Lesson on the English language

Alan W. Garett, Corpus Christi, Letter to the Editor 3:02 p.m. CT Feb. 13, 2017


Open dictionary on white background(Photo: unclepodger, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Having just read Tom Whitehurst's Sunday editorial regarding the offensive nature of the term "illegal alien,” I think it's high time the man be given a remedial lesson of the English language.

My source is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. You do believe the dictionary to be a reliable source, don't you, Tom? Illegal: "not according to or authorized by law." The word alien has a few meanings none of which are "villains in old science fiction movies" as Tom shamefully quoted. Here are two valid meanings: "relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government." 2. "From another country."

So, Mr. Whitehurst, if someone from ANY country has entered AMERICA without the proper and required documentation, by definition what they have done is ILLEGAL. They are from a foreign country, therefore once again, by definition they are ALIEN. So allow me to add 1+1 for you: they are ILLEGAL ALIENS. Unless the Caller-Times has its own dictionary that contradicts the aforementioned meanings, then you owe all of your readers an apology for deceptive journalism.

http://www.caller.com/story/opinion/...uage/97853112/