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5 de Diciembre, 2007
¿NPR as KGB?
Categorized under Medios , Terrorizing la Gente | Tags: Format, Immigration, migra, Police State
During questioning in the Democratic radio debate yesterday, debate sponsor NPR came dangerously close to promoting civilian pursuit of immigrants. The New York Times summed up NPR’s questioning in this way,
'If there is one issue that has challenged presidential candidates of both parties in Iowa this year, it is immigration, and the Democratic contenders were confronted with it again Tuesday, in a provocative way. Should American citizens, they were asked, turn in someone they know to be an illegal immigrant?' [...]Contrary to what the Times tells us, such a line of questioning is not just “provocative”, but is, in fact, more like DANGEROUS. In a political environment that already lends itself to countless forms of racial profiling (and to smashing the distinction between federal and local law enforcement under the guise of immigration policy), such a line of questioning only serves to further legitimate another formerly wacky idea, an idea one could, until recently, only find in the netherworld of white supremacist websites. Even those who constantly ask me, “What don’t you understand about the word ‘illegal’?” should recognize the inherent danger in NPR’s approach.
What would happen if, for example, such state-funded media started asking whether it was advisable for citizens to single out and report other people based on their religion or physical appearance? Experiences in Germany during WWII and here in the U.S. during the pre and post-Emancipation periods have already demonstrated the danger in state-funded -or any other media- isolating a group for pursuit by local and federal authorities -and civilians. This kind of racial logic further deepens the abyss opened after 9-11, when Muslims, South Asians and Arabs became the “beta’s” for the new, state-sponsored, national security-tinged profiling of immigrants and other non-whites. [...]
NPR should know that raising these kinds of questions in the current climate will likely not result in profiling and further intensifying and expanding the governmental and civilian hunt for blond-haired, blue eyed Canadians and other whites. NPR’s troubling line of questioning will instead impact non-whites already suffering the brunt of attacks by the same government that funds public radio.
—NPR CROSSES DANGEROUS RACIAL BORDER, ASKS CANDIDATES IF CITIZENS SHOULD “REPORT” IMMIGRANTS
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Comentarios (5)
Cero dijo:
This is the kind of reason I refuse to contribute to NPR.
Palabras por Cero spat forth on el 5 de Diciembre, 2007 at 01:00 PM
cindylu dijo:
I was listening to the debate and really, really disturbed by this question and Inskeep's probing. It was one of those "wtf?" moments. I didn't even see how it was relevant to their views as politicians and I think the candidates all had good responses (at least the ones I heard).
Ugh.
Palabras por cindylu spat forth on el 5 de Diciembre, 2007 at 02:01 PM
la ilusa dijo:
why is this not viable as a way to get to the root of attitudes, to hear whether the candidates are supporting minutemen and their activities? i think it's good to call those things to light, to be upfront about the consequences of the government's lack of clear response to the activities of so-called militia. i would like to know these candidate's views on not just the laws, but the increasing "fringe" activities that represent where our country is headed when looking at our discourse. when we talk about "combating" illegal immigration, when we demonize and criminalize people, and send them to Mexico for saving girls from drowning-- why not confront the reality, as sad as it may be? i think NPR's intention was to be upfront and straightforward about this issue-- pienso yo. at the same time, i hear what you guys are saying... but i could see the "right" being offended by these questions as well, trying to silence them.
Palabras por la ilusa spat forth on el 5 de Diciembre, 2007 at 02:36 PM
frankye dijo:
I was listening too, and was just glad the question got a "hell naw" from all the candidates.
Palabras por frankye spat forth on el 5 de Diciembre, 2007 at 08:15 PM
No One of Consequence dijo:
la ilusa, we're not willing to give NPR as much of a benefit of the doubt because they've been unethical fuckers in the past (see also, Iraq War, runup).
I wish this rule worked in all directions. I should be able to go down to Wall Street and rough up white people. Whites are responsible for more crime than anyone else in this country and corporate crime costs more money and lives than all other crimes combined. Wonder how a bit of citizen justice would go down if I did my patriotic duty?
Palabras por No One of Consequence spat forth on el 6 de Diciembre, 2007 at 02:07 AM