Learning foreign languages is a good thing, the two leading candidates for the Democratic Party's nomination have said! Neither of them speaks any language other than English. I wish they did or would at least try. Learning to speak the language of the donkey in indeed a difficult undertaking. The Democrat party is far more diverse that the Republicans ever thought about being. Cities like New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles have citizens from all over the world. Imagine this, when the white man came to America the Native American population here spoke over 270 different languages. People have come to America from every country in the world. I know of members in my own family that em migrated to America speaking some other language other than English, and I have had a member of my family fight in every war that America has ever fought. These include two world wars. I take pride in knowing that a Democrat was president of the US when both of those World Wars were fought. I personally don't believe that a Republican could have won those wars, without taking twice as long and costing twice as much. America learned in our most recent conflict with Iraq that our military forces had a shortage of speakers of Arabic. In my next 3 children's books I have made an effort to refocus public education's interest in our English speaking children learning a second language and our non-English speaking children learning to speak English as a second language. It is the language of the donkey.
America has a new largest minority it is no longer the African American population of our country that makes up the larges minority group. It is important to remember that many of the black people that came from Africa as slaves spoke one of more than the 500 languages of Africa. The Democratic Party was there for black people and helped them secure all of their civil rights that they enjoy today and made it possible for them to participate in the democratic process. Today, the language of the donkey is clearly Spanish. Whether the new immigrants come from Spain, South America or Mexico or perhaps Cuba they are joined together and bound by a common language. We are doing our nation and our fellow Americans no favor by avoiding the issue. Should America have an official language? Should English be made mandatory? Should efforts be made to educate English speaking only public officials in Spanish? Who is going to pay for this? These are issues that are already coming to the forefront and need to be given some serious consideration.
As might be expected in a debate aimed partly at Spanish-speaking voters, Senator & Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Barack Obama were asked about bilingualism in the United States. I too wanted to hear answers to these questions. Although the two avoided the issue of the extent to which Spanish (or any other non-English language) should have legal recognition, they agreed that English is and should be a unifying language but that it is commendable to learn another language. I have to tell you Republicans have been more supportive of this with regard to my questions, with the exception of Tom Tancredo, who is an idiot in my opinion! Republicans have opinions and freely express them. Senator Bob Dole endorsed my book in Russian and English. Former Congressman Bob Schaffer endorsed my book in Spanish and Chinese, which Democrats have, avoided this like the plague. Except those politicians from days gone by or those from the state of Idaho, few really want to talk about this issue. It is an issue I will continue to press. During the Texas debate we did hear from the Democrats.Hillary Clinton's comments: I think it's important for as many Americans as possible to do what I have never been able to do, and that is learn another language and try to be bilingual because that connects us to the rest of the world. ... I represent New York. We have 170 languages in New York City alone. I do not think that we should be, in any way, discriminating against people who do not speak English, who use facilities like hospitals or have to go to court to enforce their rights. But I do think that English does remain an important part of the American experience. So I encourage people to become bilingual. But I also want to see English remain the common, unifying language of our country.
So long a she doesn't have to do anything why stir up trouble?
And Barack Obama's: Well, I think it is important that everyone learns English and that we have that process of binding ourselves together as a country. I think that's very important. I also think that every student should be learning a second language. ... I want to make sure that children who are coming out of Spanish-speaking households had the opportunity to learn and are not falling behind. If bilingual education helps them do that, I want to give them the opportunity. But I also want to make sure that English-speaking children are getting foreign languages because this world is becoming more interdependent and part of the process of America's continued leadership in the world is going to be our capacity to communicate across boundaries, across borders, and that's something frankly where we've fallen behind. He said he would in fact support providing more money to go to teaching second languages in public education.
1. Learning English is a good thing. 2. Learning a second language IS in the best interest of our children! Helping children learn whatever they need to learn is good and avoid creating new problems for them even better. Helping English speaking children learn a second language and encouraging that is a great idea and I appreciate that very much. To recognize that NOT being able to communicate with others around the world is GREAT, and right on the mark in my humble opinion. Helping to fund to get at the problem is even better still....again Obama scores!!!
This issue didn't come up at Republican debates during the past year except in the context of immigration reform. The Republican nominee, John McCain has historically objected to efforts at restricting uses of languages other than English. But at a debate held in New Hampshire last year, he didn't object to the concept of "official English." He was the only candidate who qualified his position, though, pointing out with apparent approval that Navajos in his own state frequently hold official meetings in their own language. I like the fact that he is paying attention to languages especially Native American languages. Any effort to make English the "official" language or encouraging English only is stupid and hateful!
I would like to close with this thought: Spaniards brought the donkey or burro to North America probably first to Mexico. The hearty and stubborn little guy then made his way across the border into the United States of America. Clearly the language of the donkey in 2008 is Spanish. If you don't believe me ask Barack Obama how it felt to lose both California and Texas. To some extent my friends we are going to have to address this issue. In my humble opinion the best and most sane thing to do is to recognize our party's mascot for what he IS! At the 2008 convention I would like to see the delegates vote on making him the official mascot of the democratic party and in doing so pledge their support to resolve once and for all the issue of language as they attempt to reform our immigration policies. I like the ideas of Senator Barack Obama on this issue. I listened with care to what he had to say on the issue in the Texas debate. It is my hope that if nothing else you will consider this issue and imagine that you are in an Arabic speaking country or Chinese speaking country or Russian speaking country and that everything you say in English falls upon uncomprehending ears. All the signs you attempt to read are unintelligible to you. You can't even find the men's or women's room. Feel the stress, feel the pressure and resolve to take the bull by the horns or perhaps more clearly said the donkey by the ears.
