The mainstreaming of anti-immigrant hate speech

[pinboy3niner]

Illegal-immigration statistics don't stack up amid frenzied debate
by Gregory Rodriguez - Jul. 29, 2010 12:00 AM
Los Angeles Times


<snip>
So, in the face of all this data showing that legal and illegal immigration is down dramatically, what's all the fuss about? Why has the debate turned so nasty? Why does it seem worse than it did in 1994, during the debate over Proposition 187, California's anti-immigrant ballot measure?
<snip>

Furthermore, the right wing, where much of the anti-immigrant frenzy comes from, no longer has an authoritative voice of reason pressing for decency on the issue. Four years ago, after President George W. Bush unsuccessfully launched his own effort at comprehensive immigration reform, he warned against "harsh, ugly rhetoric." Today, Bush is hardly heard from, and the right has an "open borders" policy on over-the-top rhetoric.

Struggling newspapers seeking to engage readers at any cost are also part of the problem. Whereas racist rants were once confined to marginal websites, today many papers - including mine, the Los Angeles Times - have opened their online comments section to, well, complete nut-jobs. Allowing vitriolic racial rhetoric to remain on a mainstream website is to give it a level of acceptability. Just last week, in response to my column on the so-called burka ban in France, a rabid commenter proposed that all those crossing the U.S.- Mexico border without papers should be shot on sight. Nice. Such "dialogue" not only pushes out reasonable people, but also it emboldens the unreasonable ones. By allowing it to be posted, newspapers are presiding over the mainstreaming of anti-immigrant hate speech.

There may be those who see hatred as a justifiable means to an end. Perhaps they hope that all this harsh rhetoric will keep even more illegal immigrants at home. But they'd be silly to think that such invective only makes life harder for immigrants. Unfortunately, it also actively degrades our culture, our public square and our democracy.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/07/28/20100728rodriguez29.html#ixzz0vC3jBmtE


:thumbsup: Gregory Rodriguez deserves a standing ovation for this one!

[noamnety]

1. k&r

"Allowing vitriolic racial rhetoric to remain on a mainstream website is to give it a level of acceptability."

We see the same tactic used in war, we see it in treatment of the poor, we see it against every oppressed group including immigrants. It's always a tool of oppression.

[pinboy3niner]

6. It's a form of bullying--an attempt to stifle opposition

It only takes a few to create a mob mentality. It is ugly and vile, and needs to be stopped. What is incredible is that mainstream publications tolerate this crap for even one minute. Who the hell are they putting in charge of their online content, and why haven't they fired them and put journalists in charge, or at least in an oversight role?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. This may be off topic but we are ALL ONE PEOPLE

and ALL ONE WORLD, not little lines drawn on a map.

[EFerrari]

3. Very well done! K&R

[Kurovski]

4. K&R. (nt)

[pinboy3niner]

5. Kick