So, we can't say anchor babies anymore?

[lucas80]

Surprised this wasn't hashed out more on HROT. It blew up yesterday when several candidates for President used the term anchor baby. Jeb Bush stumbled all over trying to deal with his response. Bush and others were quickly criticized for using a term many consider offensive. It goes to who controls language. Anchor baby isn't offensive to me. It's term descriptive of a circumstance if nothing else. But, some people claim it offends them, so they drape the word over themselves like a cloak.
Maybe I'm just feeling a little conservative today, but, I just couldn't see where the anger over the term comes from.
Is the situation the term referred to over dramatized? Yes. Does it happen as often as some of the candidates claim? No.
Discuss.

 

[TexMichFan]

Out of all the issues related to immigration I can't think of one that evens come close to how low the term anchor baby is on the list.

 

[lucas80]

Here is an article from NPR discussing the issue, and the language.
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallp...ic-anchor-babies-are-not-exactly-easy-to-stop

 

[Quintana]

i'll tell you what is offensive, is the fact the mother's use the kids like a bargaining chip. its probably the only reason they got pregnant in the first place, so they could scam the system. exploitation at it worst, imo.

 

[naturalmwa]

i'll tell you what is offensive, is the fact the mother's use the kids like a bargaining chip. its probably the only reason they got pregnant in the first place, so they could scam the system. exploitation at it worst, imo.

How do they do that? Do they threaten the ICE agent they will harm the citizen anchor bargaining chip baby? Does it work, do they get to stay because they have the kid? This sounds like urban myth IMO.

 

[unIowa]

If you are offended by this term you are either too political or too sensitive.

 

[Hawkeyemc]

Typical way our country reacts. It's easier to freak out about the fringe details than it is to actually deal with the real problem.

 

[HawkPT]

If you are offended by this term you are either too political or too sensitive.

Probably both.

 

[Funky Bunch]

I like Taco Babies better anyway

 

[UNIowaHawk]

If you are offended by this term you are either too political or too sensitive.

Probably both.