"Illegal" as a noun breaks law of reason

Denver Post ^ | 4/04/06 | cindy rodríguez

[FreedomSurge]

Words like "illegal" and "alien" make me feel scared.

[OpusatFR]

How about felonious border crosser?

[Caveman Lawyer]

Lakoff says if we want to undo the damage done by alarmists, we need to reframe the issue by using alternate terms, such as "necessary workers" or "essential workers."

This Lakoff guy cracks me up. I'm sure these suggestions will be about as well received as "public protection attorney" for sleazy class action lawyers - will go over as well as a pregnant pole vaulter!

[thoughtomator]

Want people to feel better about killing babies? Call it "choice"...

[Choose Ye This Day]

So we can't use "illegal" as a shorthand noun because it's an adjective, not a noun?

OK. Then you can no longer say "whites" or "blacks."

You can no longer say "tax cuts for the wealthy." They're "individuals of wealth;" they're not "the wealthy."

Let's see how you libs like it.

[trubluolyguy]

Want people to have a more positive reaction to dead Iraqi civilians? Call them "collateral damage."

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No point in reading further, yet I know I will. Much like viewing a car wreck.

[GarySpFc]

How about racist monsters? LaRaza does mean "The Race."

[Cautor]

The descriptor "illegal(s)" is entirely called for in characterizing those who violate US sovereignty by entering the country illegally. I will continue to use it. And if it makes others uncomfortable, then all the better.

[dirtboy]

Their term of choice: "illegals."

Maybe because it is ACCURATE?????

[DoughtyOne]

Those politicians are being goaded by nativists, racists and brainwashed people who are confused in our culture of fear.

Anyone who supports the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution and sovereignty is subject to this judgement in this writer's opinion.

Lame...

[sageb1]

"Repeat the words continually until it reshapes the way people think."

What if we were continually told that chocolate causes vomiting?

[Mr. Mojo]

"There is a physiology to this governed in the brain. Certain ideas activate the neurons in the brain, which result in visceral bodily reactions." ....says George Lakoff, a linguist who teaches at the University of California at Berkeley.

Save the Pych 101, prof. These people are here illegally, and they're aliens. Put the two together and you get an accurate description. And if that description pains them too much they always have the option of going back to their homeland and then applying for legal U.S. residency status.

[blinachka]

"necessary workers" or "essential workers."

Spare me!! How about the TRUTH? Law-breaking, ILLEGAL alien is about as truthful as it gets! It matters not if they are "necessary" or "essential" workers. They are welcome to come and do those jobs "American's won't do" AFTER applying for a green-card, being granted permission to be here and obeying our laws!!

It isn't about scaring anyone. It's about telling the truth...and the turth is those who come here without permission are ILLEGAL aliens.

[Polybius]

If you can control the words people use, you can frame the issue. In effect, you control the way people view it.

Which is exactly why people like this author use the time-honored term "immigrant" to mean "somebody who has entered the U.S. in violation of U.S. law".

[Caveman Lawyer]

George Lakoff . . . an unnecessary, unessential "worker" if there ever was one!

[KarlInOhio]

"Tax cuts for the wealthy" gets liberals agitated, so let's call it "Allowing the most productive keep what they have earned". Or would the author claim that is propaganda.

I'm surprised the author didn't even touch the difference between "Amnesty" and "Earned citizenship".

Both sides play language games. Sometimes we win, like when the term "partial birth abortion" became part of the national vocabulary even though the pro-abortionists fought it. Sometimes we lose. "Illegal alien" is the most accurate term. Alien makes no assumption on whether the person is here to work, live here permanently, or just scam the welfare system. Illegal is factually accurate, which terms like "undocumented" try to confuse and disguise.

[petitfour]

I have tried to tell my son that, but he just doesn't believe me. But I know for a fact that when he eats too much of it, he most definitely will vomit. I hope I haven't made anyone ill by saying such. lol

[Fee]

If schools and hospitals are not broken down by the deluge of illegal immigrants, and social services are not stressed, if the average American after spending his paycheck on food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and saving for his retirement and kids college had tons and tons of money left and doesn't know what to do with it, then the words illegal immigrant, alien and invasion has no meaning and he may want to take a look at what is the ideal answer to a complicated issue. Right now the problem is very simple, illegal immigrants are causing social and economical dislocation to the working middle class and poor in this country and he is not accepting the corporate argument that he must endure the dislocation in order to create a new profitable global economy. Especially when he has the number of voters on his side. Democracy still trumps the need to eek out a few extra percentages on the corporate quarterly reports.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

George Carlin has a routine about the softening of the English language and how the term "Shell Shock" was reduced to "Post traumatic stress disorder." Its people like this BOZO Dr. whosit that make this politically correct crap up. It's sick. Just use the words that best describe the situation and to hell with being PC. I am not afraid I am Angry and Hell!

[noobiangod]

Replacing 'illegals' with 'criminals' works for me.