At a recent campaign stop in Powder Springs, GA Barack Obama ignited a firestorm amongst bloggers and others in the media by declaring that “every child should speak more than one language” and that parents should ensure that their kids are bilingual – specifically in English and Spanish. Reaction to the comment was not unexpected with those on one side voicing their opposition to the concept on the basis of an “English first” idealogy and those on the other side agreeing that multilingual kids have an advantage. See the video for yourself and make your own judgement. Regardless of the firestorm that ensued, the fact that bilingualism is now a topic that is being covered in the national media and being spoken about by a presidential candidate is a sign that this issue is now becoming a timely and relevant issue that we must address in our society.
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