Richard A Payne
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Kudos to McCain/ The "middle name" issue
Dear Blog Readers:
James ("Jim") J. Zogby From a Christian Lebanese family, Zogby received a bachelor's degree from Le Moyne College, he earned his PhD in Islamic studies from Temple University, in 1975. In 1976, at Princeton University, he was a National Endowment for the Humanities post-doctoral fellow and a very smart man to be sure!
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Zogby was a founding member and leader of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Save Lebanon, Inc. I respect him for his stand for WORLD PEACE!!
As co-president of Builders for Peace, Zogby promoted US-Arab business investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Then United States Vice President Al Gore tapped Zogby to help lead the effort in 1993, following the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord in Washington. The next year, Zogby led a US delegation to the signing of the agreement in Cairo, Egypt, along with his Builders co-president, former US Congressman Mel Levine. I have advocated for Peace in the Middle East since the 1970's and have long questioned America's blind support of Israel knowing that they displaced Palestinian people who did nothing to them except live in the place they wanted.
Since 1992, Zogby has written a weekly column on American politics for major Arab newspapers,'Washington Watch', and authored a number of books, including What Ethnic Americans Really Think and What Arabs Think: Values, Beliefs and Concerns. He also blogs at The Huffington Post. I agree with much of what he has to say!
In 1995, Zogby was elected as co-convener of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council (NDECC). Zogby also serves on the Human Rights Watch Middle East Advisory Committee and on the national advisory boards of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Forum, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. If Al Gore likes him that makes im A.O.K. in my book!
Zogby's ancestors immigrated from Lebanon. He is married to Eileen Patricia McMahon and is the father of five children. I also admire a man who has a nice sized family and trys to make the American Dream come true!
Some of us would do very well to remember: America's good friend Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan (November 14, 1935 – February 7, 1999) was the ruler of Jordan since his father, King Talal, abdicated in 1952, until his death. Hussein guided his country through the volatile Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict, successfully balancing the pressures of Arab nationalism and the allure of Western-style development against the stark reality of Jordan's geographic location. While Hussein IS Barack Obama's middle name making fun of it is just plain stupid. It is the act of a stupid minded child, not a grown up person!
I feel the need to say this! All together now: Barack HUSSEIN Obama. Barack HUSSEIN Obama. Repeat as many times as you need until that middle name loses its shock value. For most normal Americans, once ought to be enough. Republicans seem to be unable to get enough of it. Who said elephants never forget?
We hold to the belief that any boy and girl can grow up to be president of this democracy, no matter what name their parents give them. But some opponents of the Illinois Democrat's presidential bid are pushing the idea that someone with a foreign-sounding name — especially a Muslim-sounding name — is not to be trusted. How sophomoric. How provincial. How racist. As a liberal Yellow-dog Democrat I have, for my entire adult life fought this sort of thinking.
Mr. Obama gave these rubbish peddlers more ammunition by being photographed dressed in Somali garb when he visited Africa a couple of years ago, going native as so many globe-trotting politicians do, but again the simple minded jumped on this. Nobody thought Calvin Coolidge was a Native American when he wore a head-dress.
See, his enemies insinuate, he's different, someone to fear. When this tempest in a teapot boiled over, we thought of the famous photograph of Calvin Coolidge in a war bonnet and wondered if any voters back in the 1920s who might have unjustly held American Indians in ill repute thought the less of Silent Cal and his campaign get-up. Nobody outside of the Ku Klux Klan, we wager. You would think the stupid assholes would remember what Bush and his fear mongering got us.
I do give Sen. John McCain (R) Az. credit for trying to quash this campaign nonsense. A conservative radio talk show host, Bill Cunningham (a true mental midget), recruited by local McCain boosters to warm up the crowd at the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's rally in Cincinnati Tuesday night, mounted a personal attack against Mr. Obama that included liberal use of "Hussein," which he called "a proud Muslim name." Never mind that Mr. Obama is a longtime member of the United Church of Christ, a Protestant denomination. I got about 7 emails from people who believed Obama is a Muslim deserving our fear and concern...to which I replied bullshit!
Mr. McCain, who was not present at the time, later said, "I absolutely repudiate such comments ... It will never happen again." Mr. McCain has noted that there are plenty of substantive issues that can be used to draw a sharp line between him and the Democratic nominee, either Mr. Obama or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton . Good for you, Mr. McCain. In case you didn't hear that...
Good for you, Mr. McCain!!!
A middle name is a non-issue, this coming from a guy who grew up with the name Dick Payne, so forgive me if I don't laugh!
Wishing you love!
Richard A. Payne
Monday, February 25, 2008
MY FIRST DONKEY BLOG
This is my first official donkey blog and I want to get started with a recap and some of the basic reasoning behind my effort.
My earliest memory of the donkey was of a neighbor's little burro. His name was Franklin and he was a cute little fellow who loved to roll in the dust. He would come to the fence and get carrots and apples if you wanted to pet him. He was about 45 inches tall and had very big ears. Donkeys are very different from a horse and I love both animals very much.
Donkeys differ somewhat from horses in conformation. The most noticeable difference is of course the ears. Donkeys' ears are MUCH longer in proportion to their size than a horse's. The necks are characteristically straighter in the long-ears, and most donkeys' lack a true wither. The croup and rump are also a different shape in the donkey and its hybrids, lacking the double-curve muscled haunch. The back is straighter due to the lack of withers. Dipped loins or severely swayed backs are a conformation fault,unless in old animals or brood Jennies (females) who have produced many foals, and not due to genetic factors. Donkeys have developed very loud vocalizations, which help keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide spaces of the desert. The best-known call is referred to a "bray," which can be heard for over three kilometers. I think the animal is really very cute.
