Using term 'illegals' reveals the speaker

What's in a name? Let's say the name "illegals." What's in this name? Was it chosen for some good purpose? Was it chosen because it was expected to arouse useful contemplation of difficult and complex issues?

Have the sponsors of the Association for Legal Americans, simply been misunderstood? Have they been cruelly mischaracterized? I don't think so.

The AFLA Web site of AFLA warns of an "invasion" of illegals. Could this be a clue? What emotions might this word "invasion" be intended to evoke? Historically, what emotions are aroused when a country is invaded?

The term "illegal" is not a benign or neutral term. It is an intentional vilification. It is a call to anger against families living in our community. The AFLA Web site makes clear that its ultimate goal is to drive over 12 million people who live and work in the United States out of the country.

The number of "illegals" in the United States today is approximately equal to the entire population of the State of Illinois. The AFLA goal is to make them all disappear -- every man, woman, child, infant, grandmother and grandfather.

Actually achieving the AFLA goal would entail cruelty beyond imagination. A serious attempt to achieve this goal would change our country forever and validate in the eyes of many of our enemies their contention that we are a country of institutionalized racism.

It would also cause vast economic harm. Any 12 million people translates into lots of car loans, lots of mortgages, lots of charge accounts, lots of essential employees. So lots of collateral damage is an inevitable result.

I believe that AFLA intentionally appeals to the worst of our instincts. I am convinced that if we let them turn us into a bunch of resentful bullies, we will live to regret it and will likely be powerless to repair the damage. We should not follow that reckless path.

Alfred Y. Kirkland Jr.

Elgin