Your friend Jim George thinks you'd be a great addition to Ricochet, so we'd like to offer you a special deal: You can become a member for no initial charge for one month!
Ricochet is a community of like-minded people who enjoy writing about and discussing politics (usually of the center-right nature), culture, sports, history, and just about every other topic under the sun in a fully moderated environment. We’re so sure you’ll like Ricochet, we’ll let you join and get your first month for free. Kick the tires: read the always eclectic member feed, write some posts, join discussions, participate in a live chat or two, and listen to a few of our over 50 (free) podcasts on every conceivable topic, hosted by some of the biggest names on the right, for 30 days on us. We’re confident you’re gonna love it.
If I don’t file a tax return, am I an undocumented taxpayer?
Whew!! You had me good there for a second, HR.
Today, Facebook readers tend to have difficulty recognizing as satire a “TV Interview” spoof ridiculing the sweet, sexy airheadedness of a young slogan-spouting socialist Latina who only Occasionally- engages her cerebral -Cortex.
And now I find that I myself have mentally matured to the point where I need help in the humour-detection department.
Henry,
I shall place this quote upon my computer screen with a sticky for inspiration (at least until noon). Doesn’t this return to rational nomenclature make you feel that in some small way sanity is peeking out from the hole that it has been hiding in and that lunacy finally is beginning to recede?
Please don’t tell me about anything else going on today or it’ll spoil the feeling.
Regards,
Jim
Apparently, immediately after meeting with Loretta Lynch, a person with James Comey remarked in the elevator, “I suppose you are now the director of the ‘Federal Bureau of Matters’.”
I believe they objected to the word “aliens” because they watch too many science fiction blockbusters and never learned the basic meaning of the word.
Good point.
Have wondered how long it will take for the left to usurp for themselves the label “right” and relegate us to “left.”
It’s inevitable.
They did it with “liberal.”
Then with the “red” party.
The temptation of their being labeled “right” they will not resist.
I can sort of get the semantic discomfort that “illegal alien” causes the Left. As the maxim goes, “love the sinner, hate the sin.” Actions can be illegal, but can people?
However, it is merely a semantic argument. I doubt most proponents of border control really think the people themselves are illegal, but “migrants who cross the border illegally” would be a bit of a mouthful.
People on Ricochet have already done it to me. So, yes, it has already happened.
Miss Theocracy, I think you’re overthinking it.
Aliens who are here illegally are illegal aliens, just as a turn that is illegal at a particular corner is an illegal turn.
I’m sure the discomfort it causes the left isn’t some subtle aspect of language, but rather the fact that the word “illegal” means, to most Americans, “wrong,” and the left doesn’t like the idea being promulgated that entering the nation illegally is in any way wrong.
Me too.
Bank robbery = unauthorized withdrawal . . .
Baby steps. The left seeks to coopt language to mangle the truth in reaching their goals.
I’m all for using words to express the truth.
Illegal immigrants is very direct.
Why the word aliens over the word immigrants?
I’ve always preferred the little used (except by me) “illegal entrant.” It’s hard to argue with.
Partly, perhaps, because “immigrant” presumes something about intent, whereas “alien” is a simple statement of fact.
Funny thing, how words matter.
An alien concept to so many.
The dictionary definition of “immigrant,” at least from Merriam-Webster, includes an intent of permanent residency. An illegal might want to stay for life, but “alien” is a broader term.
Drug dealer = Undocumented pharmacist
I like this. It addresses Misthi’s objection, as the word “illegal” could be said to refer to the entry, not the person, while still emphasizing the illegality of it all.
‘Criminal aliens’.
Besides which, whole platoons of Germans immigrated to France during WWII.
I actually had a farm owner float that objection in a social setting– “we shouldn’t call people aliens, like space aliens.” Not stupid at all, calculating and intentional about shifting politics by controlling language.
Looks like the change in terminology goes back to 2017.
However, there may well have been significant internal resistance in DOJ, necessitating a follow-up message to U.S. Attornies this summer.
And it only took a year and a half of the present administration to do this, why?
The dictionary definition of immigrant is “a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.” Some illegals meet that definition, but many don’t. For me, the word immigrant carries the connotation that the person wants to become an American and assimilate into American culture; not just to get a job or some government benefits. So I think alien is more accurate than immigrant.
But the real inaccuracy is in the word undocumented. These illegals have lots of documents. They are papered over with forged documents. In California, they don’t even have to visit their local forger – the state will actually give them valid documents. The left likes the word undocumented because it makes it sound like the whole problem is just a paperwork error.
Correct. “Alien” is less specific. It’s more inclusive. See! The Trump administration is fostering inclusion. How enlightened. How brave!
I prefer the term “superthinking”.
I believe use of the term “immigrants” implies a permanent legal resettlement of people from one country to another, whereas “aliens” are citizens of another country who can be here legally or illegally.
I believe I’m right, because my wife’s not here to tell me I’m wrong . . .
I once pointed out to someone claiming “illegal immigrant is racist” that that was the original PC translation of the legal alien. He was none too pleased when I refused to alter my vocabulary.
Just like “black” used to be the preferred alternative to “Negro.”
And “retarded” used to be the preferred alternative to “moron” or “idiot” (both of which have lost all connection to mental illness in today’s usage.)
One might suspect that they’re doing this on purpose.