Calling an illegal alien an ‘undocumented immigrant
One Man's Opinion
I saw this quote today and despite its inflammatory nature, it got me thinking. The quote: “Thought for the day; calling an illegal alien an ‘undocumented immigrant’ is like calling a drug dealer an ‘unlicensed pharmacist.”
First, illegal immigration is a civil violation under the U.S. immigration laws. Drug dealing is a felony. The analogy is exaggerated and doesn’t really apply.
But what I got to thinking about is wording. Language almost always dictates the response. What did you first think when you read that quote? Were you angry? Did you say to yourself, “YES! Exactly!”? or did you, perhaps, find it funny?
Depending on what your beliefs may be, the wording undoubtedly elicited a quick reaction.
This is how the news and social media control and manipulate people. Often, only the headline is read and the article is, at best, skimmed over. Editors use the headline as a grabbing point to get that immediate, emotional reaction so you will read more. It doesn’t necessarily summarize the article.
It’s the old “Dog bites man” gets little reaction whereas “Man bites dog” will draw in readers.
“Undocumented immigrant” elicits a softer, more sympathetic response than “illegal alien” which draws to mind dangerous and strange lawbreakers. Meanwhile, the persons in question are not a label at all. None of us are labels. I really hate generalizations – it is called prejudice.
Prejudice means “pre judged.” “Pre” is a prefix meaning before and a judgment is a decision. A decision, or judgment, comes at the end of examining all the facts. Prejudice is, therefore, making a decision before having all the facts.
Every issue we face can be colored by its wording, drawing an emotional and, perhaps, a prejudiced response. This is why polls can be skewed by pollsters and results used to promote a particular view. I call that “a judgment in search of corroborating evidence.” In other words, prejudice.
On the very hot topic of abortion, we have pro-life people and pro choice people using “pro” as a positive term. And then we also have the “anti” or “against” labels put on those groups. Again, this is done to elicit the emotional support for or against one side or the other.
So a poll question that asks “Do we need a wall to protect us from illegal aliens?” is already a prejudiced statement meant to elicit more of one response than the other.
A poll question that asks “Should we take care of people who come to this country seeking help?” is seeking an opposite kind of response.
Each poll will tout its answers as “proving” a certain position.
Next time you take a poll or see an inflammatory quote, ask yourself: who is the source and what are they really asking. Set your emotional response aside and be like Spock.
Thanks for reading.
