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| Maybe it’s a language problem |
| Monday, May 01, 2006 |
| To my Latino friends who speak and read some English: please note – the words “boycott” and “blockade” do not mean the same. One is a fine, albeit frequently misguided, American tradition. The other is an infringement on MY rights, and it could get you run over, punched, arrested or all three.
Travelinc.com issued an alert Friday, warning of some possible travel disruptions today on the day of the “National Day Without Immigrants” boycott.
The alert warned, “Boycott leaders plan to ‘shut down’ several urban centers.”
· Unconfirmed reports indicate that city taxi drivers may try to block all street access to and from LAX International Airport.
· In Queens, NY, protesters are planning to form “human chains” to block major thoroughfares.
· In Orlando, FL, a “human chain” is also being organized to block the Ringling Causeway
Also last week, the AP reported that the leader of one truck drivers’ union said his drivers may try to block freeway traffic in California to show support of the boycott.
Apparently, this language barrier is more serious than I thought. Organizers and supporters of the National Day Without Immigrants obviously don’t understand English, so let me help – as it is my nature to be helpful.
The word “without” indicates the absence of something. It does not mean that something is where you don’t want it to be. If my home is “without” water, it doesn’t mean that my basement is flooded. A day “without” immigrants does not mean that immigrants are clogging streets and otherwise getting in people’s way. It means just the opposite. It means they are nowhere to be found.
If the news stories and travel alerts are accurate, you won’t be able to swing a stick without hitting an immigrant today. If the immigrants are not careful, some people may test my thesis. I’m not encouraging that, mind you.
The word “boycott” means: “to refuse to deal with.” We in America respect your right to do that. If you don’t want to deal with us today, we won’t hold that against you.
What you seem to be planning is a “barricade.” That means you are trying to “block or stop” us from going about our normal business. That we can’t, don’t and won’t respect. We will hold that against you. Not only won’t we respect your barricade, we may attempt to break through it. Someone could get hurt.
In addition to a better understanding of the meaning of important words, there’s something else you should know about Americans. We don’t take kindly to people who impede our progress. We honk our horns and swear at “slow” people who drive 65 miles an hour in the left lane of the highway. We sneer at people who slow us down by using their credit card instead of cash to buy one bottle of water in the checkout line at the supermarket.
If you think you can influence us in a positive way by blocking our access to the airport or disrupts our commute to work, you are delusional. You have been spending too much time in the hot sun.
You are probably reading this too late to make a difference, but if not, I strongly advise that you go back to plan “A,” a boycott – a day without immigrants. Oh, and you might step up those efforts to learn to speak English. When you don’t understand some basic words, you can easily head off in the wrong direction. |
posted by Jack Mercer @ 5/01/2006 10:05:00 AM   |
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| 4 Comments: |
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Aside from your blatant condescension, I am in complete agreement.
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Ha!
A rare attempt at humor on my part, Smorg. :)
-Jack
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Jack, your point about the difference between the two concepts is an excellent one. It's one thing to protest; it's another thing to make a deliberate effort to destroy the American economy. Apparently our illegal immigrant friends have been watching too much French TV.
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Name: Jack Mercer
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"Snipet" (pronounced: snipe - it) is not a word.It is a derivative of two words: "Snipe" and "Snippet".
Miriam Webster defines Snipe as: to aim a carping or snide attack, or: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage.
Miriam Webster defines Snippet as: : a small part, piece, or thing; especially : a brief quotable passage.
In short, "Snipets" are brief, snide shots at exposed situations from a concealed vantage point.
WARNING! With due reverence to the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment there is NO comment policy on the News Snipet.
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Aside from your blatant condescension, I am in complete agreement.