The mane and tail in the donkey are coarse. The mane is stiff and upright, rarely laying over and the tail is more like a cow's, covered with short body hair for most of the length, and ending in a tasseled switch. Donkeys do not have a true forelock, although sometimes the mane grows long enough to comb down between the ears toward the eyes. Because the mane is stiff and sometimes flyaway, many donkeys, especially show stock, wear their manes clipped short or shaved close to the neck. I have a Native American friend who makes beautiful horse hair baskets from the main and tail, I will try to get some donkey main and tail hair and have her make me a donkey hair
basket.
Hoof shape varies as well; donkey hooves are smaller and rounder, with more upright pasterns. The legs should have good bone, but many donkeys of common breeding may appear to have long thin legs with tiny feet. Good legs and feet are essential for breeding Mules (half horse and half donkey), as a good foot is much preferable to a large body on tiny stick legs and feet. My grandfather Payne bought and sold livestock and was a big fan of both mules and donkeys or so I was told by my Aunt Sylvia. I am named after him and maybe I began my interest in them due to his interest in them. In any event I am hooked on them now.
Here is an important point for you to also consider when reading my blog. I live in a state, bearing a Spanish name, Colorado, which in Spanish means "color red". For over 40 years things Spanish interest me. It was the Spanish who brought donkeys, called "burros" in Spanish, to North America, where they were prized for their hardiness in arid country and became the beast of burden of choice by early prospectors in the Southwest United States. In the western United States the word "burro" is often used
interchangeably with the word "donkey" by English speakers. Sometimes the distinction is made with smaller donkeys, descended from Mexican stock,called "burros," while those descended from stock imported directly from Europe are called "donkeys." It is an idea that plays a part in my effort and this project. The wild burros (or more accurately, feral burros) on the western rangelands descend from animals that ran away, were abandoned, or were freed. Wild burros in the United States were protected by Public Law 92-195, The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. I strongly
support that protection! These animals are the unofficial mascot of my beloved Democrat Party after all! Wild burros can make good pets when treated well and trained properly. They are very clever and curious. When trust has been established, they appreciate, and even seek, attention and grooming. I have meet many burro owners doing this project and they all share a deep love and respect for these little animals.
Something else I want to mention I was baptized an Episcopalian in 1955 and at 21 (1974) converted to the Roman Catholic faith. I attend Mass on Sundays and consider myself a practicing Roman Catholic. I have never liked people connecting the idea of being Christian with being Republican, many Democrats are Christians and for me the idea that The Expectant Blessed Virgin Mary being carried on the back of a donkey pleases me very much. That it was a donkey and NOT an elephant pleases me even more so. It is something Christian Democrats would do well to remember. Too, there are numerous references to the donkey ("hamor" or "chamor") in the Hebrew Bible,
(Christian Old Testament). It mostly appears reflecting the natural environment of Israel and as an aspect of the agricultural economy. Ownership of many donkeys is a sign of God's blessing. The Bible often specifies whether a person rode donkeys, since this was used to indicate a person's wealth in much the same way luxury cars do today. (Horses at that time were used solely for war, powerful kings such as Solomon being the only ones who could afford to import them from Egypt.) As a Democrat this too pleases me very much. In Genesis the King of Shechem (the modern Nablus), killed by Jacob's sons, is called "Hamor" - showing that at the time this animal was held in high enough esteem that it was no disrespect for royalty to use its name as their first name. In Numbers 22:22-41 "The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey" (vs. 28) and it speaks to Balaam. In Judges 15:13-17 where the hero Samson slays Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Additional references can be found in Deuteronomy 22:10, Job 11:12, Proverbs 26:3 and elsewhere. The most common Greek word for ass appears roughly 100 times in the Biblical text. In the Gospels, Jesus rides a donkey into
Jerusalem (Mark 11:1 in which colt refers to a donkey colt). I believe this gives Democrats every reason to take great pride in their mascot and in their Christian beliefs. As a Roman Catholic traditionally, Mary is portrayed as riding a donkey while pregnant, for me this is an image I like very much, and feel strongly that for this reason our political party should maintain this tradition of respect for women, children born and unborn, and I do, but that is an issue better addressed in another forum. Legend has it that the cross on the donkey's shoulders comes from the shadow of Christ's crucifixion, placing the donkey at the foot of the cross; this is also an
image as a Christian Democrat that is special to me. It was once believed that hair cut from this cross and hung from a child's neck in a bag would prevent fits and convulsions. I only mention it because I value it.
In both Jewish and Christian traditions, the messiah (Jesus Christ in the later case) was often described as riding on a donkey. He never rode an elephant anywhere in the bible. As noted, in the context of the Hebrew Bible this connoted wealth and affluence befitting the House of David, as at the time commoners are described as simply going on foot. However, in later times when the aristocracy used horses, depicting the messiah as riding a donkey came to have an opposite connotation, as indicating a simple, sober way of life and avoiding luxury. The same connotation is evident in the description of saints such as Francis of Assisi as riding donkeys. I took the confirmation of Francis because of my love and respect for Francis of Assisi. It was hearing so much about the Religious Right and so many slams of the Liberal Left (where I tend to stand) that was my original push to start talking about the donkey as the mascot of the Democrat Party.
When I learned the donkey had NEVER been officially vote on by Democrats I wondered why that was and I started looking.
When you look in encyclopedias you often see miners in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and even Alaska with their faithful and hard working donkey or burro. The Democrat Party is the party of Labor Unions and America's working class, and the donkey is a perfect mascot for them.
