Illegal Advocates Obsess on Hate
Supporters of illegal immigration seem to have hate on the brain. It’s all they can talk about. One of their tactics is to claim that any criticism of illegal immigration creates a “climate of hate” against illegal aliens, which in turn causes angry Americans to commit “hate crimes” against them.
Recently, something called the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Fund characterized commentary against illegal immigration as “the dehumanizing, racist stereotypes and bigotry of hate groups” [which] correlates “closely” with an increase of “hate crimes” against Hispanics.
The media reported this claim uncritically and gave it wide play. The lack of honest analysis in this reporting is breathtaking. From 2003 to 2007, officially tabulated “hate crimes” against Hispanics increased from 426 to 595. As lamentable as this is, the increase is not a significant crime wave when compared with the total crime rate.
Interestingly, if 2001 is selected as the starting point instead of 2003, the trend shows a slight decline, 597 cases in 2001 compared with 595 in 2007. Also bear in mind that simple numbers are meaningless in comparing crime rates. A legitimate comparison requires a comparison of the number of crimes per capita against a population. Since 2000 the U.S. Hispanic population increased by 25 percent. An honest figure about crime against Hispanics must subtract this growth from any claimed numerical increase of crimes against them.
As for the crimes committed against Hispanics, just what proof do illegal alien advocates have that criticism of illegal aliens is causing them? The only critics of illegal immigration with large national audiences are commentators like CNN anchor Lou Dobbs who disavow racial malice and mainly focus on the illegality of illegal immigration and its various costs to society. This is simply the kind of discussion on public issues that should go on in a free society. But illegal alien advocates will have none of it. According to them, Dobbs and the rest are “haters.”
Many of them no doubt envision the day when they will have legal power to end free expression of views they hate. One reason, most certainly, is that they have no rational arguments against them.
If these illegal advocates wish to claim that a “climate of hate” causes crimes, perhaps they should look at their own rhetoric and its possible consequences. Unlike Dobbs and the others, they exercise little restraint or moderation over what they say. A case in point is the statement of Leadership Conference labeling opponents of illegal immigration racists and bigots.
Is this hostility to law-abiding Americans, widely spread by the media, responsible for a climate of lawlessness which encourages illegal foreigners to vent
hostility and contempt toward Americans? Numerous reports of crimes by illegals against Americans suggest such possibility. Unfortunately, it is difficult to come by hard statistics on this kind of hate crime. One suspects that there are a number of people in high places who don’t want them known.
In any case, law-abiding patriotic Americans do not advocate censorship of illegal alien advocates, no matter how hateful their rhetoric. True Americans believe in free speech, guaranteed by the First Amendment. In a climate of freedom, patriots can win any debate on illegal immigration.