Words Have Power

CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY AUGUST 2, 2021

         LANGUAGE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. IT CAN BE USED TO LEAD OR OBFUSCATE. IN THE CASE OF THE

CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, IT IS BEING USED FOR THE LATTER.

         THE LATEST EXAMPLE: THE EPOCH TIMES NEWSPAPER HAS OBTAINED A MEMO FROM A TOP

IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL DIRECTING IMMIGRATION JUDGES TO STOP USING THE TERM “ILLEGAL ALIENS” TO

DESCRIBE, WELL, ILLEGAL ALIENS.

         IN THE JULY 23RD MEMO, TITLED “TERMINOLOGY,” ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR

IMMIGRATION REVIEW, JEAN KING, TOLD IMMIGRATION JUDGES TO INSTEAD USE TERMS SUCH AS

“UNDOCUMENTED NONCITIZEN” AND “UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUAL.”

         KING ALSO DIRECTED JUDGES TO STOP USING THE TERM “UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILD” TO

DESCRIBE UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN, PREFERRING “UNACCOMPANIED NON-CITIZEN CHILD” AND

“UNACCOMPANIED NON U.S. CITIZEN CHILD.”

         THIS REMINDS ME OF THE LANGUAGE MANIPULATION USED TO DE-SENSITIZE PEOPLE ABOUT

ABORTION. PEOPLE WANTED THE UNBORN CHILD TO BE CALLED A FETUS, OR “PRODUCT OF CONCEPTION”

SO AS TO HIDE THE NATURE OF THE HORRIFIC ACT.

         A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE, EVEN IF YOU CALL IT A TULIP. I’M CAL THOMAS.

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