February 9, 2010 in Letters

Headline term disrespectful

The Spokesman-Review
 

I’m disappointed to see the term “illegals” used by your paper, and in a headline no less (“Bill takes direct aim at illegals, employers,” Jan. 30). Firstly, “illegal” is an adjective, meaning it can describe a noun but is not one itself. Secondly, the United States was founded on the premise that all humans possess certain innate rights, and I fail to see how this principle is compatible with referring to a group of human beings as “illegal.”

Persons aren’t illegal, though their immigration status may be. It may not fit just right, but please don’t use dehumanizing language toward those with the same inalienable rights as yourself. We don’t refer to speeders or murderers or those who are avoiding warrants as “illegals,” even though they, too, are breaking the law.

Lindsey Swingrover

Coeur d’Alene

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Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • greyhound2 on February 09 at 5:27 a.m.

    A legal immigrant has respect for our laws and plays by the rules. An illegal immigrant has no respect for our laws and does not play by the rules. Legal immigrants are welcome. Illegal immigrants are not.

  • Marksman on February 09 at 8:56 a.m.

    Those “inalienable rights” you wish to bestow on immigrants who enter the US of A illegally are reserved by the US Constitution to citizens; native born or naturalized. Unfortunately sneaking into America and avoiding detection does not make you a naturalized citizen!
    If you want to benefit from Americas promise, enter the Country legally!

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