Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Paper declares 'the illegal immigrant' its Texan of the Year

The paper got lots of complaints from this, they still think this person/group made the biggest impact on Texas. DP

By Dallas Morning News

usatoday.com: The Dallas Morning News has declared "the illegal immigrant" its Texan of the Year.

As you'd expect, this editorial has evoked some interesting responses in the blogosphere. We'll have more on that in a minute. Here's the paper's rationale:

He breaks the law by his very presence. He hustles to do hard work many Americans won't, at least not at the low wages he accepts. The American consumer economy depends on him. America as we have known it for generations may not survive him. We can't seem to live with him and his family, and if we can live without him, nobody's figured out how. ... To their champions, illegal immigrants are decent, hardworking people who, like generations of European immigrants before them, just want to do better for their families and who contribute to America's prosperity. They must endure hatred and abuse by those of us who want the benefits of cheap labor but not the presence of illegal immigrants. ... Yet to those who want them sent home, illegal immigrants are essentially lawbreakers who violate the nation's borders. They use public resources – schools, hospitals – to which they aren't entitled and expect to be served in a foreign language. They're rapidly changing Texas neighborhoods, cities and culture, and not always for the better. Those who object get tagged as racists.

The paper's list of finalists includes former attorney general Alberto Gonzales, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

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