I learned that farmers and ranchers put donkeys in herds of sheep, goats, baby cattle and horses, because it will watch out for predators and protect other animals. Many of fox or coyote has died from a donkey's kick! It will not go into a mine with bad air, and its stubborn nature has saved many lives of hard working miners. That it will fight and be stubborn when it needs to be appeals to me also.
When I learned that my state party organization used the donkey but had never voted and made it official, I wrote a resolution and worked to get it passed in 2006! In the state of Colorado I am happy to report it is officially "our" mascot! I had worked with the Mexican-American population in Colorado for 20 years, and went to a Mexican-American Catholic Church and was asked to research and write its history. I was joined in that effort by a Mr. Eduardo Mario Fuerte, whose family helped to build the church in the 1920's, who for three or four generations lived and grew up in the area. He asked me if he could join me in the Donkey-Resolution project and of course
I had no problem with that. He had his own reasons. I had also worked with him on a project called the Poudre River Trust and knew him to be a good and honest fellow who I could trust. I was glad I did because as we talked about it made a great deal of sense to me.
I am a language arts teacher and so am fascinated by how and why people learn our English language but other languages as well. The next three books I will publish play with language, the first one coming out in March of 2008 is written in two or more languages. As a teacher this is something I want to encourage, but as a political matter it is of interest to me as well. I am against "English Only" but could support English as an official language, if it was tied to a bill that would encourage our students to learn a second language of their choice. Barack Obama talked about that in the Texas debate and it pleased me greatly. He clearly has the right idea. Learning a second language helps a student better understand their own language and tends to raise overall test scores. It is good for kids and good for America. 42.7 million people in our country in 12005 came from Spanish speaking families, and Spanish is the most common taught secondary language in the public
schools. It is important to think about the estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2005, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 14 percent of the nation's total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.) I would like to attract them into the Democrat Party and this was in the back of my mind also when I started this project to get an animal that came to America from Mexico made the official mascot of my party.
Eduardo Mario Fuerte had a mother who was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, but was Mexican in terms of her bloodline. His was an illegal emigrate from Mexico. Ed was born and raised in Fort Collins. He wanted me to consider the economics of it. "They (illegal aliens) pay rent, buy groceries, buy clothes...what happens to our country's economy if those 20 million people go away?" Mr. Fuerte asks me.
That's a good question it deserves a good answer. I understand too, after 9/11 why over 80 percent of Americans demand secured borders and illegal migration stopped. But what would happen if all 20 million or more vacated America? The answers may surprise you, but they are dog gone sure worth some serious thought!
In California (where I used to leave before Colorado), if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico, it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupted hospitals and overrun prisons. It would leave highways cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone could understand one another as English became the dominate language again. That is the good news, but the truth is that we might not have enough people to do the jobs that they currently do and if we did, the increased labor cost might drive those businesses under.
In Colorado, 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and grand-kids would move back "home," mostly to Mexico. That would save Coloradans an estimated $2 billion (other experts say $7 BIL) annually in taxes that pay for schooling, medical, social-services and incarceration costs. It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone. Colorado would save more than $20 million in prison costs, and the terror that those 7,300 alien criminals set upon local citizens. Denver Officer Don Young and hundreds of Colorado victims would not have suffered death, accidents, rapes and other crimes by illegals.
Denver Public Schools would not suffer a 67 percent drop out/flunk out rate via thousands of illegal alien students speaking 41 different languages. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from our gridlocked cities in Colorado. Denver's four percent unemployment rate would vanish as our working poor would gain jobs at a living wage., but there would be increased labor costs and in some cases labor shortages that would drive some businesses under. In Florida, 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America, the rule of law and English. In Chicago, Illinois, 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience. The same question remains unanswered
who would and at what cost would the work they do be covered.
If 20 million illegal aliens returned "home" -- there is good and there is bad, but a larger question must also be answered. They come to America in search of a better life. They have found a better life, exactly how do you plan to force them out and at what expense? Could it be done even if you wanted to?
If 20 million illegal aliens returned "home," the U.S. economy would return to the rule of law. Employers would hire legal American citizens at a living wage. Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn't be working off the books. That would result in an additional $401 billion in IRS income taxes collected annually, and an equal amount for local state and city coffers. It looks good on the surface but is it possible? I am forced to ask the question too, is it a moral thing to even attempt?
No more push '1' for Spanish or '2' for English. No more confusion in American schools that now must content with over 100 languages that degrade the educational system for American kids, if you buy that argument, which sure has some holes in it. Our overcrowded schools would lose more than two million illegal alien kids at a cost of billions in ESL and free breakfasts and lunches, as an English teacher I am tempted to consider this, but I want more facts to prove these arguments and I want to hear the other side of the issue from those who know it best, more on that later.
We would lose 500,000 illegal criminal alien inmates at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. That includes 15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs annually would vacate our country. In cities like L.A., 20,000 members of the "18th Street Gang" would vanish from our nation. No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft from Americans! No more foreign rapists and child molesters! I have to confess this sounds so very good to me.
Losing more than 20 million people would clear up our crowded highways and gridlock. Cleaner air and less drinking and driving American deaths by illegal aliens! Making sure they get legal driving licenses is a good first step.
Over $80 billion annually wouldn't return to their home countries by cash transfers. Illegal migrants earned half that money untaxed, which further drains America's economy which currently suffers an $8.7 trillion debt. I would like to see this stopped but wonder how friendly we could expect Mexico to be if we stopped putting $80 billion annually into their economy and how would that impact drug traffic and criminal activity along the border?
