Hispanic activist and businessman Charles Garcia created a stir among many conservatives recently when he defended and parroted allegations that using the term “illegal immigrant” is a racist slur.
Calling it “racially offensive language,” Garcia tried to compare America’s use of the term to those referring to Jews trying to escape murder during the Holocaust. He cleverly changes the parameters of the argument by quoting Elie Wiesel, who said “No human being is illegal.” No, but their actions most certainly can be.
His straw man argument took a giant leap with his assessment that “even alleged terrorists and child molesters aren’t labeled illegals.”
This is a completely absurd non sequitur. The “illegal” in illegal immigrant refers to the action (immigration). If someone drives without a license, doesn’t that make them an illegal driver? The act itself is illegal, and the person doing it is committing a crime.
Garcia concedes the AP Stylebook considers the term to be “accurate and neutral” while even liberal bastions CNN and the New York Times gravitate toward using it in their coverage of border security issues. Garcia quotes Times editorial writer Lawrence Downes, though, who feels the term is a “code word for racial and ethnic hatred.”
These are unfortunately far from the only calls for a moratorium on the phrase.
Bill O’Reilly read a guest (who was representing the “Drop the I-Word” campaign) the riot act, tearing down the argument with a rebuttal based on facts, not feeling. Alas, liberals have never been adept at debating inside such parameters.
Larry Elder shot down the racial aspect of the argument in a column earlier this year, which dealt with backlash against the term “illegal alien.” Though the term generally refers to those crossing the border from Mexico (only because they make up the vast majority of illegals), Elder explained that the term is not sensitive to any race or nationality. It refers to anyone breaking this country’s immigration law, regardless of their country of origin.
As the presidential election draws nearer, especially with Obama on record as supporting backdoor amnesty for illegals, expect this war on words to heat up. If they can convince a good portion of independents that those on the right are racist for wanting to protect our sovereign borders, they can pick up some much-needed votes. We must combat their lies and mischaracterizations with accurate concerns about the impact millions of illegals have on our nation and its infrastructure.
Political correctness is bad enough, but when we cannot identify a criminal as such, I’m afraid we are entering a downward spiral from which we will be lucky to ever emerge.
Photo credit: luna715 (Creative Commons)
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Today a common tactic is to “adjust the playing field”
The guy who wrote in Time Magazine basically said illegals don’t like the immigration laws, so just ignore them.
Now, especially with the liberal PC crowd, if you think that a “word” is a bit too precise, attack the word.
NONE of that improves the situation it only promotes more heat.
Illegal Immigrants are ILLEGAL …. permits weasels to convolute and obfuscate.
Do we HAVE to revert to
Immigrants who are here illegally by virtue of having broken or abused out Immigration Laws have performed an illegal act.
Forget the corrupt DoJ
Forget the Supreme Court
Forget the hopeless/ hapless White House
Join me on Nov 6 in Voters Court to
VTCLBO ! ! ! !
Obama is history
This word, “Illegal” is now being hijacked as political rhetoric, how petty is that? I believe that the truth is, that these, “Illegals” Immigrants are feeling the guilt when they read a a news paper or, see something over cyberspace, and see that everyone and their brothers uses the word Illegal when speaking of those who came across the border of America’s without going thru the proper channels, or as it is known, the Back door. The problem with those who supports Illegals coming over in an Illegal way, really need to understand, that just because you who support illegals, and those who Illegally came over to my country without going thru the proper channel, are just that, “Illegal”, and unless those who come over to my country the proper way, might as well get use to it, they come over Illegally, make’s them ‘ILLEGAL”. Look, no one who write’s down the word “Illegal” in their comments, do not mean to make that word “Illegal”, to sound as if the commentor is using the (N) word, to describe a person who cross my border Illegally, in other word, “It Don’t Mean Nothing”,
Interesting article.. Reminds me of the pot calling the kettle black!
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
so WHATAYA THINK A COMMUNIST PLANT IS GOING TO SAY?
tHE SCUUUUUMMMMM ARE MAKING A RUN FOR THE GOAL POST.
wAAAKKKKEEEE UUUUUPPPPP aMERIKA.
Is it illegal to call an extremist muslim terrorist an extremist muslim terrorist? Should we call them odumbo’s bro’s.
Its all in the ‘lingo’
Personally, I think its racist to make us change our vocabulary/word definitions to suit a particular people.
Illegal – against the LAW, look it up.
A citizen cannot be an illegal alien.
An illegal alien cannot be a citizen.
Once one becomes a citizen, they are no longer an illegal alien. Period.
Guess that’s why Dems want to allow all the illegals to be called Americans by proxy. That way they can vote democratic.
BTW: We live in a Republic not a democracy.
OBFUSCATE over and over and try to confuse the meaning of EVERYTHING seems to be the rule.
Words change and new words are coined to cover up a proven truth of a meaning of a word. You can NOT use ILLEGAL ALIEN because everyone knows what it means. If the Liars by Proxy Changes can force us to not use a very well understood word, the Deceivers win by Default, because no one fully understands what they are talking about. There are some very classic ones: ILLGAL ALIEN, everyone knows what that means, but if you have to use an “immigrant that does not have any documents and can’t remember how he got here, so one cannot claim that he got here illegally”. Abbreviated it is: “ITDNHAIDACRNHGHSOCCTHGHI”. So when someone says he is “IT-HAD-CRUNCH-GHOST-THIGHS” that means he is an Illegal Alien..
