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What’s In A Word?
By Greg L | 18 July 2007 | Manassas City, Prince William County | 20 Comments
Are the terms “illegal alien” and “illegal immigrant” interchangeable? The editor of the Manassas Journal-Messenger /Potomac News believes so, and will actually substitute the latter for the former in letters to the editor, which has drawn the ire of at least one reader, who had her letter altered. If you can transform the language used in a debate, you can exercise a lot of control over how that debate occurs, and it’s pretty surprising that the head of an editorial board would choose to behave this way. To have this sort of editorial rewriting happen to the stories of reporters is to be expected to some degree, but to see this done to letters to the editor is pretty outrageous.
Here’s how Susan Svihlik explains her decision:
We generally follow the AP Style Book or Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style” in our writing and we edit contributions from readers to fit our style. By “style” we mean a general agreement on word usage and spelling and grammar. It has little to do with whether a word is offensive or not and much to do with uniformity for reading ease. The accepted “style” covers everything from whether to say “today” or “tonight,” in place of a.m. and p.m. or whether to use “amid” or “amidst.”
Alien and immigrant mean the same thing; “alien” does not imply “illegal.” So the use of either word has nothing to do with legitimizing anything. Using “immigrant” conforms with the newspaper’s agreed upon style. That’s all.
In your case, had I been editing your letter, I probably would have left the word “alien” alone because you put it in quotation marks. But that’s just a sign of differing approaches to editing, not a nefarious motive or message intended.
This is pretty ridiculous, since the term “illegal alien” is defined in Title 8 of the United States Code as the legal description used in federal law for those who enter the country without authorization. Most of us consider the term “immigrant” to refer to someone who already has, or is in the process of becoming an American citizen, and that term is not defined in federal law. Vast numbers of illegal aliens have no intention of becoming American citizens, but by applying the term “illegal immigrant”, or worse, “undocumented immigrant”, it provides a completely different context and changes the meaning of what is said from a legal definition to a statement which implies intentions that are not necessarily accurate.
As far as no nefarious motive goes, it’s notable that this isn’t the only case in which this has happened. How about Svihlik’s transformation of the term “pro-life” into “anti-abortion” in another letter? Does that also not entirely change the context of the writer’s statement and attempt to shape the message of the writer in a way the writer never intended?
As Susan Svihlik continues to run the Manassas Journal-Messenger down the road to financial ruin, she is alienating her readers by demonstrating a pretty stunning degree of hostility to their contributions on the editorial page. When the local media demonstrates how little it can be trusted to accurately present letters to the editors, how much trust can readers have that the stories that are reported will be accurately presented?
The shame here is that the reporters they have are good, professional journalists that I generally have great respect for. How badly are their solid efforts being degraded because of the professional malfeasance of Susan Svihlik?
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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20 Comments
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I told the MJM a month ago in a Letter to the editor(6/22) Their title, What do you mean illegal immigrant? I explained..
1) “illegal alien” is an undocumented illegal entrant (invader) of the U.S.A. “illegal immigrant” does not exist.
2) I think we all need to use the proper terms and includes the MJM.
Most letters to the editor are pro-illegal. They aren’t very fair and/or balanced!! They need to be called out on this biased behavior. We all need to write the editor on this one!!! We need to remind them of freedom of speech. I think the quote thing is a cop-out!!
You could try to call them out on it, Lafayette, and write the editor…but she’ll only edit it.
AWC
I wrote a thank you letter to PWCBOS(via letter to editor), on 7/10/07, right after the vote. I’m still waiting to see that one, I doubt we’ll see it at all, just because it doesn’t suit their pro-illegal opinion.
Everyone stop reading/buying this rag. Problem solved.
My letter to the Pot News that never got published:
Ref your front page headline today:
“Next steps on immigration planned”
Should have been:
“Next steps on illegals planned”
Why do you pander to illegals?
Are they buying your paper?
I agree with Park’d. Let’s boycott this paper.
I have a question, I read it online for free, does MJM gain anything from this?
Patty
You should write a letter to the editor from you and your husband. Let them know he’s a citizen, and he too calls them what they are “ILLEGAL ALIENS”.
We need to have a little get together of fellow concern neighbors.
All(off topic)
I’m very pleased to say the house with the Che Guavara(Greg posted pictures of this house) poster, has been foreclosed on. Their vacation of the property began last night. I sure would like to tell them “AMF”!!!! Since, last week’s 8-0 yes vote, we have two houses now that have vacated!!!!Perhaps, they are going to Montgomery County in the “Free state”….
You better “watch your words”. Look at this article…this is much like the Hate Crimes bill that is looming about.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070717.RIGHTS17/TPStory/National
The Hate Crimes bill must be stopped!
The Senate may be voting, as early as today, on S.1105, the so-called “hate crimes” bill.
I pointed out, in an earlier post, the ominous ommissions of the word “illegal” when referring to…ehem…undocumented immigrants…in certain pro-illegal publications.
I’m overcome with joy to know that by changing SOMEONE ELSE’S wording to suit your (MJM) editorial morals doesn’t in fact change the meaning! Now I ask you… are you going to replace the term “racist” with something like, oh I don’t know, “happy” or perhaps “petunia”?
Here’s another letter to the editor. This person must not live near Georgetown South, Bristoe Station, Point of Woods, and several other single family home subdivisions in the city.
I have lived in Manassas now 20109, we used to be 22110, and the city was also 22110, Mr. Don’t need help, should be a little more aware of where “Manassas” is, and that it is in both Prince William County and Manassas City…
My mother grew up in the city and lived there until moving to the county. Me and the other 3 generations of family are outraged by this letter. I would think many others would be too.
I’ve lived here my entire life, the drug problem has NEVER left Georgetown South, since the 1970’s, before Mr. Settle landed here. I bet he’s lived in some of the neighborhoods that have been invaded at sometime or another in all his years here.
http://www.manassasjm.com/servlet/Satellite?c=MGArticle&cid=1173352061062&pagename=MJM/MGArticle/WPN_BasicArticle&path=
Layfayette,
Funny, how drug deals don’t just stop at the city limits.
I wonder if Manassas city were in some sort of a natural disaster ( i.e) would this person want help from PWC, MP, FX, FEMA OR any other OUTSIDE help?
Also, HSM is for helping, The city of Manassas, Manassas PArk and Prince William County. It has members living in each one of theres. Also it is open to and has members of “The greater Manassas area”
redawn
Excellent point, I never told Manassas City or Manassas Park, Rescue Squad/Fire Depts., they weren’t welcome at my house.
Both cities, came to help by ill father, for four years before his death. I can’t imagine any sane person would refuse help!!!!
Here is another one…..
http://www.manassasjm.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MJM%2FMGArticle%2FWPN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351653731&path=!opinion
I can’t tell if it is SELFISH, arrogance OR do theses fall under
“ignorance is bliss”?
Mr. SETTLE does need to open his eyes and ears. There are still huge problems in GTS. you just don’t hear about them like you used to. The people that live there see the brazen display of drug deals, out in the open, daily.
Mr. SETTLE must not have kids in the school system either or he would know that there are major problems there also.
I say, Mr. SETTLE open your eyes and listen to what is going on around you!
What else do you expect from a liberal rag?
Mr. Settle is just another person to add the list of folks that feed the cancer called “Illegal Invasion”. This people make me sick to my stomach!
Bush needs to be impeached for not only ignoring Article IV Section IV of our Constitution but actively working with foreign Governments to subvert it and aiding & abiding the Invasion of this country!