At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country, costing us $109 billion per year per cycle. At least 86 hospitals in California, Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupted out of existence because illegals pay nothing via the EMTOLA Act. Americans wouldn't suffer thousands of TB and hepatitis cases rampant in our country-brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders. It is clear we have to secure our borders.
Our cities would see 20 million less people driving, polluting and grid locking our cities. It would also put the "progressives" on the horns of a dilemma; illegal aliens and their families cause 11 percent of our greenhouse gases. This too appeals to me!
Over one million of Mexico's poorest citizens now live inside and along our border from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California in what the New York Times called, "colonias" or new neighborhoods. Trouble is, those living areas resemble Bombay and Calcutta where grinding poverty, filth, diseases, drugs, crimes, no sanitation and worse. They live without sewage, clean water, streets, electricity, roads or any kind of sanitation. The New York Times reported them to be America's new "Third World" inside our own country. Within 20 years, at their current growth rate, they expect 20
million residents of those colonias. (I've seen them personally in Texas and Arizona; it's sickening beyond anything you can imagine.) By enforcing our laws, we could repatriate them back to Mexico. We are a nation of laws! Isn't that an idea worth preservation?
The bigger question is how do you do this? How do you just pick and return 20 million people is it even possible? What would it cost? How fast could it really be done? What is the most humane way of doing this? I understand the reasons for wanting to do it, but the cost of doing it seems really really high. I am a man who wants to know more information; the problem is for that part of it is getting those Spanish speaking people to the table to talk with us. We need to communicate with them to work through this. It seems to me that language is the biggest single barrier to that ever happening at any cost. Eduardo Fuerte is a business major in college, already holding one business degree and seeking a second. He sees the donkey as a mascot that
they can rally under with pride and help resolve these issues in a fair and humane way. It is an idea that has reason and logic behind it. It really doesn't matter which side of the issue you come down on, questions and answers have to come, and language is preventing that. I want us to deal with the language issue first, because it makes the most sense. Encourage them to learn English and have as many of us learn Spanish as possible. In fact learn any second language! Fighting this war in Iraq taught us we need more people who can speak Arabic. Dealing increasingly with China taught us we need more people who can speak Chinese. The cold war suggested a need for Russian speakers and I would argue still do.
Do you want to know what translating three books I have written in English into Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish has taught me? Translation assumes that humanity has some finite collection of meanings in common and that each language has a word for each meaning. Actually, of course, words denote things people have noticed, and different peoples have noticed different things.
As a teacher I know that learning a second language is important! In addition to developing a lifelong ability to communicate with more people, children may derive other benefits from early language instruction, including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills. Knowing a second language ultimately provides a competitive advantage in the work force by opening up additional job opportunities.
Students of foreign languages score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. In its 1992 report, College Bound Seniors: The 1992 Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board reported that students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area. In addition, the average mathematics score for individuals who had taken 4 or more years of foreign language study was identical to the score of those who had studied the same number of years of mathematics. These findings are consistent with College Board profiles for previous years.
Students of foreign languages have access to a greater number of career possibilities and develop a deeper understanding of their own and other cultures. Some evidence also suggests that children who receive second language instruction are more creative and better at solving complex problems. The benefits to society are many. Americans fluent in other languages enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, improve global
communication, and maintain our political and security interests. In most cases, learning another language enhances a child's English ability. Children can learn much about English by learning the structure of other languages. Common vocabulary also helps children learn the meaning of new words in English. Experimental studies have shown that no long-term delay in native English language development occurs between children participating in second language immersion classes and those schooled exclusively in English.
Children enrolled in foreign language programs score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. A number of reports have demonstrated that children who have learned a second language earn higher SAT scores, particularly on the verbal section of the test. One study showed that by the fifth year of an immersion program, students outperform all comparison groups and remain high academic achievers throughout their schooling.
How do we invite Spanish speakers to the table if we can not speak their language? Having a mascot that they can respect and identify with as something from their culture might be a start. Eduardo thinks so and who am I to argue? I only KNOW we need them at the table if we are going to talk about SECURE BORDERS, THE DRUG ISSUE, GANGS AND JEVENILE CRIME, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, and IMMIGRATION REFORM in a meaningful way.
Too, I just feel rather strongly that we can unify under the issue of making our mascot official as a party. This is rather long for a first blog, but I had a lot to say and it needed said! I borrowed facts and information from hundreds of sources, but I accepted and choose to believe them and in most cases can not longer remember who they are or where I got them. I thank them and freely admit some of these ideas are mine via some other person who I respected and listened too. It is not meant to be a scholarly piece or I would go back and find them and cite them for you. It is my first blog as to why I am working so hard to get the donkey made the official mascot of my party. They are the factors that went into my thinking. Issues that I am
interested in and am trying hard to grasp and somehow see in relationship to my donkey. I think he, the donkey, is a perfect mascot! I would appreciate your help and ideas and thought.
My earliest memory of the donkey was of a neighbor's little burro. His name was Franklin and he was a cute little fellow who loved to roll in the dust. He would come to the fence and get carrots and apples if you wanted to pet him. He was about 45 inches tall and had very big ears. Donkeys are very different from a horse and I love both animals very much.
Donkeys differ somewhat from horses in conformation. The most noticeable difference is of course the ears. Donkeys' ears are MUCH longer in proportion to their size than a horse's. The necks are characteristically straighter in the long-ears, and most donkeys' lack a true wither. The croup and rump are also a different shape in the donkey and its hybrids, lacking the double-curve muscled haunch. The back is straighter due to the lack of withers. Dipped loins or severely swayed backs are a conformation fault,unless in old animals or brood Jennies (females) who have produced many foals, and not due to genetic factors. Donkeys have developed very loud vocalizations, which help keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide spaces of the desert. The best-known call is referred to a "bray," which can be heard for over three kilometers. I think the animal is really very cute.
