Peter Gorman, the still-new-to-the-job Charlotte-Mecklenberg (CMS) School Superintendent, has been impressive in his openness and willingness to make a tough decision and move on. He has done it again.
As you may recall, I reported last week that controversy erupted in Charlotte after a student recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish at an official CMS school function.
On Friday, we learned that it wasn’t the student’s idea…. he says his school officials suggested it!
Velasquez said the Pledge of Allegiance in English at CMS’s first midyear graduation Monday. Then, at the organizers’ request, he repeated it in Spanish.
Velasquez, a soft-spoken 19-year-old who hopes to become a police officer, says he did not intend to defy or divide. In fact, he says, he’d have preferred saying the pledge only in the second language he now speaks comfortably.
“This is America,” Velasquez said Wednesday. “I respect that.”
Now, CMS Chief Peter Gorman has had the last word on the Pledge. It will be said in English from now on. (subscription required for full story)
After days of public debate over the appropriateness of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg student saying the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, Superintendent Peter Gorman has decided it will be recited only in English at graduations and other districtwide events.
“Upon further reflection, we believe that as a symbol of American democracy and as a pledge of loyalty to our nation, the pledge should be recited in English only from here on out,” Gorman said in a statement.
It is about time one of our accountable public officials takes a stand on unifying, not dividing our community. English is one of the last unifying elements of this increasingly multi-podcast nation. Bravo, Mr. Gorman!
-Bruce (GayPatriot)
On a related note: VDH Revisits Mexifornia.
Read every frakking word of it.
Excellent followup! The young man even supports being an American and speaking English. Naturally, it was “educators” who created the problem once again. Fascism, Communism,and now Progessivism have always been doomed to die a humilating death at the hand of American patriotism. It will be even slower than the Iraq victory but both will come.
Excelente! 😉
Smart Kid. Not surprised it was the teachers that demanded it be said in Spanish.
If the sentiment’s the same, does it matter what language it was expressed in?
I really can’t see that the language essentially makes a difference. English does not equal American. Or are we to ban saying the Pledge unless it’s also only done with an American accent? What a conundrum for British immigrants.
Just a question, saying it in English is amatter of respect in my book. I enjoy hearing the different accents of our citizens.
let the people recite the pledge in spanish it’s America but so what they can still be connected to their roots
#7 – Looks like it’s lester or 401k in drag again.
Regards,
Peter H.