There is a state senator in Florida that wants the state to not use the term "Illegal Alien" in any official state paperwork. State Senator Frederica Wilson, D-Miami says it's not nice to call people aliens because "an alien to me is someone from out of space."
Essentially it's a useless bill, wasting taxpayer money to draft and set it in motion through the legislative mill, that provides no penalties if some wayward state official types it into some state document or record. (Follow this link for a full copy of the bill. It won't take long to read it - trust me!)
And of course, you know why she is backing this important piece of legislation:
In Miami-Dade County, Wilson said, "we don't say 'alien,' we say 'immigrant.'"
She said she encountered the situation when trying to pass a bill allowing children of foreigners to get in-state tuition at colleges and universities. Wilson, who directs a dropout prevention and education program in Miami, said she politely asks witnesses at public hearings on such issues not to use the term.
"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."
You guessed it! It's for the children. (Notice she sponsored a bill to allow these illegal alien undocumented immigrant children to receive in-state tuition.)
Wilson said the first word isn't as bad as the second.
"'Illegal,' I can live with, but I like 'undocumented' better," she said.
At least she isn't entirely off track. However, the term "undocumented" is not true. Many of them have documents of one form or another, just not always legal ones.
Aliens, in most dictionaries, actually refers to foreign citizens in another country. Alien essentially means foreigner. Science fiction borrowed the word to describe extra-terrestrial life.
This is just a case of political correctness. It is feel-good, do-nothing legislation that neither solves a problem or helps anyone directly.
Asked if her bill (SB 2154) might run afoul of Gov. Charlie Crist's "plain speaking" mandate for government agencies, Wilson said, "I think getting rid of 'alien' would be plain speaking."
It's a waste of time. Senator Wilson needs to go back to her home planet.
What we need, instead of this kind of do-nothing lunacy, are real laws mandating strict enforcement of our borders.
VW
**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein@gmail.com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.
Maybe she needs to get a clue....what is she 10 years old? Lots of connotations come to mind with lots of words, but if you have any brains.......
Welcome Back!
Posted by: Blandly Urbane | Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 12:22
Maybe they should call them for what they are, Criminals.
Posted by: BobF | Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 17:01
I have to agree here, serious work needs to be done to deal with this border issue. Not some band-aid legislation to make people feel better.
Posted by: canuckistani | Saturday, March 03, 2007 at 07:56
This ain't even a good lip service job!
And BobF - Amen Bro.
Posted by: Violence Worker | Saturday, March 03, 2007 at 11:01