The mane and tail in the donkey are coarse. The mane is stiff and upright, rarely laying over and the tail is more like a cow's, covered with short body hair for most of the length, and ending in a tasseled switch. Donkeys do not have a true forelock, although sometimes the mane grows long enough to comb down between the ears toward the eyes. Because the mane is stiff and sometimes flyaway, many donkeys, especially show stock, wear their manes clipped short or shaved close to the neck. I have a Native American friend who makes beautiful horse hair baskets from the main and tail, I will try to get some donkey main and tail hair and have her make me a donkey hair
basket.
Hoof shape varies as well; donkey hooves are smaller and rounder, with more upright pasterns. The legs should have good bone, but many donkeys of common breeding may appear to have long thin legs with tiny feet. Good legs and feet are essential for breeding Mules (half horse and half donkey), as a good foot is much preferable to a large body on tiny stick legs and feet. My grandfather Payne bought and sold livestock and was a big fan of both mules and donkeys or so I was told by my Aunt Sylvia. I am named after him and maybe I began my interest in them due to his interest in them. In any event I am hooked on them now.
Here is an important point for you to also consider when reading my blog. I live in a state, bearing a Spanish name, Colorado, which in Spanish means "color red". For over 40 years things Spanish interest me. It was the Spanish who brought donkeys, called "burros" in Spanish, to North America, where they were prized for their hardiness in arid country and became the beast of burden of choice by early prospectors in the Southwest United States. In the western United States the word "burro" is often used
interchangeably with the word "donkey" by English speakers. Sometimes the distinction is made with smaller donkeys, descended from Mexican stock,called "burros," while those descended from stock imported directly from Europe are called "donkeys." It is an idea that plays a part in my effort and this project. The wild burros (or more accurately, feral burros) on the western rangelands descend from animals that ran away, were abandoned, or were freed. Wild burros in the United States were protected by Public Law 92-195, The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. I strongly
support that protection! These animals are the unofficial mascot of my beloved Democrat Party after all! Wild burros can make good pets when treated well and trained properly. They are very clever and curious. When trust has been established, they appreciate, and even seek, attention and grooming. I have meet many burro owners doing this project and they all share a deep love and respect for these little animals.
Something else I want to mention I was baptized an Episcopalian in 1955 and at 21 (1974) converted to the Roman Catholic faith. I attend Mass on Sundays and consider myself a practicing Roman Catholic. I have never liked people connecting the idea of being Christian with being Republican, many Democrats are Christians and for me the idea that The Expectant Blessed Virgin Mary being carried on the back of a donkey pleases me very much. That it was a donkey and NOT an elephant pleases me even more so. It is something Christian Democrats would do well to remember. Too, there are numerous references to the donkey ("hamor" or "chamor") in the Hebrew Bible,
(Christian Old Testament). It mostly appears reflecting the natural environment of Israel and as an aspect of the agricultural economy. Ownership of many donkeys is a sign of God's blessing. The Bible often specifies whether a person rode donkeys, since this was used to indicate a person's wealth in much the same way luxury cars do today. (Horses at that time were used solely for war, powerful kings such as Solomon being the only ones who could afford to import them from Egypt.) As a Democrat this too pleases me very much. In Genesis the King of Shechem (the modern Nablus), killed by Jacob's sons, is called "Hamor" - showing that at the time this animal was held in high enough esteem that it was no disrespect for royalty to use its name as their first name. In Numbers 22:22-41 "The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey" (vs. 28) and it speaks to Balaam. In Judges 15:13-17 where the hero Samson slays Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Additional references can be found in Deuteronomy 22:10, Job 11:12, Proverbs 26:3 and elsewhere. The most common Greek word for ass appears roughly 100 times in the Biblical text. In the Gospels, Jesus rides a donkey into
Jerusalem (Mark 11:1 in which colt refers to a donkey colt). I believe this gives Democrats every reason to take great pride in their mascot and in their Christian beliefs. As a Roman Catholic traditionally, Mary is portrayed as riding a donkey while pregnant, for me this is an image I like very much, and feel strongly that for this reason our political party should maintain this tradition of respect for women, children born and unborn, and I do, but that is an issue better addressed in another forum. Legend has it that the cross on the donkey's shoulders comes from the shadow of Christ's crucifixion, placing the donkey at the foot of the cross; this is also an
image as a Christian Democrat that is special to me. It was once believed that hair cut from this cross and hung from a child's neck in a bag would prevent fits and convulsions. I only mention it because I value it.
In both Jewish and Christian traditions, the messiah (Jesus Christ in the later case) was often described as riding on a donkey. He never rode an elephant anywhere in the bible. As noted, in the context of the Hebrew Bible this connoted wealth and affluence befitting the House of David, as at the time commoners are described as simply going on foot. However, in later times when the aristocracy used horses, depicting the messiah as riding a donkey came to have an opposite connotation, as indicating a simple, sober way of life and avoiding luxury. The same connotation is evident in the description of saints such as Francis of Assisi as riding donkeys. I took the confirmation of Francis because of my love and respect for Francis of Assisi. It was hearing so much about the Religious Right and so many slams of the Liberal Left (where I tend to stand) that was my original push to start talking about the donkey as the mascot of the Democrat Party.
When I learned the donkey had NEVER been officially vote on by Democrats I wondered why that was and I started looking.
