Copyright 2004 Capital-Gazette Communications, Inc.  

By; VAISHALI HONAWAR

Wading deeper into a controversy he kicked off in a radio interview, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday refused to apologize for dismissing multiculturalism as "bunk" and lamented that ethnic groups are "separating out of a common culture" in America.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Ehrlich expressed surprise that some groups were offended by his comments on WBAL AM-1090 in Baltimore just a day after Comptroller William Donald Schaefer said immigrants need to "adjust" to life in America.

"That was a very clear statement and should not be controversial," he said.

The governor told WBAL Thursday that he rejects the idea of multiculturalism.

"Once you get into this multicultural crap, this bunk, you run into a problem. With respect to this culture, English is the language," he said. "Should we encourage young folks here to be assimilated, to learn the culture and values? Of course. There's a major distinction to ethnic pride and multiculturalism."

Yesterday, the governor said his words "stand on their own."

"We have a melting pot ... we should not separate ourselves but celebrate our ethnicity. We invite people of all ethnicities to share common American cultural values and history," Mr. Ehrlich said.

"We need to get back to our roots," he said, adding that his view on multiculturalism "is a common-sense view held by everyone."

Mr. Ehrlich's comments earned strong criticism from Hispanic groups and Democratic members of the House of Delegates.

Yesterday, Ricardo Flores, president of the Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice, said the governor should issue an apology.

"I think he's living in a different Maryland. Long before he was governor there have been many generations of immigrants in Maryland, from diverse places around the world, including people like my parents who have worked hard to create a better life for themselves and done so," said Mr. Flores.

Hispanic advocates said that Maryland has among the country's lowest levels of funding for English as a second language education.

Mr. Ehrlich said yesterday that increased funding under recommendations of the Thornton Commission would help considerably to boost funding levels for ESOL.

Mr. Flores said immigrants work in decision-making roles at major corporations that boost the state's economy, not just fast food jobs.

"Multicultural people and bilingual people contribute to our society. ... For him to say that as a matter of history such a society cannot survive, I think is to completely ignore the current reality," Mr. Flores said.