In today’s hyper partisan world, few issues are as contentious as the immigration crisis plaguing our national conscience.
When asked for her take on the issue, a conservative friend of mine snarled, “Those liberals, all they want to do is open the boarders, give free benefits to illegal aliens, and disband the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). All that to guarantee victory in the next election!”
Not to be outdone, a liberal friend responded to the same question by indignantly proclaiming, “Those Trumpistas are only happy when they are ripping babies from their mother’s arms and throwing them in cages! All they want is to protect their white privilege!”
These two friends are normally intelligent and engaged citizens. Mention immigration, though, and it is as if a switch had been flipped. Objective consideration of the facts? Not a chance. Rational thought? No way.
Is it possible that these two individuals could ever engage in a civil discussion of the issue?
Call me an eternal optimist, but I believe the answer is “yes, it is possible!” Really? Yes, it really could happen. Here is how. It is a twostep process.
First, we have to recognize that the problem is not our broken immigration system. To be sure, that system is broken. Serious reform, and the will to enforce a reformed system, is critical. Does Congress have the political courage to undertake such reform? That is a fair, and important, question. It will have to be addressed in a separate essay.
The second step is to understand that the hostility exhibited in the comments by both liberals and conservatives reflects their intention to attack rather than engage in civil discussion. That was a choice made by both parties.
Clearly, the problem is not our immigration system. The problem is how we choose to discuss immigration. Before even the first words leave your mouth, ask yourself “what do I want?” What is your intention? What do you want? How do your words reflect what you want?
Words matter. Your choice of words establishes your intention. Do you wish to support your position with logic and reason? Or do you simply attack the other person?
Too often, we take the easy route. Objectively research the facts behind our immigration crisis? Why bother? That takes time and effort. It is much easier to lash out by parroting some simplistic one liner you heard on your favorite cable channel. Attack!
Tempers flare when we are too intellectually lazy to look into the complexity of immigration. Do we choose our words to present facts supporting our position, or do we choose our words to discredit those who advocate an alternative position?
One other point: there is no need to avoid discussing potentially controversial topics. Just give careful thought to the words you choose.
Words matter. Choose wisely.