Brilliant commentary on how the media and illegal immigration

Is it just me or has everyone noticed the lack of fair and balanced media coverage in the illegal immigration debate? We see hundreds of images of rallies with protesters numbering as many as 500,000. We see empassioned statements from those who support and advocate ILLEGAL immigration. We hear the term "racist" and "anti-immigrant" bandied about. We hear the same statement over and over again that "we're not criminals, we just want to work", but we seldom hear opposing viewpoints.

As an educated student of persuasion techniques and as person who works in the media, I am not easily swayed by the media or propaganda. I don't feel the need to run out and buy Budweiser because the commercial indicates that I will soon be partying with hot college girls. I am not fooled into buying some life alert for grandma because the commercial shows a little old lady on the floor who can't reach the phone. By working in the media, I am aware of how images are manipulated to deliver a message in order to pursuade receivers of that message to agree with a point of view.

Anyone who has seen a political commercial, knows that candidates are being sold or dissed with 4-second soundbites. For example, take a Senatorial candidate (not real) who was cited for peeing on the bushes during spring break in 1980. You then get a commercial spot from the opposing candidate's media team that sounds like the following -- "Joe Schmo was busted for indecent exposure in 1980. Don't vote for Joe, he's a weenie-wagger." People then think the candidate is a sexual deviant and vote for the other guy. And propositions are sold on misleading one-liner's like "Proposition 666 will take money from children and puppies! Please vote NO!" Now the un-and-under-educated and easily swayed will think to themselves "Hmm, I like puppies and children, so I'm voting no." Little do they know that the real issue at heart is to reduce spending on bloated government contracts or something similar.

What we're seeing in media coverage of the illegal immigrant debate and by empassioned advocates of open borders, is the dropping of the word "ILLEGAL" from headlines and verbal debate. By doing so, they are trying to convince the viewers (you) that those who oppose illegal immigration or amnesty are "anti-immigrant" or "racist." By removing the word "ILLEGAL" from the dialogue, they are trying to take the wind out of the sails of those who oppose their point of view. Those who would speak out, refrain from doing so, so as not to be labeled racist, which would not be the case if the term "ILLEGAL" were not removed from the argument.

"Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation directly aimed at influencing the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information. In some cultures the term is neutral or even positive, while in others the term has acquired a strong negative connotation. Its connotations can also vary over time. For instance, in English, "propaganda" was originally a neutral term used to describe the dissemination of information in favor of a certain cause. Over time, however, the term acquired the negative connotation of disseminating false or misleading information in favor of a certain cause. Strictly speaking, a message does not have to be untrue to qualify as propaganda, but it may omit so many pertinent truths that it becomes highly misleading."

So go ahead and spout all you want about racism. Go ahead and try to sell us on your cause using puppies and children and misdirection. The debate is about ILLEGAL immigration. Those who oppose you are not "anti-immigrant", as all of our families immigrated here at some point in history. What we oppose is the fact that you sureptitiously snuck across an international border under cover of night, with no passport or visa because you were too lazy to fight for a better way of life in the country who's flag you wave with such pride. We oppose your presence because you blatantly disregard our laws. We oppose your presence because you pay no income taxes and use our resources for free, like medical care and education. We oppose your presence because you have essentially cut in line in front the honorable immigrants who apply for citizenship LEGALLY. We oppose your presence because you take jobs from our uneducated citizens who can fill them.

Now please follow along with an analogy, if you will. Imagine for me what your favorite meal is. Perhaps it's lobster or a big, juicy top sirloin steak with wonderful side dishes to compliment the meal. Maybe you also have a favorite desert like cheese cake or chocolate mousse. This is the meal that you request on special occasions like your birthday or anniversary. Now imagine if someone delivered your favorite meal to your table on a dirty, disgusting trash can lid. Somehow, the meal just isn't that appetizing anymore, is it? Not to say it isn't a good meal, but the way it was delivered has now made it unpalatable. This is what you have done by coming to our country with blatant disregard for our laws and by now demading rights that technically, you do not possess.

Please know that the higher-thinkers in our society will never be swayed by your tactics. Sure, you'll win over the less-educated, passionate types who are easily swayed and you'll even win over some limousine liberals to support your cause, but we (free-thinkers) vote more often. We are the true "sleeping giant." We see through the media bias and diatribe by your advocates and leaders and we know what's happening. We all wear watches and we all know what time it is. The house and senate bills are so far on either end of the spectrum, that I guarantee you the compromise will NOT be something you are happy with.

And do you want to know what's really scary? I'm a centrist!

Go ahead and flame away! Please, just do me a favor and try to spell most of the words correctly.