Mexicans are "illiterate peasants"

[Athena]

Colo. Lawmaker Defends Racial Insult
Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2008 By AP/STEVEN K. PAULSON Article

State Rep. Douglas Bruce, who has a history of provoking controversy, made the comment during debate on a bill that would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary federal visas. The measure is intended to ease a shortage of farm workers in the state.

"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado," Bruce said.

His outburst drew an audible gasp from the House.

"How dare you," said state Rep. Kathleen Curry, a Democrat who was serving as chairwoman during the debate. She told the Republican lawmaker he was no longer recognized to speak.

Bruce later defended his remarks.

"I looked up 'illiterate' in the dictionary and it means somebody who is lacking in formal education or is unable to read and write," he said. "I don't think these people who are planning to come over here and pick potatoes or peaches are likely to have much of a formal education. I looked up the word 'peasant.' The word 'peasant' means a person who works in agricultural fields.

"These people, most of them, don't speak English. Most of them haven't had any formal education, that's why they're coming over here. I don't blame them for trying, but I don't think we should pave the way for more aliens to come here," he said.

Bruce became the first Colorado lawmaker censured by the House after he kicked a newspaper photographer for taking his picture during a prayer.

Full story (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1733921,00.html)

_____________

Well, as you can see, his statement was *technically* correct. That being said, as a representative, he ought to know that diplomacy pays. Of course, his history of kicking people suggests that this particular lesson is lost on him. I wonder, sometimes, how these people get elected...and reelected. :p

[Rotten Apple]

So he is basically classifying an entire country of people as "illiterate peasants." AND he is using this term to block LEGAL immigration when his state is having a shortage of farm workers?

There is only one reason he would have made a statement like that. Racism.

He may have well come out and said this:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/kapesetsky/web%20graphics/douchebag-1.jpg

[Nell]

Technically correct is right but as you pointed out watching what you say and diplomacy go a long way. And then to defend himself because "he looked it up in the dictionary and that is the definition!" is insane. What an ass.

[dop]

Well, thats bound to go over well with the millions of legal Mexicans.... :rolleyes:

Im not saying his statment is wrong perse, he is just a full blown idiot to use a derrogatory term like iliterate creating a negative backlash to his POV, especially when discusing temporary legal visas to to fill a shortage of labor workers not illegal imigration where he can get more suport when he vilifies them...

[Athena]

So he is basically classifying an entire country of people as "illiterate peasants." AND he is using this term to block LEGAL immigration when his state is having a shortage of farm workers?



To be fair, I think he was referring specifically to migrant workers, who do tend to qualify as "illiterate peasants", according to his definitions. Still, being technically correct doesn't make you smart, obviously.

[Rotten Apple]

Still, being technically correct doesn't make you smart, obviously.

Yup, obviously.

Does he think Mexico is gonna send over their doctors and lawyers to pick our crops? America's illiterate peasants don't want to do it.

If I was a member of this guys party in Colorado, I would be sooo embarrassed.

[Athena]

If I was a member of this guys party in Colorado, I would be sooo embarrassed.

Heh...That's because you're smart. TOO smart, in fact, to live in Colorado and vote for this asshat. Odds are, many of those who put him in office are just as retarded as he is. :p

[zander2008]

..

[Pete Bondurant]

Colo. Lawmaker Defends Racial Insult
Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2008 By AP/STEVEN K. PAULSON Article

State Rep. Douglas Bruce, who has a history of provoking controversy, made the comment during debate on a bill that would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary federal visas. The measure is intended to ease a shortage of farm workers in the state.

"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado," Bruce said.

Hey, I like this guy! He should be President of the United States. :cool:

[swivel]

He isn't even technically correct. Just because they don't read and write English doesn't make them illiterate.

[Dr. Salvador]

although being able to read/speak spanish in america "should" be a useless job app.......................not being able to read/speak english makes them "technically" illiterate as far as english goes................but then again how hard is it to pick cabbage?.................maybe he should have called them morons?

[Pete Bondurant]

cabbage?.................maybe he should have called them morons?

The morons are the ones who stay in Mexico.

[Athena]

He isn't even technically correct. Just because they don't read and write English doesn't make them illiterate.

"Illiterate" also means having little or no formal education. It doesn't need to specifically relate to English to be technically correct, by that definition.

[swivel]

"Illiterate" also means having little or no formal education. It doesn't need to specifically relate to English to be technically correct, by that definition.

He was grasping for straws. The first definition of the word, and the way it is used, and its literal translation, all mean an inability to read and write.


il·lit·er·ate Audio Help /ɪˈlɪtərɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-lit-er-it] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. unable to read and write: an illiterate group.
2. having or demonstrating very little or no education.
3. showing lack of culture, esp. in language and literature.
4. displaying a marked lack of knowledge in a particular field: He is musically illiterate.

"Very little" or "no education" is different than "didn't go to college". And look at (3). This word has a very specific use, and it revolves around reading and writing. It doesn't mean "uneducated", it means "Can't read or write". There have been math savants that we marvel over because they are also "illiterate". And when we use that word, EVERYONE knows we are saying they can't read and write, not that they didn't finish highschool, or didn't go to college.

Now stop arguing with me over something trivial. Save your embarrassment points for a topic worth looking silly over.

[Athena]

It doesn't mean "uneducated", it means "Can't read or write". There have been math savants that we marvel over because they are also "illiterate". And when we use that word, EVERYONE knows we are saying they can't read and write, not that they didn't finish highschool, or didn't go to college.


"Illiterate" absolutely CAN mean "uneducated". Its definition wouldn't include contextual variations if they didn't exist. In fact, I happen to think, in terms of frequency, the word is more often used to connotate a lack of education than it is the literal lack of ability to read and write. Whether more frequent or not, however, that particular usage is common enough to be interpreted as such, especially when the guy goes out of his way to expound upon his intent, as he did.

You're statement relied upon the assumption that this guy is lying about the connotation he meant to imply. He may be a total douche, but I don't think there's evidence to suggest that he really meant "can't read or write" when he clearly stated that he meant "little formal education".

If your contribution to this thread had been more than trivial, perhaps I'd have something more than trivial to disagree with you about.

[swivel]

You're statement relied upon the assumption that this guy is lying about the connotation he meant to imply. He may be a total douche, but I don't think there's evidence to suggest that he really meant "can't read or write" when he clearly stated that he meant "little formal education".

That's 100% correct, which is why my point wasn't trivial (but your hair-splitting is). The dude is lying through his teeth. He is a racist scum that hates Hispanics because they don't read and write English, which he probably thinks is the only language of any importance, or possibly even believes it is our official language.

If you can't see the spin, spin, spin here, then you are illiterate.