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February 28, 2007

Let's Call Them "Phone Homes" Instead

It seems that some people are upset by the term "illegal aliens"

TALLAHASSEE -- A state legislator whose district is home to thousands of Caribbean immigrants wants to ban the term "illegal alien" from the state's official documents.

"I personally find the word 'alien' offensive when applied to individuals, especially to children," said Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami. "An alien to me is someone from out of space."

She has introduced a bill providing that: "A state agency or official may not use the term 'illegal alien' in an official document of the state." There would be no penalty for using the words.

It's heartening to know that she abides by only her personal definitions of words, not on, say, something so arbitrary and racist as Websters

Main Entry: 1alien Pronunciation: \ˈā-lē-ən, ˈāl-yən\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin alienus, from alius Date: 14th century 1 a: belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : strange b: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government : foreign c: exotic 1 2: differing in nature or character typically to the point of incompatibility

especially where 1:b, the "relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government" bit comes in. No, it wouldn't do to mention that at all.

The best part part is this quote

"There are students in our schools whose parents are trying to become citizens and we shouldn't label them," she said. "They are immigrants, through no fault of their own, not aliens."

Through no fault of their own? Did some tornado touch down and sweep them off to Oz? Did they pay thousands of dollars to some coyote in Chiapas, innocently thinking they were simply getting a ride to the local bodega when in fact the coyote was under orders from Darth Rove to transport them to Tucson?

I will give her credit for this, however

Wilson said the first word isn't as bad as the second.

"'Illegal,' I can live with, but I like 'undocumented' better," she said.

There may be some hope for her.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at February 28, 2007 03:16 PM

Comments

Flippin' retards.

Amusingly though, it reminds me of a fellow I knew in jr. high. I could never convince him that when he visited a foreign country, HE was the "foreigner".

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at February 28, 2007 03:37 PM

Well Ken, that double vision always seemed to get the best of him.

Posted by: Nightfly at February 28, 2007 06:00 PM

No surprise.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at February 28, 2007 06:59 PM

Imagine if someone used the word niggardly around that woman. Her head would probably explode.

Posted by: Dave E. at March 1, 2007 10:10 AM

Freddie Wilson is an embarassment. Fortunately, this bill's chances of going anywhere are pretty much zero.

Posted by: Dave J at March 1, 2007 09:02 PM