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.
