Posted on 11/23/2007 11:45:12 AM PST by Dubya
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A local TV crew was shooting a live morning report about Lisa Dupre's Sacramento preschool, where toddlers can learn yoga, etiquette and Spanish as a second language.
The phone rang -- the first response, Dupre thought, to an on-air invitation for parents to get more information. She let her answering machine pick up.
"I thought this was America, not Mexico. This is English only," a voice growled when she listened later. "That's why we've got a problem with illegal aliens -- because people like you are trying to change California into Mexico."
A stunned Dupre -- whose school also offers French -- said she remembers thinking, "This guy is not the sharpest tool in the shed."
Several more callers complained to her after the August TV report that she was catering to Mexicans, and a neighbor struck up a conversation with her to blame Mexicans, Dupre said, for everything wrong -- including grocery prices.Whether it's in conversation, on Web sites or flowing from cable TV and radio talk shows, the shrillness of the anti-illegal-immigration debate has become disturbing, say groups that monitor hate speech.
The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center has produced reports on anti-Latino rhetoric, and the Anti-Defamation League, founded to expose anti-Semitism, issued a report in October called, Immigrants Targeted: Extremist Rhetoric Moves Into the Mainstream.
Their point is that rational debate over immigration has been drowned out by the noise of unfounded accusations that illegal immigrants are the driving force behind problems such as identity theft and rising health insurance costs.
Activists who oppose illegal immigration say they are just holding the line against opponents they accuse of wanting "open borders." And they believe they represent the will of the majority.
"There is no doubt that immigration is a necessary debate," said Deborah Lauter, the Anti-Defamation League's civil rights director. "But it must remain civil."
ADL researchers reviewed Web sites, news reports and activists' media appearances for the report.
CNN's Lou Dobbs comes under fire for what the group calls "false propaganda" about illegal immigrants and disease that he refused to recant. TV pundit Pat Buchanan is criticized for spreading xenophobia in his book, State of Siege, in which he describes Latino immigration as a mortal cultural threat.
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is cited by the ADL for calling illegal immigration a "slow-motion terrorist attack."
The ADL cites comments by D.A. King of Georgia, who founded an anti-illegal-immigrant group called the Dustin Inman Society. He has appeared on CNN and testified before a congressional committee.
In April, a newspaper report said, King told a gathering of Georgia Republican Party members that illegal immigrants are "not here to mow your lawn -- they're here to blow up your buildings and kill your children, and you and me."
Online: Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org
Anti-Defamation League, www.adl.org
Dustin Inman Society, www.thedustininmansociety.org
Personally, I think the pro-immigration rhetoric is far more disturbing.
The true cry is, Get Used To It American, America does not belong to the Citizens of America. America has tried a policy of being a 'safety valve' for the world. A failed policy from this policy's initial conception. But a failed, doomed policy is what America has. Learn Spanish and become ready to bow to that mid-east heck-hole and asteroid. It is coming quicker than anyone thinks.....mho
Unfounded my assets. I read daily all kinds of info that verifies it isn't unfounded.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I’ll second that...
but criticize the opponents of lawbreakers at your own risk, uhhh writer’s strike and all. What else would cable news cover? I mean ‘if it bleeds it leads’ wasn’t just invented yesterday! God forbid news teams be forced to start covering law abiding citizens...who would watch?/s
Often, so I understand, these advocacy groups use such devises to exaggerate their position.
It been suggested that often these “death threats” are imaginary.
I don’t know.
“Learn Spanish and become ready to bow to that mid-east heck-hole and asteroid. It is coming quicker than anyone thinks.....mho”
Nahhh...those 2 are just smokescreens for the Chinese invasion just around the corner! Mobetta you should learn Mandarin....mho
Whether it’s in conversation, on Web sites or flowing from cable TV and radio talk shows, the shrillness of the anti-illegal-immigration debate has become disturbing, say groups that monitor hate speech.
"I thought this was America, not Mexico. This is English only," a voice growled....
remembers thinking, "This guy is not the sharpest tool in the shed."
the shrillness of the anti-illegal-immigration debate has become disturbing, say groups that monitor hate speech.
issued a report in October called, Immigrants Targeted: Extremist Rhetoric Moves Into the Mainstream.
Their point is that rational debate over immigration has been drowned out by the noise of unfounded accusations
Ha! This scumbag Ferriss is a perfect fit at "the sac".
So speaking ill of illegal aliens and the documented problems they cause is now ‘hate speech’? I think it is HATEFUL to call those who oppose illegal immigration anything but mainstream.
The PRO illegal groups are doing their best to label us all as racists and xenophobes. This way they can avoid direct dialog on the subject. Typical leftard tactic.
China, Islam and 900 million from Latin America all at once.
Terrible time for our mis-leaders to show such stupidity and weakness.
I think the point was that this woman was advertising a preschool, not advocating open borders. Teaching another language in school is far different from supporting illegal immigration. Even when I was a little kid, there were other languages taught at school.
Well, I think all law enforcement officers should have to learn Spanish, Arabic, and a few other languages — so they can forcefully, in languages they can understand, tell those illegals (CRIMINALS) to get the hell out of our country and go back and clean up the sewers they came from.
Nothing is taking place which warrants concern. There is NO wolf at the door. The good ship, of America, didn't strike an iceberg. NO planes were flown into Twin Towers in New York. No plane struck the Pentagon. There's NOT a War going on. Every country in the world, loves America, No siege is taking place. Nobody has died. Americans being vigilant is foolishness. Do Not question anyone's motives. All is Well! America should take another sleeping pill and go back to sleep.
I refuse to post a sarcasm tag with this post. Just like Web Hubble said, "I've been asked to roll over, one more time."
Back in 6th grade (in 1976, West. L.A.) we were goofing off in (a required) Spanish class and the teacher said "you all better pay attention; one day Spanish will be as dominant as English in our country" (or something to that effect). We all just rolled our eyes. ...naively.
Picking an isolated jerk to represent the millions of people you disagree with is disturbging.
I believe Ms Ferris, and the credibility of her writings, would benefit by putting the definition of “projection” on a sticky note and affixing it to her computer screen when she sits down to “practice her craft.”
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