Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Illegals, aliens, undocumented workers ... whatever

Recently, The Fresno Bee published a seven-day series focusing on issues surrounding illegal immigration in a portion of California. As a hot topic in California and across the nation, it's not surprising it was front page news. What was surprising was the angry response from readers -- so angry one reader called for a boycott and started a social media campaign.
What about, you ask? They want the newspaper and news media in general to stop using the terms "illegal aliens" and "illegal immigrants" in favor of "undocumented worker" or "undocumented immigrant." To them, the word illegal is the new N-word and is dehumanizing. Show me your papers!
Are you serious?  To me that's like calling a criminal "someone who wronged." The word illegal is in no way related to the N-word, it is simply what they are -- illegal.
This isn't some people being politically correct (which I occasionally have difficulty understanding) but being manipulative, trying to change the focus in the immigration debate from the important to the absurd. You can label them whatever you want but it doesn't change the fact that they use money that belongs to Americans who pay their taxes, go to work and contribute to society. They are bankrupting America!
By trying to change the focus, these people are wasting time and energy that politicians could use to solve a big problem that's not going to change whether you call them illegals or visitors or guests or extraterrestrials.
Hold your horses if you think I believe we should round them all up and send them back like this is the Wild West. No. The ones who are here should be made citizens if they are law abiding and have a job so they pay taxes, contribute and are punished if they commit a crime, etc. Get them to learn some English and join the melting pot that is America.
We need the government to finish the debate and make some decisions, because the problem is only getting worse and these angry readers aren't helping anyone.

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