ok, I had this really long useful post on the decision, but my browser froze and I don't feel like explaining it again. So to put it simply...
Ruby is a good start because it's a pure object oriented scripting language that's easy and helps teach good programming habits.
Java is also good choice. It's object oriented, easy to learn (but not as easy as Ruby), and is a good alternative to C++, even for games. It's also very easy to use in graphically orieted programs (or so I'm told).
A good tutorial for Ruby is
Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby. It's very entertaineg while teaching you something. There is also the first edition of the
Pragmatic Programmer's Guide to Ruby.
For Java, I recommend Sun's
The Java Tutorial.
Good Luck!
-Bryan-