A nativist in the heart of PWC
Published: March 13, 2008
What is a nativist?
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nativist is the name for a new group of activists battling the influx of illegal immigrants into our country.
And the center has named Greg Letiecq, president of Help Save Manassas and political blogger on bvbl.net, as one of the top 20 most influential leaders on the illegal immigration issue.
This serves only to cement the image of Prince William County and the surrounding jurisdictions as a haven for intolerance.
This is bad enough, if only because of the company Letiecq has on the nativist list — some of them are radical and racist.
But not all of them are.
In a description, the center says that some nativists are not extremists and are genuinely concerned with addressing the illegal immigration issue. We wish we could say that Letiecq had demonstrated similar attributes.
Unfortunately, the center describes Help Save Manassas as an extremist organization and quotes Letiecq’s often extreme language in its bio of him.
Letiecq said that he thinks the center is trying to shut down the debate with its use of the term nativist. He said the center wants to “smear anyone who holds an opposing viewpoint as a racist and a member of a hate group.”
We concede that the “racist” card is played too often in this debate. But the “illegal alien apologist” card is also bandied about by people like Letiecq to describe those who oppose them.
The fact of the matter is that racism is part of this debate, because whether Letiecq wants to admit it or not, racism and prejudice does drive some of the anti-illegal immigrant fervor in Prince William County.
And part of the trick to dealing effectively with illegal immigration is dividing those with racist intentions from those who want to address the issue in an unbiased manner. The extremist rhetoric used by Letiecq and some of his supporters does nothing to help establish this dividing line.
The founders of the Southern Poverty Law Center were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement and the center was a staunch opponent of the Klu Klux Klan. The center’s credentials are impressive and dismissing the inclusion of Letiecq on its list of nativists would be foolish.
As a bastion of tolerance in a sometime intolerant world, the Southern Poverty Law Center has much to bring to the debate on illegal immigration, including the following fear:
“A dangerous mix of nativist intolerance, armed and untrained civilians, and wild-eyed conspiracy theories could easily explode into violence.”
This is one of our fears too.
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Reader Reactions
Ah yes, the phonies who cancel subscroptions couldn’t get away from the Pot News. They are now flocking to the newspaper’s website. How hypocritic. Too cheap to buy a subscription. These bigots are the sand box type: if I don’t get my way, I’m going home. Grow up!!! A newspaper reportz the news and provides opinions. What’s the matter? Can’t accept or respect any one else’s opinion?
When we speak to or about each other it is better to speak with respect than use racial slurs or other derogatory remarks.
Disparaging remarks only tend to alienate both sides of an issue.
Perfect love casts out all fear and enables both sides to hear each other so they can compromise and each get some of what they want.
This is really a much better way but it takes patience, understanding and a lot of hard work. All characteristics and behaviors that each of us can exhibit when we choose to do so.
I suppose from the standpoint of the Native Americans, the first Americans I too lack legal status since I don’t have any Native American papers to show that I have permission to be here.
Caring about others and trying to help people regardless of their legal status gives me great joy and happiness.
Empathy, compassion and caring are also behaviors that each of us can exhibit regardless of our circumstances. It may be more difficult for some than others especially if a person has been abused or harmed in some way but these God given gifts are within each of us and each of us can and does exhibited them when we choose to do so.
Loving compassionate behavior always brings out the very best in us, and gives everyone involved the hope for a better tomorrow.
According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, a nativist is defined as follows:
“the policy of protecting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants.“
But wait ... nativist is also defined as:
“the policy or practice of preserving or reviving an indigenous culture.“
So who are the real nativists here? Those of us who want to preserve our American culture, a culture rooted in the rule of law? Or is it those who wish to revive what they say is their “indigenous” culture?
Yes, many of those opposing the good work of HSM and Greg Letiecq, those who support and defend the illegal aliens in our community, sincerely believe that America is rightfully theirs. Apparently, they are attempting to reclaim their native lands, lands they say were stolen from them. If you, the reader, think this is poppycock, check out the websites of radical groups like our own local Mexicanos Sin Fronteras. Dig deeply enough and you will soon learn that the movers and shakers behind all of this, are left-leaning socialist radicals.