This Garcia guy is a liar. If he’s in this country illegally, then get the heck out of my country. Calling illegals illegal is the TRUTH not racist. If we can’t call them ‘illegal’ then we’ll call them ‘wetbacks.’ If they don’t like that then they can remember the “Alamo.” Garcia is another American-hating, lying activist. If he doesn’t love this country then he needs to leave it. Mexico and their illegals want to steal our hard-earned dollars here in America. And the subversive politicians are letting them do it. America IS NOT for sale. We, the people will fight you, Mexco, if you don’t stop stealing our hard-earned dollars. See website: http://www.haasstrep68.com
sound familiar?
Truth is lies
Lies are Truth
Read that somewhere……………………………….
Oh yeah, now I have it. In the Bible…….whew, we are in for it now!
They believe we are so wretchedly stupid that we don’t know the truth when it’s staring us in the face.
Anyone who comes here Illegally is Illegal! Alien Is someone who does not belong here. So you have a Illegal alien. That is someone who is here illegally. What part of the language do they not understand? If they don’t go to school and learn it! I have several Legal Mexican friends. They hate the Illegals for what they do. They had to work to get the word Legal! I am one of those Damn Irish. My family came accrossed legal and became Legal Citizens! Yes we were looked down upon 150 years ago. I am 70 years old and never been called a damn Irishman. My father who was born here was in his early life called a Damn Irish! But we were Legal! Was it ever brought up that they were using Racially Offensive Language? Not that I know of. I have a freind who has a sign in his buisiness which says No Irish allowed here! That came out of a store belonging to his Grand Father who was Irish. But still we were not ILLEGAL or ALIENS!
Anyone check Garcia’s green card, lately? Historically, the one who complains the most is guilty of the crime.
He is right, they shouldn’t be called an immigrant, an immigrant becomes part of the country and obeys their laws and customs. They should be called illegal itinerants because an itinerant just moves where there is work and illegal because they loot the host country and demand equality. So far, because of the invasion of illegal itinerants we have to dial 1 for English, rewrite forms and handbooks in 2 languages, and watch people who can’t speak English get special benefits. We see politicians kowtowing to these people because all they want is their vote. Personally if they would act as immigrants I would welcome them with open arms.
willhen,
I don’t want to lose the debate on nits.
Regardless of Immigrant, emigrant, alien, ……
THE KEY operative is ILLEGAL..
hERE’S MY TAKE ON “IMMIGRANT”
= = = =
I see “immigrant” as one who goes from one country, region, or place. ; without any reference to LAW, Legality.
So, IMHO, “illegal” is a suitable modifier of immigrant….. one who went from one country …. outside of the law; i. e. , “illegally”
= = = = =
Migrate | Define Migrate at Dictionary.com
dictionary.reference.com/browse/migrate
/ˈmaɪgreɪt/ Show Spelled[mahy-greyt] Show IPA. verb (used without object), mi•grat•ed, mi•grat•ing. 1. to go from one country, region, or place to another.
= = = = = =
im•mi•grant [im-i-gruhnt] Show IPA noun
1.a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.
= = = =
Regardless, Garcia belongs to the gang of anarchists who encourage many to ignore / disobey the LAW; aided and abetted by Gang Nobummer who support them and FAIL to do their Sworn Duty.
Forget the corrupt DoJ
Forget the Supreme Court
Forget the hopeless/ hapless White House
Join me on Nov 6 in Voters Court to
VTCLBO ! ! ! !
I agree about the illegal, however an immigrant will adopt the host countries laws and customs, usually retaining some homeland customs. To get legal status here in the United States the emigree has to wait over 5 years, learn how the government works and take a test. There is a ceremony of sorts where a judge gives them the oath and everybody is happy and celebrating. I wouldn’t be surprised if they really cared to be a citizen. Being called an illegal immigrant is an oxymoron, because a person cannot be an immigrant (legal) and illegal at the same time. We have to reference the person who invades our country, goes from job to job not really caring to settle down, doesn’t follow the rules or accept the customs has to be considered an illegal itinerant just taking advantage of the system and sending their salary back to their homeland.
willhen,
The fact that you felt it necessary to modify “immigrant” with the descriptor “legal” makes my point.
Yes, there are legal immigrants.
There are also illegal immigrants.
To reference those who don’t follow the rules we have
* illegal immigrant
* illegal alien ( notice the need to modify “alien” ; else they too might be legal)
* other less flattering terms.
But, it seems that you have your mind made up.
Regardless,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg9m1F8B2_c
FIRE the LIAR!
Forget the corrupt DoJ
Forget the Supreme Court
Forget the hopeless/ hapless White House
Join me on Nov 6 in Voters Court to
VTCLBO ! ! ! !
Lunatic Left…………..
One poster in this thread insists that “illegal immigrant” is an oxymoron.
I think he / she is just wrapped up in a warped sense of words.
Regardless, racist is a very convenient term for PCers ( Politically Corrupt ers) to paint anything they want to paint BAD.
I reserve and defend my 1st Amendment right to say slut, illegal immigrant, illegal alien, baby murdered, etc…. as I see fit.
…and yes even to call out the criminal in the White House.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg9m1F8B2_c
FIRE the LIAR!
Forget the corrupt DoJ
Forget the Supreme Court
Forget the hopeless/ hapless White House
Join me on Nov 6 in Voters Court to
VTCLBO ! ! ! !