Hate Groups
I think this Time article is conflating two separate issues. By reporting on some increased activity by white supremacist organizations over the illegal immigration issue, Time implies that the Minutemen are somehow aligned with the hate groups. Opposition to illegal immigration is not primarily racially motivated, I think. Are there some people who are motivated by that? Sure, on both sides of the issue, I might add.
With immigration perhaps America's most volatile issue, a troubling backlash has erupted among its most fervent foes. There are, of course, the Minutemen, the self-appointed border vigilantes who operate in several states. And now groups of militiamen, white supremacists and neo-Nazis are using resentment over the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. as a potent rallying cry. "The immigration furor has been critical to the growth we've seen" in hate groups, says Mark Potok, head of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center counts some 800 racist groups operating in the U.S. today, a 5% spurt in the past year and a 33% jump from 2000. "They think they've found an issue with racial overtones and a real resonance with the American public," says Potok, "and they are exploiting it as effectively as they can."
Notice how the article just ties the Minutemen right in with the hate groups? I don't like that particular technique. It's a way to conflate things while maintaining the facade of impartial reporting.
I think fringe groups like the neo-Nazis and the Klan bear very close watching. They do not represent America to me. I don't think the Minutemen are in the same category.
Immigration Reform, Media | Gaius Wednesday, 31 May , 2006
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 31 May , 2006 @ 8:07 am
If only I knew what Minutemen means in this context.
Putting together the meanings of minute and men does not help now.
I don’t know, for me it does not tie them that closely - but then, I read your post too, so that can “dampen” the effect.
By Gaius, Wednesday, 31 May , 2006 @ 8:12 am
The Minutemen - in this context - are volunteers who are patrolling the border with mexico. The White House doesn’t like them, nor do the pro-illegal groups. That doesn’t make them racially motivated.
By Black Jack, Wednesday, 31 May , 2006 @ 11:54 am
“Minuteman” has a context from the American Revolution. They were patriots quick to come to the aid of our country. Today’s Minutemen are doing a job the federal government is required to do by the US Constitution, which is to protect the borders, but which the feds refuse to do for reasons which outrage the vast majority of this nation’s citizens.
Attempts to demonize today’s Minutemen are as wrongheaded as it is possible to be. They are Patriots in the very best traditions of American Independence, and have earned the respect and admiration of a grateful nation.
If the GOP showed one iota of the courage and integrity of the Minutemen, they would deserve to represent us. Unfortunately, the GOP has abandoned that honor, and now functions only as an obstacle to the self determination of the American people.
By Roland Hesz, Thursday, 1 June , 2006 @ 1:24 am
Ok.
-, so I don’t look for indirect links that someone “unprepared” could spot.
I still don’t see where they are labeled as racially motivated, but as I wrote I know that they are not - cause you wrote it