Post-Gazette Editorial – 4/18/06

This page was last updated on April 18, 2006.

It’s no game / Penn State Republicans learn a lesson; Editorial; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; April 18, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“What a bunch of knuckleheads!”

[RWC] Ah yes, leading off with name-calling is always an indication of credible editorial – not.

“The less-than-politically-correct College Republicans at Penn State University wisely altered plans to play the ‘Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game’ after people on campus objected.”

[RWC] Actually, this was not wise. From here on out, any group that disagrees with a College Republican position will kick and scream until the College Republicans give in.

“The group, in light of recent nationwide demonstrations, heated debate and congressional inaction on immigration policy, initially thought that having students ‘catch’ group members wearing orange shirts symbolizing illegal immigrants would be a creative way to stimulate discussion on the topic. (Surely, any similarity between the orange shirts and the orange jumpsuits worn by many criminal defendants was purely coincidental.)”

[RWC] This apparently comes as a surprise to the editorial author, but illegal aliens are criminals. The “illegal” in “illegal alien” should be a clue.

“Some students on campus, including the Latino Caucus and the Black Caucus, balked when they got wind of the game, calling it insensitive and racist, and rallied at the student union in protest. The university didn’t prohibit the game, but Penn State President Graham Spanier did call it an ‘unproductive and offensive’ idea and the university suggested the College Republicans reconsider.”

[RWC] Is it now racism to round up criminals?

A liberal university president refers to a Republican event as “unproductive and offensive.” Gee, what a surprise. Does anyone care to guess what the reaction would have been to a similar event conducted by liberals directed against members of the Minuteman Project?

“Once opposition arose, the College Republicans decided to tone things down and now they plan an illegal immigration awareness day, which will include people on both sides of the issue debating their views. Good thinking, young seekers of knowledge.”

[RWC] During all those protests by illegals and their accomplices over the last few weeks, does anyone recall group organizers inviting the opposition to debate their views?

“We commend President Spanier for stopping short of prohibiting the game, and we’re glad the 150 students and faculty who rallied against it expressed their opposition. The College Republicans who wanted to play ‘Catch an Illegal Immigrant’ had a right to express their views, too -- then suffer the consequences of their more enlightened neighbors.”

[RWC] Here we get to it; agree with liberals and you are a “more enlightened neighbor.”

I’ve noticed something. When liberals rail against opinions they don’t like, they correctly note that speaking out can have consequences. When liberals are on the receiving end, however, the criticism is always referred to as retaliation, infringing on the liberals’ freedom of speech, et cetera.

“That’s a more valuable lesson for them about how democracy works than any outright ban of their hijinks would have been.”

[RWC] What did this have to do with the workings of democracy? One group with a legitimate position allowed itself to be shouted down by other groups with the support of the college president.