When you look in encyclopedias you often see miners in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and even Alaska with their faithful and hard working donkey or burro. The Democrat Party is the party of Labor Unions and America's working class, and the donkey is a perfect mascot for them.
I learned that farmers and ranchers put donkeys in herds of sheep, goats, baby cattle and horses, because it will watch out for predators and protect other animals. Many of fox or coyote has died from a donkey's kick! It will not go into a mine with bad air, and its stubborn nature has saved many lives of hard working miners. That it will fight and be stubborn when it needs to be appeals to me also.
When I learned that my state party organization used the donkey but had never voted and made it official, I wrote a resolution and worked to get it passed in 2006! In the state of Colorado I am happy to report it is officially "our" mascot! I had worked with the Mexican-American population in Colorado for 20 years, and went to a Mexican-American Catholic Church and was asked to research and write its history. I was joined in that effort by a Mr. Eduardo Mario Fuerte, whose family helped to build the church in the 1920's, who for three or four generations lived and grew up in the area. He asked me if he could join me in the Donkey-Resolution project and of course
I had no problem with that. He had his own reasons. I had also worked with him on a project called the Poudre River Trust and knew him to be a good and honest fellow who I could trust. I was glad I did because as we talked about it made a great deal of sense to me.
I am a language arts teacher and so am fascinated by how and why people learn our English language but other languages as well. The next three books I will publish play with language, the first one coming out in March of 2008 is written in two or more languages. As a teacher this is something I want to encourage, but as a political matter it is of interest to me as well. I am against "English Only" but could support English as an official language, if it was tied to a bill that would encourage our students to learn a second language of their choice. Barack Obama talked about that in the Texas debate and it pleased me greatly. He clearly has the right idea. Learning a second language helps a student better understand their own language and tends to raise overall test scores. It is good for kids and good for America. 42.7 million people in our country in 12005 came from Spanish speaking families, and Spanish is the most common taught secondary language in the public
schools. It is important to think about the estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2005, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 14 percent of the nation's total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.) I would like to attract them into the Democrat Party and this was in the back of my mind also when I started this project to get an animal that came to America from Mexico made the official mascot of my party.
Eduardo Mario Fuerte had a mother who was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, but was Mexican in terms of her bloodline. His was an illegal emigrate from Mexico. Ed was born and raised in Fort Collins. He wanted me to consider the economics of it. "They (illegal aliens) pay rent, buy groceries, buy clothes...what happens to our country's economy if those 20 million people go away?" Mr. Fuerte asks me.
That's a good question it deserves a good answer. I understand too, after 9/11 why over 80 percent of Americans demand secured borders and illegal migration stopped. But what would happen if all 20 million or more vacated America? The answers may surprise you, but they are dog gone sure worth some serious thought!
In California (where I used to leave before Colorado), if 3.5 million illegal aliens moved back to Mexico, it would leave an extra $10.2 billion to spend on overloaded school systems, bankrupted hospitals and overrun prisons. It would leave highways cleaner, safer and less congested. Everyone could understand one another as English became the dominate language again. That is the good news, but the truth is that we might not have enough people to do the jobs that they currently do and if we did, the increased labor cost might drive those businesses under.
In Colorado, 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and grand-kids would move back "home," mostly to Mexico. That would save Coloradans an estimated $2 billion (other experts say $7 BIL) annually in taxes that pay for schooling, medical, social-services and incarceration costs. It means 12,000 gang members would vanish out of Denver alone. Colorado would save more than $20 million in prison costs, and the terror that those 7,300 alien criminals set upon local citizens. Denver Officer Don Young and hundreds of Colorado victims would not have suffered death, accidents, rapes and other crimes by illegals.
Denver Public Schools would not suffer a 67 percent drop out/flunk out rate via thousands of illegal alien students speaking 41 different languages. At least 200,000 vehicles would vanish from our gridlocked cities in Colorado. Denver's four percent unemployment rate would vanish as our working poor would gain jobs at a living wage., but there would be increased labor costs and in some cases labor shortages that would drive some businesses under. In Florida, 1.5 million illegals would return the Sunshine State back to America, the rule of law and English. In Chicago, Illinois, 2.1 million illegals would free up hospitals, schools, prisons and highways for a safer, cleaner and more crime-free experience. The same question remains unanswered
who would and at what cost would the work they do be covered.
If 20 million illegal aliens returned "home" -- there is good and there is bad, but a larger question must also be answered. They come to America in search of a better life. They have found a better life, exactly how do you plan to force them out and at what expense? Could it be done even if you wanted to?
If 20 million illegal aliens returned "home," the U.S. economy would return to the rule of law. Employers would hire legal American citizens at a living wage. Everyone would pay their fair share of taxes because they wouldn't be working off the books. That would result in an additional $401 billion in IRS income taxes collected annually, and an equal amount for local state and city coffers. It looks good on the surface but is it possible? I am forced to ask the question too, is it a moral thing to even attempt?
No more push '1' for Spanish or '2' for English. No more confusion in American schools that now must content with over 100 languages that degrade the educational system for American kids, if you buy that argument, which sure has some holes in it. Our overcrowded schools would lose more than two million illegal alien kids at a cost of billions in ESL and free breakfasts and lunches, as an English teacher I am tempted to consider this, but I want more facts to prove these arguments and I want to hear the other side of the issue from those who know it best, more on that later.
We would lose 500,000 illegal criminal alien inmates at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. That includes 15,000 MS-13 gang members who distribute $130 billion in drugs annually would vacate our country. In cities like L.A., 20,000 members of the "18th Street Gang" would vanish from our nation. No more Mexican forgery gangs for ID theft from Americans! No more foreign rapists and child molesters! I have to confess this sounds so very good to me.
