Intolerable Rhetoric

Published in El Universal
(Mexico) on April 17th, 2008
by Alejandro Meneses (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Holly Fernandez. Edited by .
The leader of the largest Latino organization in the country warns that extremist, intolerant groups are influencing migration policy and places the blame in part on American means of communication by giving them legitimacy in the debate.

During a speech at the National Press Club, Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, made a call for counteracting the rhetoric of these groups which she affirms ferment prejudice towards the Latino community in the country.

“Those voices that would be better if marginalized from the political debate have moved to the front and center of defining the debate,” she said. “Their cruel rhetoric has filled the migration debate with words that demonize and dehumanize not only the immigrants, but also the Latinos, as a menace to the American way of life”.

Murguia added, “They portray us as an ‘army of invaders’. They call us a ‘multitude’ and ‘a massive horde’. They say that we bring sickness and crime to our country”.

The media has been responsible for giving space to the spokespersons of these intolerant organizations that act as “experts” on the migration theme, Murguia maintains, without checking previous facts and rarely presenting alternative points of view.

This lack of partiality is observed in reputable networks such as CBS or CNN, says Murguia, the latter motivated by its conductor Lou Dobbs.

Murguia assures that the majority of the American public is in favor of comprehensive migration reform that includes border security and legalization of undocumented residents under the completion of certain conditions.

“These voices, however, are being drowned out by a group of voices that is small but extremely noisy and persistent”.

In agreement with the accounting by the organization, televised cable has quoted members of these groups at least 120 times in the last three years, without counting written and radio press.

The organization affirms that groups as the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and the Minutemen have contributed to the climate of intolerance.

Murguia maintains that it is not an accident that racial crime towards Latinos registered its highest index in history.

FBI figures confirm that between 2004 and 2006, crimes of racial prejudice against Hispanics grew by 25%.

FAIR, a national organization, defines itself as an entity that advocates “improving border security, detaining illegal immigrants,” and reducing levels of migration.
FAIR as well as other “antiimmigrant” groups say that they are not against legal immigration.

However, a national organization for civil rights, the Southern Poverty Law Center, classified it this past December as an organization that promotes “hate” because of its multiple bonds with racist groups.

Murguia declares that her organization is not against diversity of opinion in regard to solving the migration problem, but affirms that “hate [should be] removed from the debate”.

She explains that the most effective means for giving voice to Latinos and ending the “groundswell of hate” would be by voting in the November election.

“Our next march shall be toward the ballot box”, she concludes.

As part of the campaign against intolerance the organization has launched a web page www.wecanstopthehate.org


La líder de la organización latina más grande del país advierte que grupos extremistas e intolerantes están influyendo en la política migratoria y culpa en parte a los medios de comunicación estadounidenses por darles legitimidad en el debate.

Durante un discurso en el club nacional de prensa, Janet Murguía, presidente de The National Council of La Raza, hizo un llamado para contrarrestar la retórica de estos grupos que ella afirma fomentan prejuicios hacia la comunidad latina del país.

“Aquellas voces que sería mejor dejarlas al margen del debate político se han movido al frente y al centro para definir el debate,” dijo. “Su retórica cruel ha llenado el debate migratorio con palabras que demonizan y deshumanizan no sólo a los inmigrantes, sino a los latinos, como una amenaza a la forma de vida estadounidense.”

Murguía añadió: “Nos representan como una ‘armada de invasores.’ Nos llaman una ‘muchedumbre’ y ‘una horda masiva.’ Dicen que traemos enfermedades y crímenes a nuestro país”.

Los medios de comunicación han sido responsables por darles espacio a portavoces de organizaciones intolerantes que fungen como “expertos” en el tema migratorio, Murguía sostiene, sin revisar sus antecedentes y por rara vez presentar puntos de vista alternos.

Esta falta de parcialidad se observa en cadenas de renombre, como CBS o CNN, dice Murguía, este último por motivo de su conductor Lou Dobbs.

Murguía asegura que la mayoría del público estadounidense está a favor de una reforma migratoria amplia que incluya seguridad fronteriza y la legalización de residentes indocumentados bajo el cumplimiento de ciertas condiciones.

“Esas voces, sin embargo, están siendo ahogadas por una red de voces pequeña pero extremadamente vociferante y persistente”.

De acuerdo con un conteo de la organización, las televisoras de cable han citado a miembros de estos grupos por lo menos 120 veces en los últimos tres años, sin contar prensa escrita y la radio.

La organización afirma que grupos como The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) y Minutemen han contribuido al clima de intolerancia.

Murguía sostiene que no es una casualidad que los crímenes por motivos raciales hacia latinos registren su más alto índice en la historia.

Cifras del FBI confirman que entre 2004 y 2006, los crímenes por prejuicios raciales en contra de hispanos se incrementaron en 25%.

FAIR, una organización nacional, se define como una entidad que aboga por “mejorar la seguridad fronteriza, detener la inmigración ilegal” y reducir los niveles de migración.

Tanto FAIR como otros grupos “antiinmigrante” dicen que no están en contra de la inmigración legal.

Sin embargo, la organización nacional de derechos civiles Southern Poverty Law Center lo clasificó en diciembre pasado como una organización que promueve “odio” por sus múltiples lazos con grupos racistas.

Murguía aclara que su organización no está en contra de la diversidad de opinión en cuanto a solucionar el problema migratorio, pero afirma que se debe “quitar el odio del debate.”

Expone que la manera más efectiva de dar voz a los latinos y terminar con la “oleada de odio” será a través del voto en las elecciones de noviembre.

“Nuestra próxima marcha será hacia las urnas”, concluye.

Como parte de una campaña contra la intolerancia, la organización ha lanzado la página web www.WeCanStoptheHate.org.
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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