A must read by NY Times Editorial Observer, Lawrence Downes, that addresses the “What Part of ‘Illegal’ Don’t You Understand?” question.

America has a big problem with illegal immigration, but a big part of it stems from the word “illegal.” It pollutes the debate. It blocks solutions. Used dispassionately and technically, there is nothing wrong with it. Used as an irreducible modifier for a large and largely decent group of people, it is badly damaging. And as a code word for racial and ethnic hatred, it is detestable.

As Downes points out, if you want to stifle the debate on comprehensive immigration reform then simply ask, “What Part of ‘Illegal’ Don’t You Understand?” And fearmongers like WVOL’s Reverend T.J. Graham continue to do that. And when they have the question addressed with reasonable statements such as, “it’s a civil law not a criminal law” and “can we move on to actually addressing the issue of what to do with 12 million undocumented workers and securing our borders?” they refuse to let it go. And they stain our community. Huh. It’s almost as if they don’t want to address the issue.

Meanwhile, out on the edges of the debate — edges that are coming closer to the mainstream every day — bigots pour all their loathing of Spanish-speaking people into the word. Rant about “illegals” — call them congenital criminals, lepers, thieves, unclean — and people will nod and applaud. They will send money to your Web site and heed your calls to deluge lawmakers with phone calls and faxes. Your TV ratings will go way up.

What part of you’re being manipulated don’t you understand? What part of elevating the debate don’t you understand? What part of addressing the issue don’t you understand? What part of good public policy don’t you understand?

This post was written by Mary Mancini