SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) Takes Up Crusade against Term ‘Illegal Immigrant’

Culture and Media Institute ^ | December 14, 2010 | Alana Goodman

[Sergio]

“One of the most basic of our constitutional rights is that everyone (including non-citizens) is innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law,” wrote Laurence, whose bio notes that he holds a law degree.

So by Mr. Laurence's definition, a man who has forced himself sexually on unwilling women is not a "rapist", a person who snorts $500 of coke a day is not a "drug addict", and a woman who has sex for money is not a "prostitute", until successfully convicted in a court of law.

[tumblindice]

Nice catch. That’s an example, I believe, of `casuistry”: `a subtle but misleading or false application of ethical principles’.
Another example might be (on another thread here) “multi-faith” holy men urging that the DREAM act be passed because `it’s the right thing to do.’
These sanctimonius frauds have no intention of paying the freight for resident illegal aliens (and their family, friends and shirt-tail relatives) but they preach to us that we must do so and if we don’t, well, it’s because we’re bad people.

[RedMDer]

OK, fine.

Foreign Invaders.

[piytar]

SPJ (MiniTrue) advocates new doublespeak term...

[Non-Sequitur]

“One of the most basic of our constitutional rights is that everyone (including non-citizens) is innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law,” wrote Laurence, whose bio notes that he holds a law degree. “Simply put, only a judge, not a journalist, can say that someone is an illegal.”

Being here illegally is a civil offense, not a criminal one. So the presumption of innocence is moot.

[Gabrial]

“Illegal Alien” truly is a misnomer.

A person can't be “illegal”. A person can commit illegal acts, however, making that person a criminal.

For example, you would not refer to a rapist as “illegal”, you would refer to the rapist as a criminal for having committed the illegal act of rape.

It would be more accurate the refer to these people “Criminal Aliens” as they have committed an illegal act which makes them a criminal.

[Charles Henrickson]

“Invasive Species.”

[elpadre]

until the present period of history an “immigrant” was someone legally admitted into the country with a green card. The press has bastardized the word just as have have the word “gay.” When I was young to have a gay old time was to have a joyful time. There was no thought of sodomy.

[Sergio]

Thank you. I wish I could say that it is due to my having a great legal mind, but such is not the case. His comment just did not seem logical to me.

[bergmeid]

There’s nothing professional about those people.

[drpix]

~ “Illegal Alien” truly is a misnomer. A person can't be “illegal”."
It would be more accurate the refer to these people “Criminal Aliens” ~

Don't be suckered down that leftist road. Not only does the law, but even the left, uses the term "illegal" to refer to all kinds of people as in "illegal occupant", "illegal trapper", "illegal food vendor", "illegal trader"....

For generations upon generations, American immigration laws called the foreign born aliens AND separated them in 2 classes "legal aliens" and "illegal alien."

This is crucial because unlike the term "criminal alien", the burden of proof was never on the American government to prove they are "illegal", but on the aliens to prove they are "legal" - as it would be for the former.

[9YearLurker]

Would they prefer Lawbreaker Latino?

[no-to-illegals]

I have seen all the suggestions listed in the thread. All the suggestions were great rational thought. I guess I simply go for the short, illegals.

Be Safe Everyone!

[sourcery]

Anyone who refuses to use the term “illegal immigrant” when and as appropriate is not a legitimate journalist, and should be denied any and all access to right-thinking newsmakers.

[Renderofveils]

How about just “Trespassers.”

[Dr.Zoidberg]

What would be a good replacement?

Criminal invader?

Felonious migrant worker?

Undocumented expeditionary force?

[jimt]

We are in Orwell’s 1984 in many ways, and this is one of them. Controlling the language and how people use language also changes the ideas and concepts that can be expressed.

Many people miss this critical point and just acquiesce. When they do, the other guys win !!

[spaced]

“Invaders?”

That’s what they are. I propose we call them that.

[chicagolady]

Me Too Illegal alien is CORRECT English!!

[chicagolady]

LOL!! Right on!!