The War For The Language
By Mitch Berg
Speed Gibson is writing about immigration in this piece. But he trips into a much, much bigger issue:
From a recent Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial: Making the case for immigration reform. The opening paragraph exposes the manifest non-sequitur that follows:
The firings of 700 immigrant workers by Chipotle Restaurants in Minnesota underscores the country’s urgent need for significant immigration reform.
We are clearly not talking about 700 immigrants here. They are (alleged) illegal aliens.
And Speed does what anyone who learned both debate and English does; he defines his terms, in terms of the language we all purport to understand:
To review, immigration is a legal process. Those who engage it successfully are called immigrants and are granted access to the country in question. Among non-citizens, those that are not immigrants are aliens, both legal (tourists, e.g.) and illegal. To again conflate illegal aliens with actual immigrants is obvious deception and insulting to those actual immigrants. But of course liberals cannot win this argument on facts as this editorial again demonstrates.
And Speed’s right.
And yet you will listen in vain for any such logic anywhere on the left or in the mainstream media that carries the left’s water.
Because above and beyond the battle over “reforming” immigration, there is a much bigger fight going on – and the left is kicking our butts at it. It’s the battle for the language.
One of the skirmishes in that battle has been the 25 year long, largely successful battle to neutralize the terms “illegal immigrant” and “illegal alien” in the media. Both terms are actively disparaged outside overtly conservative circles; calling someone an “illegal immigrant” can run one afoul of some campus speech codes.
The point being if people stop saying illegal immigration is, well, illegal, they’ll stop thinking it’s a crime.
This sort of thing is happening throughout the English language. I’ll be writing about it at some length in the next few weeks.
While the generally-accepted language will still met me do it…
February 4th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Oh, yer gonna get such a Fact-Checking® for that….
February 4th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Why do you hate poor people? You’re a racist. You’re a jingoist. You’re a McCarthyite. You’re a big meany who want’s to deprive the Democrat party of a huge voting block.
Where’s ACORN when you need them?
February 4th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Most of these “immigrants” are indigenous Americans, albeit from nation states whose borders were drawn arbitrarily by European colonists outside of the current “United States”.
Therefore these “immigrants” should be referred to as “First Citizens”. Adjust your style book appropriately.
February 4th, 2011 at 9:31 am
You believe that defining your terms is going to help with these whacked-out liberals? When has logical argument based on real facts and agreed definitions made one iota of difference to these cement-heads? Or do I need to define THAT term?
February 4th, 2011 at 9:32 am
Words matter, and the left knows this as well as the right. “Undocumented worker” sounds like someone forgot to fill out a form, rather than someone who sneaked over a border and is transferring wealth illegally out of the country.
February 4th, 2011 at 9:38 am
We have to define the language, Winston. If we allow the people to vary from official definition, they will start to think independently. Imagine the Thought-Crime Wave that would ensue.
February 4th, 2011 at 9:48 am
My thoughts are convicting me, Winston. I’m in desperate need of re-education. Someone, quick, turn on MSNBC and get me a valium, a big fat blunt, some scotch and a .38.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Big Labor taught the illegeals to sue Chipotle because it took 7 days for them to receive their last pay check instead of 24 hours as they say they are entitled to. It’s things like this is why I am a Republican.
If you want to see tap dancing on the part of MSM, read any articles today on Planned Parenthood’s (aka KlanParenthood) latest scandel in the east.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Actually these people are Spanish imperialists who invaded central America and wiped out the indigenous peoples of color.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:30 am
And now, for something completely different. At long last, and by popular demand, I’m proud to present Dan Lacey’s latest masterpiece:
Peebo with Pancake!
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February 4th, 2011 at 11:46 am
I don’t think many of these “immigrants” have hidalgos in their bloodline, Chuck. They are the indigenes.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Yeah, well they still snuck into America over the Bering land bridge. Wholly Mammoth murderers.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I don’t think many of these “immigrants” have hidalgos in their bloodline, Chuck. They are the indigenes.
True dat. They come here to escape the descendants of the Hidalgos.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
They are the indigenes.
Slight correction Terry, they are the illiterate, unskilled indigenes.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
The point being if people stop saying illegal immigration is, well, illegal, they’ll stop thinking it’s a crime.
Well technically it’s classified as a “civil offense” rather than a “criminal offense” but it’s unusual for a civil offense in that it carries the possibility of imprisonment.
So while people who say that it’s not actually a crime are technically correct in terms of how the government classifies it (probably because the government has to meet a lower burden of proof), I think that because it carries the possibility of fine and/or imprisonment (rather than just financial compensation for the costs of the government), it may be closer to a crime in substance albeit with less legal protections for the defendant.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
golfdoc;
“rather than someone who sneaked over a border and is transferring wealth illegally out of the country.”
Excellent point! The people that actually pay taxes, have to narc themselves out if they send any money out of the country, so why is it that the illegal immigrants can legally get away with it? Because they are not documented. This, in itself is criminal when as citizens, we have to get SSANs for our kids before they are five!
February 5th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
You would think that after Sting had a hit singing about being a legal alien, an Englishman in New York, Liberals would get the distinction.
Nope. Background noise. Same as logic. Just something going on around them without affecting them at all.
February 7th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
I still can’t get over all the government signs and literature in several different languages because some immigrants can’t speak English.
Just because they can speak their native language does not mean they are literate.