Losing more than 20 million people would clear up our crowded highways and gridlock. Cleaner air and less drinking and driving American deaths by illegal aliens! Making sure they get legal driving licenses is a good first step.
Over $80 billion annually wouldn't return to their home countries by cash transfers. Illegal migrants earned half that money untaxed, which further drains America's economy which currently suffers an $8.7 trillion debt. I would like to see this stopped but wonder how friendly we could expect Mexico to be if we stopped putting $80 billion annually into their economy and how would that impact drug traffic and criminal activity along the border?
At least 400,000 anchor babies would not be born in our country, costing us $109 billion per year per cycle. At least 86 hospitals in California, Georgia and Florida would still be operating instead of being bankrupted out of existence because illegals pay nothing via the EMTOLA Act. Americans wouldn't suffer thousands of TB and hepatitis cases rampant in our country-brought in by illegals unscreened at our borders. It is clear we have to secure our borders.
Our cities would see 20 million less people driving, polluting and grid locking our cities. It would also put the "progressives" on the horns of a dilemma; illegal aliens and their families cause 11 percent of our greenhouse gases. This too appeals to me!
Over one million of Mexico's poorest citizens now live inside and along our border from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California in what the New York Times called, "colonias" or new neighborhoods. Trouble is, those living areas resemble Bombay and Calcutta where grinding poverty, filth, diseases, drugs, crimes, no sanitation and worse. They live without sewage, clean water, streets, electricity, roads or any kind of sanitation. The New York Times reported them to be America's new "Third World" inside our own country. Within 20 years, at their current growth rate, they expect 20
million residents of those colonias. (I've seen them personally in Texas and Arizona; it's sickening beyond anything you can imagine.) By enforcing our laws, we could repatriate them back to Mexico. We are a nation of laws! Isn't that an idea worth preservation?
The bigger question is how do you do this? How do you just pick and return 20 million people is it even possible? What would it cost? How fast could it really be done? What is the most humane way of doing this? I understand the reasons for wanting to do it, but the cost of doing it seems really really high. I am a man who wants to know more information; the problem is for that part of it is getting those Spanish speaking people to the table to talk with us. We need to communicate with them to work through this. It seems to me that language is the biggest single barrier to that ever happening at any cost. Eduardo Fuerte is a business major in college, already holding one business degree and seeking a second. He sees the donkey as a mascot that
they can rally under with pride and help resolve these issues in a fair and humane way. It is an idea that has reason and logic behind it. It really doesn't matter which side of the issue you come down on, questions and answers have to come, and language is preventing that. I want us to deal with the language issue first, because it makes the most sense. Encourage them to learn English and have as many of us learn Spanish as possible. In fact learn any second language! Fighting this war in Iraq taught us we need more people who can speak Arabic. Dealing increasingly with China taught us we need more people who can speak Chinese. The cold war suggested a need for Russian speakers and I would argue still do.
Do you want to know what translating three books I have written in English into Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish has taught me? Translation assumes that humanity has some finite collection of meanings in common and that each language has a word for each meaning. Actually, of course, words denote things people have noticed, and different peoples have noticed different things.
As a teacher I know that learning a second language is important! In addition to developing a lifelong ability to communicate with more people, children may derive other benefits from early language instruction, including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills. Knowing a second language ultimately provides a competitive advantage in the work force by opening up additional job opportunities.
Students of foreign languages score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. In its 1992 report, College Bound Seniors: The 1992 Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board reported that students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area. In addition, the average mathematics score for individuals who had taken 4 or more years of foreign language study was identical to the score of those who had studied the same number of years of mathematics. These findings are consistent with College Board profiles for previous years.
Students of foreign languages have access to a greater number of career possibilities and develop a deeper understanding of their own and other cultures. Some evidence also suggests that children who receive second language instruction are more creative and better at solving complex problems. The benefits to society are many. Americans fluent in other languages enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, improve global
communication, and maintain our political and security interests. In most cases, learning another language enhances a child's English ability. Children can learn much about English by learning the structure of other languages. Common vocabulary also helps children learn the meaning of new words in English. Experimental studies have shown that no long-term delay in native English language development occurs between children participating in second language immersion classes and those schooled exclusively in English.
Children enrolled in foreign language programs score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. A number of reports have demonstrated that children who have learned a second language earn higher SAT scores, particularly on the verbal section of the test. One study showed that by the fifth year of an immersion program, students outperform all comparison groups and remain high academic achievers throughout their schooling.
How do we invite Spanish speakers to the table if we can not speak their language? Having a mascot that they can respect and identify with as something from their culture might be a start. Eduardo thinks so and who am I to argue? I only KNOW we need them at the table if we are going to talk about SECURE BORDERS, THE DRUG ISSUE, GANGS AND JEVENILE CRIME, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, and IMMIGRATION REFORM in a meaningful way.
Too, I just feel rather strongly that we can unify under the issue of making our mascot official as a party. This is rather long for a first blog, but I had a lot to say and it needed said! I borrowed facts and information from hundreds of sources, but I accepted and choose to believe them and in most cases can not longer remember who they are or where I got them. I thank them and freely admit some of these ideas are mine via some other person who I respected and listened too. It is not meant to be a scholarly piece or I would go back and find them and cite them for you. It is my first blog as to why I am working so hard to get the donkey made the official mascot of my party. They are the factors that went into my thinking. Issues that I am
interested in and am trying hard to grasp and somehow see in relationship to my donkey. I think he, the donkey, is a perfect mascot! I would appreciate your help and ideas and thought.
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