t even know where to begin. You’re political comprehension is sorely lacking. I don’t much care for Randy Terrill, but you greatly misunderstand the bill.
It will make English the official state language, just like 29 other states have done, including the enlightened liberals in Massachusetts, and Illinois, the same state that elected that WASP Barack Obama.*
You will still be free to speak Spanish, or any other language, including Klingon with the comic book store guy. This bill just means the state government won’t be forced to spend money translating things into the dozens of languages it currently translates things into at taxpayer expense. Oklahoma drivers are bad enough without adding drivers that can’t read the road signs because they got to take the test in a different language.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_in_the_United_States#Official_language_status
geeez. lighten up bob. Who pissed in your frijoles? When was the last time someone made you speak Spanish?
What, do you want to be stuck with that lame-ass Campbell’s chees soup tasting cheese sauce they serve at non-Mexican Tex-Mex restaurants. Give us fat boys a break.
On a nice note, I like the Arrested Development reference. I’m pretty sure English is already the official language of Oklahoma, so making it a law seems pretty useless.
I love when a person cites Wiki as a reliable source when trying to prove a point.
“This bill just means the state government won’t be forced to spend money translating things into the dozens of languages it currently translates things into at taxpayer expense.”
How can this bill not be xenophobic? If you don’t want to provide government services to illegal immigrants, then prohibit it. If you don’t want to provide gov’t services to Mexicans, then prohibit it. But to think the state is hemorraging money by translating documents is ludicrous.
Denying people services in their language doesn’t encourage the learning of English, it encourages foreigners to stay out of Oklahoma.
So if thats the case, can I get a Spanish version of the Lost Ogle site? Can someone translate for me?
Bob,
Thanks for correcting the rudimentary understanding of the bill that many of us share. Now, if I could have a minute to correct the rudimentary understanding of the words your and you’re that you seem to have, we can move on.
In the meantime, I for one don’t have a problem with some state services being provided in Spanish or any other language that reaches a critical mass in the state. It is prohibitive and impractical to translate all services into all languages, but last time I checked, 2 < all.
Blah, blah, huh?
I can see it now…. Some poor Mexican-Lithuanian that speaks no English is standing on the sidewalk next to the newly being built high-rise building trying to read the sign that says “Danger falling bricks”. What are they going to do with all the bi-lingual signs that we already have? Spend money to remove them? The bill makes no sense; just because someone doesn’t speak English doesn’t mean their illegal; wait for it…….IT MEANS THEY DON;T SPEAK ENGLISH!!
sigh
I just hope Traber does not come out in a singlet…
Reminds me of Preston Brooks’ attack on Charles Sumner back in 1856 when “Bloody Kansas” was heating up.
Hypothetical: I immigrate to France. I only speak English.
Common sense tells me I’d have to learn French to live, exist, & work in France. Learn the native language of where I live and work? No, French Big Brother needs to hold my hand and change an entire society for me. If the anti-English speakers in France oppose me, label them racist.
kenparker has brilliantly hit on the fear that is mongered by the fearmongerers: immigration forcing society to change.
I have a couple of thoughts about this. One is that a little change now and then is a good thing. The other is that immigration doesn’t make society change. Translating a social security application into Spanish doesn’t change society’s values, norms, or mores.
I find this so amusing. Those for official English say we should not worry because it doesn’t really do anything. If that is the case, why bother?
This is from the same group upset about Hispanics not assimilating withthe rest of society, so instead of responding with “come join us” they pass HB 1804 that says “go hide in the corners or we’ll come get you.”
The real topic should be about how embarrassing it would be to Toby Keith to have Natalie kick his arse.
I would also pay $100 to see Patrick take out Hunt.
I coming after you Hunt!
good lord. these people really have districts that voted for them? the “English only” proposal is a crock anyways. the lawmakers passed all these bills that used taxpayers money to convert a ton of government forms to other languages to do what? take it and now spend more money making everything English only? why can’t these “lawmakers” actually face topics that matter to the voters? maybe because they don’t know how.
