Idea Magnet

Suicide Bombers: The Other Side

The destruction left by these soldiers is harder to bear than anything we've seen in the past. It’s the reason we are afraid of most ideas such as death, change, or the possibility that we alone exist in the Universe. We fear the unknown and the incomprehensible.

To most, the term suicide bomber elicits an image of darkness. Someone stealthily weaving through a public point, rehearsing their instructions under a veil of normalcy and silent dialogue.

The problem that has edged our respective countries to the forefront of battle over and over again has been this glitch in communication; the inability to understand each other. The inability to look past the propaganda created by each side.

I searched for any ground that could be met with a shared logic. Anything that could bridge the divide caused by media in our daily lives.

I finally found that we are not so different.

Soldiers in our country enlist with the knowledge that they are serving America. They enlist knowing that war may ensue during their term of duty, and knowing that they may be injured or killed for the cause they represent.

The fact that they may be injured or killed is only a possibility. One that friends and families hope has a low probability for their recruit.

But, to any soldier, the cause of his country is worth every ounce of effort. To suicide bombers, it is worth every ounce of life.

When men, and now more increasingly women, join the ranks of this suicide neo-military, they join with the knowledge that death is a certainty. Death is a badge of honor for them as it is for us when our soldiers are killed in war. The difference is small.

Our soldiers are prepared to live, their soldiers are prepared to die.

Either can go awry, such as what happened on November 14, 2005 shows CNN Article when an Iraqi woman failed to detonate her bomb after her husband had successfully detonated his own.

Both of our sides wage war with the same ideas on our minds.

Honor for our country. Honor for our beliefs.

Soldiers enlist because they want to fight for a cause greater than themselves.

America still has an enemy. Our opportunity to understand them does not belittle our cause. The last time I checked, the saying went something like

“Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.”- Sun Tzu Wu, The Art of War

I hope America starts to battle the mind numbing effects of passive involvement.

I Agree with George Bush?

Yes you read the title correctly! it was not some ploy to get your attention! (But I'm glad that you're here now)

At the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education held earlier this week, President Bush made several respectable statements regarding the importance of language education in our country.

This furthers the viewpoint established in the Suspended for language article I wrote Wednesday that America is enhanced by having multi-lingual citizens. Below is an excerpt from President Bush's speech made at the Summit. I've included my comments in red text.

“…we need people in America who can go and say to people, living in freedom is not the American way of life, it is a universal way of life. We're not saying your democracy has to be like yours. We're just saying give your people a chance to live in a free society; give women a chance to live freely; give young girls a chance to be educated and realize their full potential. And the best way to do that is to have those of us who understand freedom be able to communicate in the language of the people we're trying to help.

In order to convince people we care about them, we've got to understand their culture and show them we care about their culture.

Do you see where I'm going with this yet?

When somebody comes to me and speaks Texan, I know they appreciate the Texas culture. (Laughter.)

I mean, somebody takes time to figure out how to speak Arabic, it means they're interested in somebody else's culture. Learning a language -- somebody else's language is a kind gesture. It's a gesture of interest.

We might consider integrating this philosophy at home right now even if it doesn't concern one of the languages needed for war communication such as Arabic, Farsi, or Urdu.  The way to do this might start with stopping the pursuit of English only laws such as those proposed in Alaska, Arizona, or Ohio. Because believe it or not,

People can learn languages without isolating themselves from the ones they already know. 

I doubt Jane Doe, who became fluent in French during College, made everyone sign a contract stating they couldn't speak English to her during her learning experience. If you want to argue that full immersion helps, I won't disagree with you. However, I will ask that you give your brains a little more credit for being adaptable and recommend that you stay tuned for an article covering the neurology behind learning languages.

It really is a fundamental way to reach out to somebody and say, I care about you. I want you to know that I'm interested in not only how you talk but how you live.”

Well said. Thank you Mr. President.

Questions? Suspended for Language

I'd like to give everyone a chance at participating in this interview. If you have a question you would like me to ask Lorenzo Rubio and his attorney send it to my e-mail ideamagnetblog@aol.com or leave a comment under this topic. Send them A.S.A.P., deadline is Tuesday January 10.

Goodluck!

-Idea Magnet Editor

Interview Secured

The Interview with the counsel for the plaintiff Lorenzo Rubio,  Chuck Chionuma, P.A. has now been given the Green flag!

I will be posting it as soon as I can.

English Only Bill

A statement made by Courtney Combs- Ohio State Representative on a bill he is passing concerning English only in his State...

" I do not want to see the U.S. as a bilingual nation; it divides it," the Hamilton Republican said. "The business language of the world is English. If we go down the line and have different pockets of different people speaking different dialogues, it creates a problem."

Tell me what you think

Suspended for Language part 1

It is still fresh in my mind and makes me livid at the thought. The fact that America has not grown out of its fascination with isolation.

November 2005, a Kansas City, Kansas teen was suspended from school for speaking Spanish in a high school’s hallway. He was overheard speaking to a fellow student outside of class by a teacher and immediately sent to the Principal’s office. Soon after, Principal Jennifer Watts sent 16 year old Zach Rubio home for the misconduct, suspending him for 1 ½ days.

Endeavor Alternative High School called Lorenzo Rubio (the boy‘s father) on November 28, 2005 to notify him of the suspension.

"So I went to the principal and said, 'My son, he's not suspended for fighting, right? He's not suspended for disrespecting anyone. He's suspended for speaking Spanish in the hall?' So I asked her to show me the written policy about that. But they didn't have" one.

Turner’s School District Superintendent Bobby Allen reversed the decision as soon as he heard the news.

A lawsuit was filed December 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas against the Turner School District, Bobby Allen, Turner Board of Education, Jim Ernst, Linda Ingram, Joy Barry, Teresa Tillery, Betty Gibson, Brad Stuart, Teresa Juaraz, Jennifer Watts, Susan Serzyski, and DOE’s 1-5 which cannot be determined at this time . The District has 90 days to respond to the lawsuit claiming five counts of violations of the civil rights of Rubio.

This case is a clear example of the misconceptions still present in America about how or when  speaking the English language should be enforced. 

I agree with Rita Valenciano, president of the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO) and Director of the Assistance to Parents of Youth Organization (APOYO) when she  said at a recent press conference in the Turner School District Offices that "This is not an isolated event, nor is it confined to the borders of Kansas City, nor is it limited to just Spanish-speaking students. Speaking more than one language is a plus, that should be recognized and enhanced, rather than a behavioral problem that must be punished."

America is consistently pushing away from encouraging its citizenry to become multi-lingual, a definite asset in today's ever expanding global community. Our Country cannot continue to believe that it will hold onto its prowess by isolating its people through language. Though English continues to be one of the  international languages for business, it is never safe to say that it will have a secure position in the future.

An Interview with the Plaintiff's Attorney Chukwuemek Chionuma has been requested.

Interviews will be requested of  the  Defendant's Attorney Greg Goheen, Ohio State Representative Courtney Combs, and California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.