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.
unlawful colonizer
prohibited alien
barred settler
illegitimate pioneer
illicit explorer
dishonest refugee
criminal invader
Fraudulent deportee
Yep! Just like his father, GW is bending over backwards to court Democratic voters, all while taking his core constituency for granted and alienating them (us) at the same time.
Sad
This is utter BS. No rationale person could consider the n-word as anything other than a serious insult with no descriptive value whatsoever. Illegal, however, is perfectly descriptive and has nothing to do with race.
Essentially, this term is designed to re-characterize an illegal act as a mere technicality requiring some paperwork.
{Snip}- "Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," the "Dear Mr. Speaker" letter said.
"If we do not listen to our constituents on this matter, our influence and effectiveness in Congress could be jeopardized. Simply put, we cannot continue to allow our immigration laws to be violated and ignored -- and illegal aliens are by definition criminals."
According to the letter, President Bush's immigration proposal has left many conservatives "dismayed, angry and confused."
There's one glaring difference. We knew Papa Doc Bush was a RINO, but, we held our noses and voted for him anyway. With Baby Doc, we were fooled into thinking he was a conservative. I remember my own "personal journey" from seeing him as "Junior" -- at best, another "hold your nose and vote" candidate -- to listening to him, and coming to see him as a genuine conservative -- and wanting him to win, and, being enthusiastic about getting out the vote.
Man, what a letdown.
Wanna bet?
"I agree. It hurts my feelings."
Do we NOW need to think for them also?
Make a 180 and march back to where you came from and that "hurtful, but proper title" will no longer be used to address you.
Wouldn't that be an emotional relief?
Can we be far from a law banning the terms "illegal alien" and "illegal immigrant" by calling them "hate speech"?
Uhhh...no! :)
Markets change. There was a time in our history when children worked in slaughterhouses. At the turn of the last century 90% of americans worked farm labor, today it is about 2%. You may keep obsessing about the "good ol' days" if you want, but the future will pass you by.
Remember this when your job is offered up to the lowest bidder in some foreign country.
Now you're talking about a different issue. The topic is illegal immigration not outsourcing. I will never lose my job to an unskilled illegal who cannot speak, read, or write in English. I do not fear illegals replacing me. If you are a disaffected janitor, you have my sympathies...on several levels.
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