GOP takes on Library of Congress on immigration terminology

Associated Press ^ | Apr 22, 2016 3:40 PM EDT | Andrew Taylor

[Olog-hai]

Congress may not be able to reform the immigration system, fix the broken tax code or even pass a budget. But it’s telling the Library of Congress how to label immigrants living in the country illegally.

That’s how conservative Republicans are responding to a move by the library to drop the term “illegal alien” in favor of “noncitizens” or “unauthorized immigration” for cataloging and search purposes. The move came in response to a petition from the American Library Association to change immigration-related search terms to make them less judgmental.

The library’s move, announced in a three-page statement last month, was met with outrage from conservatives, who asked that a provision to block it be added to legislation that funds the legislative branch and its agencies, which include the Library of Congress. …

[IronJack]

I suspected the “wet” reference was the Spanish equivalent of “wetback,” which is a pretty offensive term. But if it’s okay with you, it’s okay with me.

But this isn’t one of those things like blacks calling each other ni—er, where it’s okay for them but no one else, is it?

[Texan5]

It is not okay for one Hispanic to call another “mojado” or “wetback” to their face-it is equally offensive coming from a person who is black, Italian, WASP or any other ethnicity, because it says they have committed an illegal act and are only fit to be deported or jailed-it is the same as telling someone to vete a la chin***-both are “fighting words” that can get your ass kicked if used carelessly.

[Texan5]

As a comp case manager, I always say that those signs are there to show the slip-and-fall scammers where to do their act in two languages...

[Kickass Conservative]

They should change it. Call them Illegal Invaders.