Would a truly reputable national newspaper use the N-word to describe African-Americans?

I doubt it.

The USA Today article "Groups try to delay deportations of illegal students" gets it wrong once again by calling immigrant students in the United States "illegal."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... port_N.htm

What the hell is an "illegal student?" How do you recognize an "illegal student?" Is USA Today trying to score points by making up new terms to describe undocumented youth?

The proper words are undocumented and unauthorized in reference to immigrants. Even the Supreme Court gets it nowadays due to the influence of Judge Sotomayor and calls us "undocumented immigrants."

Sign the petition to tell Emily Bazar and USA Today that no student and no human being can be illegal. (So far they have 11 signatures)

Benjamin Reed, a journalist, told me via Facebook:

As a journalist, I always try to avoid using that word [Illegal]. To me, it's an insult, and better refers to an ILL EAGLE, a bird with stomach problems, not a HUMAN!

The use of the word illegal to describe young people seeking the right to stay in the United States speaks volumes about the absurdity of labeling out-of-status human beings as "illegal." There is no such thing as an "illegal student" and the ridiculousness must stop now!

Calling people ‘illegal' is the real euphemism. Classifying people as "illegal aliens" or "illegal immigrants" without granting them a chance to explore the legal options available to them is a slur. It is similar to calling someone a robber or murderer without first granting that person due process of law.

Sign the petition to tell USA Today to stop competing with our archaic immigration system and get with the program. No human being can be illegal.