Our country appears to have lapsed into one of its occasional periods of hysteria over a stubborn social problem. The residue of racism has created some unfortunate reaction in very inappropriate directions. Those of us who have been involved in immigration reduction have grown accustomed to shrieks of “racist” from excitable people convinced that they are on the side of virtue — or from professional ethnics who play the race card like a drum. On the whole, the entire concept of “hate speech” is one huge can of worms and a serious danger to free expression.
At the same time, legislators of the same politically correct ilk busy themselves creating laws against “hate crimes” which presuppose that the motivation-based category is somehow worse than other sorts of violence. (So, is it better to be beat up by a common thug or by a stranger with a political agenda? Does one hurt less than the other?) The anti-hate policies are dangerously inclusive, particularly regarding free speech. Have you perhaps called the current level of immigration an “invasion”? Look out for the thought police.
DANGERS IN FREE SPEECH
The immediate danger to persons practicing free speech is all around. One recent casualty was the mayor of Huntington Park, Tom Jackson, who in mid-May was forced to resign for making remarks deemed anti-immigrant. Mayor Jackson had criticized efforts in the California legislature to make it easier for illegals to get driver's licenses. He also said that “the entire country of Mexico cannot come to California” and similarly radical statements.
In another example of hysteria looking for a cause, some concerned townsfolk in southern California recently formed the Palm Springs Task Force for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. The object of their concern was a billboard from ProjectUSA which read, “Immigration will double U.S. population in my lifetime. (And that's not fair.)” This restatement of Census projections was judged to be hate speech by the Palm Springs residents. No hate crimes had been committed or threatened. But the mere possibility was sufficient to arouse the Task Force to demand the city council remove the sign.
In early June, Glenn Spencer's immigration talk show on KIEV AM in Los Angeles was pulled because of pressure from Hispanic groups complaining about “hate speech” even though Mr. Spencer always stated clearly he was not against “loyal Americans of Mexican descent,” but did have a problem with the Mexican irredentists living among us. (The show was later reinstated after pressure from another group.)
It's reminiscent of President Harry Truman's explanation that “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.” Immigration reformers tell the truth and the uninformed and unscrupulous call it “hate speech.”
Today's guilt-ridden reaction to the word “racism” has made that accusation the gold-plated technique of choice for any foreign rip-off scam. Do residents of Cochise County Arizona object to the thousands of trespassers (some of whom are drug smugglers) destroying their property daily? (One rancher recently reported $15,000 in losses to his property and livestock.) That's racism, according to the professional apologists for lawbreakers. Hopefully, the absurdity of such kneejerk claims will become more evident to average citizens.
In addition, such crying wolf about racism makes real instances easier to overlook. It cheapens a real problem.
— by Brenda Walker
