Dr. Richard Land plays Bush-style word games with "amnesty"

Posted Thu, Apr 19, 2007 at 11:41 am
Dr. Richard Land - president of the Southern Baptist Convention - recently came out in support of some vague form of "comprehensive immigration reform". Now, he feels the need to clarify his remarks. Don't want anyone to get the wrongs ideas or anything:
News reports in both the national print and electronic media have unfortunately sown some confusion over where Southern Baptists, and I, stand on the question of immigration reform...

The term "comprehensive legislation" is not code for amnesty, no matter what my critics contend. Webster defines amnesty as the "act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals." Amnesty is wiping a transgressor's record clean -- it is a free ride...
That's simply a restatement of the now-standard line from president Bush that only "automatic citizenship" is "amnesty". Both Bush and Land are simply playing cutesy little games. The bottom line is that what Land supports will be perceived as amnesty by millions of prospective illegal aliens around the world. They won't focus on the "difficult" provisions, they'll focus on the "come here illegally and wait for the next amnesty" side of things.

Land conducts a radio program on Saturdays (richardlandlive.com; 888-Faith 56/888-324-8456); please call in to the program and help his congregation understand how he's wrong.

Tags: 
comprehensive immigration reform

Comments

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Thu, 04/19/2007 - 22:31

Look boy's! people in high places know that the USA Is dead, soon the people will understand but for now the system is making deal's with each person that can do its some good in the future, most of you reaading this don't get why? most of you can't get that one reason, because so many of you have been totally-hoodwinked over the years its normal to you for people to sell-out to our enemies. This outrage of totally hand-over to the enemies of laws and freedom appears normal to so called DR. Richard Land and face fact's bush is only the front bitch for the real power boy's. you will see many guy's like this in this time of evil doers.

amanda (not verified)

Fri, 04/20/2007 - 00:30

Amnesty/pardon means cancellation of a punishment. OK, what is the punishment for being in the U.S. without authorization? (Theoretically) deportation. Thus, if you are an illegal alien and the possibility of deportation is formally removed, that is a pardon. Everybody can understand that so the more they twist words, the more disingenous they look. They're just against amensty, the word, because whenever it's in a poll, Americans overwhelmingly hate it.