"Undocumented immigrant" preferable to "illegal immigrant"?

The Society of Professional Journalists' (of which I was VP of our student chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) diversity committee met this past year to consider the best language journalists should use when addressing people of varying cultures. For example, consider the notion that "undocumented immigrant" be used in place of "illegal immigrant". That's the SPJ diversity committee stance...not mine.

In an opinion piece by SPJ member Leo E. Laurence, a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, states, "It was based on our federal, constitutional principle that everyone is considered innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law. The proposed Diversity Committee resolution urged journalists to use the phrase “undocumented immigrant(s), and avoid both 'illegal immigrant' or 'illegal alien'.

NOTE: Laurence's opinion piece does not reflect the views of SPJ, its membership or its Diversity Committee. The committee itself has taken no official initiative on the use of the phrase "illegal immigrant."

It's sort of like a news anchorperson saying, "...the ALLEGED perpetrator or ALLEGED crime committed", when the accused readily admitted murdering someone. I think. Right?

Laurence goes on to state that only a judge can deem someone or something "illegal" and that the press' use - or the public's use - of the phrase "illegal immigrant" or "illegal alien" only helps to create bigotry toward a race of people. (I'm paraphrasing.)

Even FoxNews' Megyn Kelly grapples the topic in a FoxNews segment, going as far as alluding that if journalists heed Laurence's suggestion, why not refer to rapists as "nonconsensual sex partners". Personally, I do not find her analogy offending in the least bit.

I don't find anything about Megyn Kelly offending actually. ;)

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Origami No. 23. "Foppotte". In honor of Monty Python's Flying Circus' 40th Anniversary.

Something silly. "Foppotte" means "a simple-minded person". It was a writing assignment for a blog which I contribute to.

A man walked into a coffee shop unaware that a book signing reception was in progress. Looking around, he recognized no one. Course he wasn’t from the area so why would he recognize anyone. The coffee shop was a-buzz with activity – people eating cheese and crackers, sipping wine, a violinist playing a cello in the corner (the cello player took sick), chit-chatting and – drinking coffee. In another corner there was a stately, middle-aged gentleman signing books. The author. The man walked up to the author and, noticing a few hundred books stacked on the table, grabbed one and paged through it.

"This your book?" asked the man.
"Yes," confirmed the author. "Would you like to purchase one? I'd be happy to sign it for you."
"No thanks." Uncomfortable pause. “What’s your book about?” asked the man.
“Growing up in Cambridge, Wisconsin.”
“Cambridge? Never heard of it,” said the man.
“It’s near Madison,” said the author. He returns to signing books.

Odd, thought the man. He imagined anyone could write a book about their childhood, particularly if they grew up in an interesting place. But Cambridge, Wisconsin? Never heard of it.

The man stated, "Now...if you had written about your life growing up in Madison, that would have been interesting." The author smiled. "But I didn't grow up in Madison. I grew up on Cambridge."
"Yes," said the man, "so you've said."

Madison would have been much better place to write about, the man thought to himself once again.

The author asked the man, “If you'd like some wine or cheese...”
“No thanks,” said the man.
“Well - enjoy your visit,” the author said and returned to signing books.

The man nodded at the author - and stood there for a few seconds.

“Foppotee,” said the man to the author.
“Excuse me?”
“Foppotee,” repeated the man.
“What does that mean?” asked the author.
The man stated firmly, “Foppotee.” He paused. “Foppotee, foppotah.”

The author sat there dumbfounded. He chose his next words carefully. “You’re a simple-minded person, aren’t you?”

The man stared at the author. It's not known whether the man was staring at the author or staring through him. It made no difference.

The man repeated himself. “Foppotee, foppotah.”
Then the man turned, walked out of the coffee shop as quickly as he had entered it.

The author stared at the door for a few seconds then returned to signing his books.“Foppotee,” he muttered under his breath.

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My adopted word is "FOPPOTEE".

It means, "a simple-minded person" .

Let's try it in a sentence. "I think Jemele Hill (ESPN "correspondent") is a simple-minded person".

I like it. Figure I'll use it enough to bring it back from the English language equivalent of the Tower of London (does that make sense...maybe I'm simple-minded). If you can save a whale, save a tree, save a child, save a building, save a whatever...you can surely find the time to SAVE A WORD!

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My word "hongo" has offended...Mr. Hongo.

I made up a word when I was a kid - "hongo". I submitted it to Urban Dictionary and they accepted the word and my definition.

Yesterday, someone posted this comment on my blog regarding that definition:

Anonymous said...
Hongo is not a word its a Japanese last name and a very popular one. In fact its my last name and I find it really offensive that you would use someone's name as a slang term.
April 23, 2009 8:31 PM

And I commented back:

Jeff Ircink said...
according to Urban Dictionary, it IS a word - MY word. i'm sure "Kong" is someone's last name too - did you get all bent outta shape about the movie, "King Kong"? get a life, Mr. Hongo.
April 23, 2009 8:36 PM

...and of course, I had to get the last word in:

Jeff Ircink said...
and if your last name was so honorable, why did you post under "anonymous"? you must not be that proud of your name, Mr. HONGO.
April 23, 2009 8:37 PM

...and pour salt on poor Mr. Hongo's wounds:

Jeff Ircink said...
interestingly, should someone with the last name "Cock" get upset because "cock" is a slang word for "penis"? what if your first name is "Dick"? there's another slang name for my cock...i mean, my penis.
April 24, 2009 8:22 AM

I wonder if my needling of Mr. Hongo qualifies as "torture" or "cruel and unusual punishment"?

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"hongo" makes Urban Dictionary online!

My word, "hongo", has been officially accepted by Urban Dictionary, an online slang dictionary written by the public. Here's the official listing and access to the site.

Check out my original post on "hongo" here. Now quit being a hongo and let other people read this.

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Origami No. 11 - "hongo" defined.

"Hongo"

v, 'hahng-go: to hog anything - but specifically, a ball of any sort used during a sporting competition; applicable to all sports events where a ball is used to score.

"Hey man, quit being a hongo and throw me the ball!"

The Ircink brothers publicly claim this as our word, a word defined by us. We used it extensively in the 1970's growing up in Milwaukee and we have found no legal documentation on the Internet that the definition, as we are using it here, has been claimed or that the word as defined by us even exists. As we used the word, we have the right to claim the word. Any use of the word without permission is strictly forbidden.

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