Oh and by the way ... if you are going to attempt, though unsuccessfully, to link HSM with the hatemongering, wicked KKK, at least get it right. It’s Ku Klux Klan, not Klu Klux Klan. Sheesh!
Look at the words used. How are people a scourge? “Nativist” is not a new buzz word. Check out the history on Wikipedia. It perfectly describes what is happening here in PWC. Fanning these flames for political gain is shameful. We need to fix the immigration system. I do not find undocumented immigrants disrespectful or dangerous. Mostly I think they are desperate to feed their families.
I canceled my subscription to this paper a LONG time ago because of this type of “journalism” you decided to show today. I would think a paper would appreciate the fact that those here ILLEGALLY are leaving PWC providing more room in the classrooms for the LEGAL residents, allowing people to play in the parks that are no longer crowded with ILLEGAL aliens playing soccer and the use of the roads which they pay no tax for. People, we have to wake up and wake up soon. The US is under an invasion and it will not be long before the ILLEGALS have enough people within to overtake us. I know I am not ready to let this country go, how about anyone else?
People who want everyone to follow the law of the land is not a racist, xenophobe, nativist or a member of some cult.
I support those in Gov’t who wish to make this country stronger and maintain the rule of law.
The best way to protest is to cancel your subscription to this “newspaper”. My life has been better since I did.
There has been violence all ready. Along the border with Mexico, vigilante groups have shot and killed. When people’s fears are fanned with data that is not reliable (crime has actually been down in Manassas over the last year or so) they react. Words like infestation and vermin are used to dehumanize our neighbors. People are cheering that the latinos are leaving PWC. How short sighted.
the Manassas Journal, who has made no secret of their support for a hands-off policy with regards to illegal aliens in our midst, must be chortling in their green tea today since the SPLC has given them a new buzz word to throw at those people who disagree with a leniency policy for people who willingly and willfully disregard and disrespect the laws of this country. Now that the MJM and the SPLC and their ilk have such an easily bandied catch word, no one will dare stand up against a blanket accusation of racism, hatred and who knows what other anti-minority slur they can think of, right? Those of us who sincerely care about not only the current state of affairs in our county, state and nation, but also its future in the face of unrelenting lawlessness on the part of a not-insignificant segment of our total population. We have upwards of 20 million people in this country who have decided to break our laws to get here, and who have decided to break our laws to say here, and who waste no opportunity to throw their disdain for our laws, our culture, our national identity, and even our right to self-preservation and sustainment of our way of life in our faces. We are racist because we demand feasance and lawful behavior from those who would claim to be citizens of this nation? We have 280 million people in this nation who are composed of immigrants, including many hundreds of thousands of whom have fairly recently won their citizenship or legal status here by legal and respected means. We have 20 million illegal aliens here who not only disrespect those of us who were born here, but who also dishonor all other immigrants who have done things the right way and deserve to be here. If I am supportive of a system whereby our county, state and nation works to eradicate the scourge of illegal aliens from our midst, and you wish to label me a nativist and by extension a racist, well do your worst. In my opinion, you are by far the greater racist and a much more serious threat to our way of life in that you would attack our very ability to stand up for our constitutional rights by making the expression of our views something evil. It is your newfound buzzword “nativist” that is evil, and I would contend creates an even greater threat of escalating this debate by putting such slurs into the hands of those whose presence here isn’t protected by our constitution.
Reading your “Opinion” every day is like watching some large beast in the throes of death. Your comments regarding a local citizen who has done absolutley nothing illegal palce you, the “editors” beneath contempt. I have to ask your publisher/owner: When are you going to sack these feckless editors who are turning your paper into a local joke?
And you call yourselves “journalists”? HA!
To all the readers that find “our opinion” offensive and feel HSM is fighting the good fight, please speak with your wallets and CANCEL your subscription. There can only be so many hypocritical subscribers like phdee living in their curiously segregated communities. Of course they’re up in arms. Their slave labor is becoming scarce.
Of course they’re a racist organization. If Manassas was flooded with illegal Canadian immigrants, there would be no such as HELP SAVE MANASSAS. They should be called HELP SAVE MANASSAS FROM PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN ME.
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