Posted on 01/30/2004 12:06:23 AM PST by JohnHuang2
Though it might be technically accurate, calling someone who entered the U.S. in an unlawful manner "illegal" has become politically incorrect.
"I can't speak for other immigrant groups," activist Jerry Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "but on behalf of the Latino community, many people I speak to on a day-to-day basis think it serves to dehumanize the person, makes them less than human. Similar to the way the n-word was used to dehumanize African-Americans."
Gonzales, who oversees the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, says many Latinos are offended by the labels.
"It's easy to dismiss someone when you use a disparaging term such as 'illegal immigrant' or 'illegal alien,'" said Gonzalez.
The Atlanta daily reports the activist plans to lobby state lawmakers to use the term "undocumented workers" when talking about Mexicans and other foreigners in the U.S. illegally.
"It's a more accurate reflection of people who provide a great deal for the economy," he said.
Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of "Mexifornia: A State of Becoming," says the terms are not derogatory.
"[Illegal alien] doesn't describe a person in a negative, pejorative way. It means they don't have U.S. citizenship and that they didn't come to the United States in a lawful manner," he told the paper.
D.A. King is the founder of the American Resistance Foundation, a group that seeks tougher enforcement of immigration laws. He told the Journal-Constitution the term "undocumented workers" is "a politically correct invention to soften the brutal fact that these people are breaking the law."
"A good comparison would be to say a bank robber simply made an unauthorized withdrawal," he said.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Centers for Immigration Studies, called comparing the term "illegal immigrants" to the N-word "an outrage."
"You are either an unlawful alien, or an illegal alien," the paper quotes him as saying.
The issue of immigration has been highlighted in recent weeks since President Bush proposed his plan to allow the 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens thought to be in the United States to remain in the country if they have a job and apply for a guest-worker card. The immigrants could stay for renewable three-year periods, after which they could apply for permanent legal residence.
A recent ABC News poll finds 52 percent of the nation opposes an amnesty program for illegal immigrants from Mexico, while 57 percent oppose one for illegal immigrants from other countries. Both results are roughly the same as when the administration floated the idea two-and-a-half years ago.
In another poll on the controversy shows at least twice as many Americans "strongly" oppose the proposal as strongly support it.
Meanwhile, U.S. Border Patrol officials report a 15 percent increase in the use of fraudulent documents at the world's busiest land border crossing since Bush announced his proposal.
That's right...future Kerry voters in '04.
Its a great scam..
The VC and Palestinians used and use similar techniques against the French U.S. and Israel...it enables them to invade and destroy a national infrastructure....they simply hide behind women and children (or use them as bombs or carriers) and prey upon the mercy ingrained into a Christian nation....In the case of the illegal invading aliens Its a passive aggressive invasion/terror technique and a powerful strategy...
The weapons of the illegal invaders aren't necessarily bombs and germs (though that may come to) Mostly their weapons of destruction are to suck the life out of America's institutions and also to commit as much crime as possible making it certain the citizens of the US will eventually petition their govt. to stop the crime & will willingly give up their freedom for security...This invasion force will also will drive down living wages to the point of ridding the USA of that nasty middle class they are so proud of....Another point not wasted on the elite
Illegal aliens are as much an enemy invading force as were the Japs at Peal Harbor...
This wave needs to be turned back ...and force Mexico and the other countries of origin deal fairly with their own people..
Of course it always helps to have a liberal socialist anti American cheerleader group egging on the terrorists...like our elites do
The invader's home govts are run by the greedy, selfish and cruel..... America enables them by taking in, employing, and caring of their people...when it is they who should be doing it...
IMO
We have a right to our own sovereignty, but we have no right to dehumanize others, those who incidentally would be ourselves if we were in their shoes.
Some anti-Bush people seem to think that any socialist Democrat who will grab onto this hatred and bigotry and use it will win the election, as if Americans are as hateful and as bigoted and as easily swayed as they are.
First off, just how many [other] "immigrant groups" are there, for chrissakes.
In any event...
Why am I not suprised to see this appearing in the Liberal-Socialist, America-Hating-All-The-Time Atlanta Urinal-Constipation?
Even more inportantly, why should anyone care what this idiot has to say?
Tell the clown he & his "Illegally Located *Constituency*" [ILC] have two choices:
1) www.DrPhil.com
2) Tune in to Opra (consult your local listings for time.)
"...'but on behalf of the Latino community, many people I speak to on a day-to-day basis think it serves to dehumanize the person, makes them less than human. Similar to the way the n-word was used to dehumanize African-Americans.'"
In other words, they're objecting to the truth.
Again.
Well most people I know are offended to be refered to as "Gringo" by the Latino Community, as well as a "Dumbass Taxpayer Stooge" by our own government.
...of course we don't count, eh?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.