Jackson Free Press Editorial By: JFP Staff on Dec 05, 07 | 3:53 pm
"Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you." Any child who's been the object of hateful, hurtful words knows down deep that it's a lie. Words can hurt, can damage, can, in fact, leave psychic scars that may never heal.
This year's hateful lineup of words may be the most damaging since the 1960s. Back then the words were "coon," "boogie" and "n*gger."
Today, the words are "invaders," "illegals" and "cockroaches." Each of the words depersonalizes and dehumanizes "the other"; the words incite fear in the hearts of an insecure population already terrified by unspecific threats from the wars on terrorism and drugs and an economy that never seems to get any better despite every new crop of politicians' promises.
Out of work? Blame an illegal. Can't live on what you make? Blame an invader from Mexico. Kids on drugs? Blame a Columbian cockroach.
The inevitable result of this newest round of hate rhetoric is a sharp rise in violence against Latinos"”35 percent nationwide and nearly twice the numbers of crimes in places like California, targeting brown-skinned immigrants. Traditionally anti-black organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan"”the Mississippi White Knights"”have taken up the gauntlet thrown down by irresponsible, power-hungry politicians, and irresponsible, loud-mouthed media hosts. Hate-focused speech and hate-focused violence are hurting innocent people.
Mississippi has a long reputation of targeting groups for violence and retribution. In the '60s, Hodding Carter wrote about the "uptown Klan," the white Citizen's Council based in Jackson, which didn't espouse violence directly, yet created an atmosphere where anti-black and anti-civil rights violence was rampant. It is no different today; supposedly "God-fearing" people running for office have found "illegals" handy for their fear-based rhetoric.
Mississippians should let their legislators know they recognize such speech as a throwback to the "old" Mississippi"”one we would like to see permanently in our past"”and that we will not tolerate it. As painful as it was to re-elect old-line incumbents in the last election, voters sent a clear message to the Democrats: "We don't need you to out-conservative the conservatives."
Such language demonizes human beings and squelches responsible discussion of issues such as immigration and job creation.
Removing hate-speech and hate-related violence from our lives takes courage"”the courage not to give in to the fear it engenders.
You're smarter than that, Mississippi. You've seen it all before.
Jackson Free Press Editorial By: JFP Staff on Dec 05, 07 | 3:53 pm
"Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you." Any child who's been the object of hateful, hurtful words knows down deep that it's a lie. Words can hurt, can damage, can, in fact, leave psychic scars that may never heal.
This year's hateful lineup of words may be the most damaging since the 1960s. Back then the words were "coon," "boogie" and "n*gger."
Today, the words are "invaders," "illegals" and "cockroaches." Each of the words depersonalizes and dehumanizes "the other"; the words incite fear in the hearts of an insecure population already terrified by unspecific threats from the wars on terrorism and drugs and an economy that never seems to get any better despite every new crop of politicians' promises.
Out of work? Blame an illegal. Can't live on what you make? Blame an invader from Mexico. Kids on drugs? Blame a Columbian cockroach.
The inevitable result of this newest round of hate rhetoric is a sharp rise in violence against Latinos"”35 percent nationwide and nearly twice the numbers of crimes in places like California, targeting brown-skinned immigrants. Traditionally anti-black organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan"”the Mississippi White Knights"”have taken up the gauntlet thrown down by irresponsible, power-hungry politicians, and irresponsible, loud-mouthed media hosts. Hate-focused speech and hate-focused violence are hurting innocent people.
Mississippi has a long reputation of targeting groups for violence and retribution. In the '60s, Hodding Carter wrote about the "uptown Klan," the white Citizen's Council based in Jackson, which didn't espouse violence directly, yet created an atmosphere where anti-black and anti-civil rights violence was rampant. It is no different today; supposedly "God-fearing" people running for office have found "illegals" handy for their fear-based rhetoric.
Mississippians should let their legislators know they recognize such speech as a throwback to the "old" Mississippi"”one we would like to see permanently in our past"”and that we will not tolerate it. As painful as it was to re-elect old-line incumbents in the last election, voters sent a clear message to the Democrats: "We don't need you to out-conservative the conservatives."
Such language demonizes human beings and squelches responsible discussion of issues such as immigration and job creation.
Removing hate-speech and hate-related violence from our lives takes courage"”the courage not to give in to the fear it engenders.
You're smarter than that, Mississippi. You've seen it all before.
And when you are an illegal alien blame the messenger for the hostility you bring upon yourself?
It obviously does not occur to any of you that we have a reason to be angry. There are illegal aliens of all races and ethnicities in this country but here are legitimate reasons illegal hispanics are the most despised by 82% of Americans:
(a) The sheer arrogance shown in marching on the American soil you illegally invaded and waiving the rag of your poverty stricken countryas if the: poverty, despair, cultural corruption, homelessness, illiteracy, transportation of other 3rd world diseases and overpopulating the planet is something to be proud of.
(b) The sense of entitlement: as if we owe any of you anything simply because you are still pissed that we won the war and went on the prosper as a nation and send billions to help relieve your perpetual poverty and total inability to take care of yourselves or the millions of children you perpetually and blindly create and expect Americans to provide for them.
(c) The demands for rights and entitlement to benefits for every baby you deliberately push out simply because the birth deliberately occurs on American soil;
(d) The fact that you refuse to assimilate and expect us to learn spanish to accomodate the millions who have flooded our country illegally;
(e) The fact that you think you deserve a "path to citizenship" and instate tuition because of the criminal actions OF YOUR PARENTS;
(d) The fact that you all think you deserve amnesty because you snuck through a hole in the border fence.
I could go on but these are merely a small portion of the reason why we detest your illegal presence, the PC gloves are off and we are mad as hell and not going to accomodate your illegal presence anymore.
As for your claims that the backlash is against all hispanics? You can thank LaRaza, LuLac, Calderon, Elvira and all the rest of the OBL racist progandist who speak on your behalf.
"Such language demonizes human beings and squelches responsible discussion of issues such as immigration and job creation.
Removing hate-speech and hate-related violence from our lives takes courage"”the courage not to give in to the fear it engenders.
You're smarter than that, Mississippi. You've seen it all before."
I couldn't agree more Explora. Some of the postings here are not worth a response from me...my mama taught me better than that! Good will prevail over evil...it always does in the end.
and "good" is not how I would describe any illegal alien dirtbag...they are scum of the earth, stealing jobs, educational and medical benefits from American taxpayers.....enough...ship their sorry butts back to their own country, and let them argue over words there.
I agree 100 % !!! There is no room for hate and intolerance ! We must all get along and love and respect each other in remembrance of our savior and Lord, Baby little Jesus Christ. Little Baby Jesus Christ would not want us hurting each other with unkind words. Who among us is to judge another? Only God wil judge us on that day.
God Bless God and America and No One Else !!!
Impeach Obama ! ............................... SOM - THE VOICE OF REASON
1) No I own most of my company 2) No, write checks to Fed and County 3) no 4) yes 5) no 6) Gross low 7 figure, net I take the fifth 7) asian male 8) strongly protective of children from parasites (see #9) 9) severly allergic to parasites, particularly the human type
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