Thread: Groups call for 'civil' immigration debate

Thursday, October 18, 2007
Groups call for 'civil' immigration debate
Web site names Jim Gilchrist, Lou Dobbs as 'voices of intolerance.'
By VANJA PETROVIC
The Orange County Register


WASHINGTON – A coalition of human rights and labor groups have begun a campaign to counter what they call the "vile and vicious" rhetoric of the anti-illegal immigration movement and "recapture the civility of discussion and debate" on the issue of comprehensive immigration reform.

The campaign, called Campaign for a United America, launched Wednesday with the release of its Web site. As part of their work, the coalition will give tool kits to community groups that include sample letters to the editor and instructions on constructive meeting techniques.

"Today we begin this process – which is going to be a long process – of reclaiming a values-based dialogue, to put it in our nation's character, the one that respects the contributions of all our community members, including immigrants," said David Ostendorf, executive director of the Chicago-based Center for New Community, one of the groups that forms the coalition.

The campaign has declined to disclose its stance on comprehensive immigration reform, and Ostendorf says it is not the group's aim to push one side or the other. However, the group does list the founders and leaders of such anti-illegal immigration organizations as the Minuteman Project, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, and commentator Lou Dobbs as "Voices of Intolerance."

Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission, said any improvement on the current discussion of immigration, which he described as an "angry vilification of human beings," would benefit the country. He added the commission interfaith-based dialogue program is a similar effort going on in Orange County.

"Any initiative to bring faith and civil rights (groups) and others together to build a little more positive picture of this community is definitely a plus," he said.

The campaign's Web site includes sections on what the campaign considers people who have had either a positive or negative influence on the debate. The section with negative profiles includes Orange County's Jim Gilchrist, president of the Minuteman Project.

"The Minutemen are, even though they say they are not, a sort of vigilante," Ostendorf said.

Gilchrist did not respond to requests for comment before deadline Wednesday.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for FAIR, a nonprofit group working to stop illegal immigration, is also profiled. Mehlman rejects the site's portrayal of him.

"They're not looking for a constructive debate; that's the last thing they're looking for," Mehlman said. "They are looking to attack the people who helped organize the opposition" to comprehensive immigration reform.

FAIR opposed immigration reform in the Senate earlier this year because, Mehlman said, it was equal to amnesty. The group supports increased border security and deportation of illegal immigrants.

www.ocregister.com

Re:

"Today we begin this process – which is going to be a long process – of reclaiming a values-based dialogue, to put it in our nation's character, the one that respects the contributions of all our community members, including immigrants," said David Ostendorf, executive director of the Chicago-based Center for New Community, one of the groups that forms the coalition.

I wonder if Mr. Ostendorf knows the difference between an immigrant and an illegal alien? I doubt it.

Theu want US to be Civil?????????????

If someone broke into our home...we wouldn't be expected to sit down and be civil to them......

Get out of our home (Country) and then we can be civil to you.....

Bottom line....... GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forwarded story to Lou. He would probably want to see articles written that include him.

Sorry, but you must have missed it; the debate is over and you lost; didnt you get the memo?

What on earth is there to debate ?

He really means Brain Wash not Debate !!

Totally Absurb

"They're not looking for a constructive debate; that's the last thing they're looking for," Mehlman said. "They are looking to attack the people who helped organize the opposition" to comprehensive immigration reform.

Exactly. The OBL is just trying to silence those who disagree with them, which just happens to be the majority of American people.

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Call the Senate: NO Dream Act or AgJOBS Amnesties !