Showing posts with label facts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label facts. Show all posts
Nov 1, 2010
Introduction to Facts
It is difficult in today's society to differentiate between fact and speculation when we have so many biased sources. We need to know the facts about issues in order to understand the different perspectives represented on TV, on the radio, on blogs, in newspapers and in editorial cartoons. If we are uneducated about the issue of immigration, it is easy to misidentify and misinterpret the meanings represented in media. It is also easy to find sources that are bias and ignorant of the perspectives of other people, but if we know the facts, we can deduce the true meaning of what we read. We can make informed decisions and will be able to share our knowledge with those around us. Many of the cartoons we evaluated referenced political parties, politicians, laws and racism. Before understanding the meaning of cartoons, we first must understand how these different structures have an effect on the issue of immigration and what exactly that effect is.
Racism, Prejudice, Fear
Hypocrites like Lou Dobbs, who speak out hatefully against undocumented workers while hiring them, may seem unpleasant, but the nation seems to be paying attention to their words more than actions. Glenn Beck's speeches about immigrants sound similar to speech used about blacks before the Civil Rights Movement. Hate crimes are on the rise, and fear is the source. The lingo used on television is not helping Americans accept and welcome these new faces. Broadcasters and journalists frequently use words like "illegal immigrant" or "alien," which dehumanize these people and are inconsistent with facts. Immigrants who do not have papers should instead be referred to as "undocumented immigrants" or "undocumented workers." Sensitivity should be used when discussing issues that affect so many human lives, regardless of which side a person is on.
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The Immigration Issue in Utah
Though many people in the state of Utah approach this subject with caution, others like 2007's GOP delegate Don Larsen and Sen. Chris Buttars have strong feelings on the issue. In 2007, Larsen compared undocumented immigrants to a plan of the devil. Buttars, though less blunt (so far), sponsored a bill in March, which he said would force undocumented workers elsewhere. Not many politicians from Utah have come right out to discuss the issue, but Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Bob Bennet and Rep. John Matheson, Rep. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz have all been asked about the issue and though they do not agree on a solution, they do agree that it is an issue that needs to be discussed.
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The Arizona Law
The Arizona Law about immigration "requires state and local police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they reasonably suspect of being an illegal immigrant." The Obama administration brought a lawsuit against it in July, claiming that the law was discriminatory and unconstitutional. The matter has caused a heated debate across the nation between people who are in favor of or outraged about the law. A federal judge soon ruled that parts of the law that could lead to harassment and issued an injunction. The law is still heavily debated. On Wednesday (10/27/10) the federal appeals court ruled that proof of citizenship should not be necessary when registering to vote, and today (11/1/10) lawyers appealed the ruling of the suit in July.
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