The San Franciso Chronicile, reports California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stirred up a hornets’ nest when he when he urged Latinos to “turn off the Spanish television set [1]”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger knew he was setting himself up for plenty of criticism when he urged Latinos to “turn off the Spanish television set” in order to learn English faster, but it was a briar patch the Austrian immigrant was happy to leap into.
Speaking to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in San Jose Wednesday night, the governor, relaxed and seated in a chair on-stage, answered questions for more than 40 minutes on Latino-oriented issues ranging from immigration to education. Late in that session, he was asked what could be done to help Latino students, many new to the country, pass the newly required high school exit exams.
Reaction: California reports, “Spanish-language Media Blast Governor for His Comments [2]:”
SAN FRANCISCO – Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Convention this week that Latinos should turn off their Spanish-language televisions and learn English sparked strong reactions in the state’s Spanish-language media. DJs on Univision’s radio station La Kalle 105.7 FM in San Francisco said Thursday that Latinos should watch Spanish-language television and English-language television. In a state where Latinos are now becoming the majority, they added, Gov. Schwarzenegger should learn Spanish and learn more about Latino culture. Being bilingual is a benefit in California, they said, where companies seek employees who speak more than one language.
I question the Spanish language media motivations. If their audience learns English, they become their former audience.
Schwarzenegger certainly has the credenetials. Schwarzenegger came here as immigrant and has been hugly successful, both as a top box office movie star and now the governor of California. Schwarzenegger didn’t get ahead by listening to or reading German language media.
So who’s side is the Spanish Language mediia on?