Putting a human face on the anti-American DREAM Act

Seattle Times editorial columnist Kate Riley offers us "Putting a human face on the immigration debate". Like many other PIIPPs ("pro-illegal immigration puff pieces") it supports Orrin Hatch (R-UT)'s anti-American DREAM Act. That Act would take discounted college educations away from U.S. citizens and give them to illegal aliens.

What sets this apart from other similar articles is that she's an editorial columnist and she's not pretending it's a news story. But, don't fear, because it's objectionable on other grounds.

The article is a sales job for that Act, and we're informed that the "immigration debate too often forgets people like [the current poster child for the DREAM Act]." Sorry, no it doesn't. In fact, newspapers prefer to generalize from the case of one or two outstanding, upstanding, sympathetic illegal aliens. They frequently ignore all the issues surrounding this one-sided "debate."

As I read this article (and the previous one she references: "Fouled-up system victimizes worthy immigrant students"), I couldn't quite figure out whether Riley is just a ditzy, less than well-informed, gushing heart "liberal", or something else. I began to hear a bit more of the Tokyo Rose in the voice of her articles, so I'm favoring the "something else" part.

Comments

What we have to think about is that in life what is only fair is to be rewarded for your hard work which results in showing at a professional level,your superiority.It is not about whether you were born in a certain country or region.It it is about competing with the best to become the best. So for all those US citizens who belive deep in their hearts that this type of help for illegal aliens should not be provided this is your opportunity to show that you are the ones who deserve the help and are the best. Why? because the competition is tight against bright immigrants and will get tighter with those who are still to come.This is a challenge that should be taken to show you deserve to be in the land of opportunity the opportunity that someone in your own family tree took andvange of at a point in time, and if you dont have a good life economically and the intellectual level to reach your goals, dont blame the rest of the world blame who ever in your family didn't take advantage of opportunity or yourself if it is yours. Give those in the race of opportunity to start from the same point.Remember all whether an immigrant or not show you're the best and that you deserve it,specially show respect to gain recpect because actions are louder than words.

Well No No, for every illegal immigrant child that is given a slot at in state tuition prices, an American child will do without. With college prices being so expensive, a lot of American children can only afford in state tuition. So if being for the American children is racist in your eyes, well you can call us racist. And as for the statement - quote
won't go to college unless they are able to
pay 20,000 a year and even if they paid and got
college degree there are no way in USA to get a
job without document.
So simple we are adding 50,000 to 60,000 young dissapointed undocumeted students who's considered to be "criminals".
unquote

That seems like a threat to the American people to do what illegal immigrants want us in regard to the Dream Act or else we are going to have to deal with these children as criminals later on. Well what about the American children that don't get to go to college because a slot they would have gotten goes to an illegal immigrant child. They are in danger of becoming criminals too according to your hypothesis. I mean won't the American children be just as disappointed and denied a college education? They are at risk also. And Americans should be for Americans first. I am sure that illegal immigrants are for illegal immigrants first. So you can do all the name calling you want. An American child should not be denied in order to help an illegal immigrant. Why should they be punished? The problems faced by illegal immigrant children are not the fault of American children, it the consequences of the parent coming to America illegally. If you want to blame anyone, blame the illegal immigrant parent.

And by the way, I am not part of a minority group and I believe that America should be for Americans first.

Hey man What's so special about
being documented? Don't u all live here?
Can't you see it's mostly about us inside
than whatever the paper says?
You can be citizen, permanant resident
or whatever makes you feel better to
be American but you can still have boring
and cheap live.
Who cares if you are white or yellow here
it's always inside what matters.
I kind of know why you guys are so upset about
illigal immigrants' children. They demotivate
American children to get highschool diplomas
and they are "bad apples" in school.
Latinos drop out of school and join gangs like
they never had such thing as dream.
Then What the fuck is the problem with
passing DREAM act?
DO you want to demotivate more illigal students
dropout high school? because high school diploma is simply worthless piece of paper for them if they won't be able to go to college and work ligally? It's fucking frustrating problem.
It's said about 50,000 to 60,000 undocumented
children gradute from highschool ever year.
Why? I don't know why.
They won't go to college unless they are able to
pay 20,000 a year and even if they paid and got
college degree there are no way in USA to get a
job without document.
So simple we are adding 50,000 to 60,000 young dissapointed undocumeted students who's considered to be "criminals".
WAKE UP IDIOT AMERICA.
What the fuck are we thinking? It's like adding
"smart" criminals who wasn't really thing of
hurting others before. DREAM act says that
moraly good person only could resister for it.
Anyone with anykind of crime history won't be
able to resiter for it.
SO WHAT IS IT AMERICA?
Jeolous? White superirity?
Sut the hell up I know one of your grand ma
was immigrant too. Rednecks.

That is the way these PIIPP's are written; as if someone was saying: anecdotalize, emotionalize, make rational analysis of the issue impossible! What are the chances that one of these journalistic mentalities will mention the hundred other students who will use such a program as alternative welfare, for every one that may actually make a significant contribution? What of the effect of giving such incentives to illegal immigration; do we have too many 100 storey buildings and too much peace?

"Sorry, no it doesn't."

You are right, and this is what I hate most about these preachy PIIPS: in a way they are so fucking condescending. As if the author is such a better human being, so much more sensitive to the plight of illegals. As if the author has thought it all through so much better than all those mean people on the other side of the issue. As if people who are opposed to things like the sappily named DREAM Act aren't aware that there are 'good hearted' illegals who would benefit, and whose stories would generate some sympathy with anyone. But there is more at stake here than just them, and increasingly people are able to see thru these anecdotes and get the bigger picture. Seeing the actual, on-the-ground affects of out-of-control immigration in their own communities, as more Americans do each year, helps a lot.