There are times when I get really tired of defending the honor of my home state while trying to convince people that everyone who lives there doesn’t happen to be mean, stupid and white.
You might be interested to know who is helping Terrill write his bills. Look up FAIR who helped write HB1804 and U.S. English or ProEnglish who are sister organizations to FAIR. They are helping write SB163 (English as the official language). FAIR has just been listed as a hate group (like the KKK)by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Instead of allowing the hatemongers to flood the legislators’ phonelines, perhaps, we should call them and let them know with whom they are associating. Does Oklahoma really want to get in bed with people who believe in the forced sterilization of latino women? I don’t think so.
can’t we all just get along?
I don’t give a shit if someone wants to speak Spanish.
I don’t give a shit if someone wants to do business in pesos.
I don’t give a shit if someone wants to walk around waving the Mexican flag.
All that said, I can’t imagine why any immigrant wouldn’t want to learn English on their own, lest they regulate themselves (and their offspring) to the role of lawn care worker or dishwasher from now till eternity.
Nothing to add to the arguments above, but here’s a civics lesson for you. Randy Terrill in not a state congressman. We have seven members of Congress from Oklahoma: 2 US Senators and 5 US Representatives (although you usually call the Senators “Senators” and the Representatives “Congressman/woman”). Randy Terrill is a state representative. Althoug I’m sure he’s eyeing Cole’s seat . . .
I stand by referring to him a congressman. A member of the U.S. House of Representatives is a “congressman”, so I would say a member of the Oklahoma House of Representative is a “congressman”. If I’m wrong, my Gary have mercy on my soul.
One of my friends is a man of Mexican decent who was born in Oklahoma, has a doctorate in religious studies and is a college professor. He speaks English better than 99% (margin of error +/- 1) of the rednecks arguing to save the language of Shakespeare. He walked in a “Mexican Pride” parade and fended off attacks of “Go back where you came from!” and “Learn the language!” all day. I think what those people really meant was, “Stop being ethnic.” They can argue that they have grand desires of saving money, or protecting the country from terrorism, but I fully believe that if Oklahoma were being immigrated to by people from the North who would look just like any other Oklahoman until you saw them spelling words like “labor” with a u, Randy Terril would give two craps about policing the border.
no me gusta.
Ugh. I hate these kinds of arguments. However, it’s like crack and I can’t resist commenting.
But sorry Clark. Congress is the name of the legislative branch of the federal government. It includes both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
According to the state constitution, the title of the legislative branch in Oklahoma is collectively called the Legislature. It includes the state House and Senate. Terms for state lawmakers are lawmaker, representative, senator or even legislator. But most definitely not congressman.
Ugh. I feel dirty. Like I just corrected someone’s spelling.
I’m going to go crawl back into my hole and WIMGO!!!!
If this bill were to pass, would a be at risk of being arrested at the Taco Bell drive thru speaker? I hope so…….I like being naughty.
You know who should be pissed off about this debate? All the American Indians who certainly weren’t speaking English before a bunch of Europeans started landing here and dictating everything. I didn’t see a lot of effort by those folks to learn the native language.
We have a word for that in English: hypocrisy, hy*poc*ri*sy — a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
In Spanish it looks like this: hypocrisia
I’d give you a translation in one of the plains indian languages, but shockingly I can’t find one online.
how about a law requiring that every oklahoman be able to speak at least 2 languages. then, instead of being ignorant rednecks, people like randy terrill could be multi-lingual rednecks.
jc, it’s a start!
It’s funny that we just celebrated our centennial when it feels like its the late 1800’s and the hispanic community has suddenly become the 6th civilized tribe. Randy Terrill is just a wannabe Andrew Jackson. Whats his next move make all the Mexican people walk a new and improved Trail of Tears back to Mexico?? Lets send him to Mexico and find out how long it takes for him to learn Spanish..