"Tsunami" warning

1984. Probably one of my favorite books of all time. George Orwell's triumph explains to us how language influences our thoughts and how easily we can be influenced by other's words. For example, I just used "triumph" to describe a literary work. If you haven't read this book, and then choose to read it at some point, you will have this word in your head and you will read it with the predisposition that it is going to "life-altering". There, I did it again !!

A free press is one the foundations of a democratic society, However, the press should have a responsibility to use language appropriately given their enormous influence upon us.

That is why I am disgusted and appalled by some of the choices of words our free press have used to describe the refugees who are crossing the border at Emerson. I am horrified that I have seen this described as a "tsunami". Really. A tsunami. If anyone doesn't remember, please google the tsunami of 2004 and ask anyone in Thailand if what is happening in Emerson should be referred to as a tsunami. It shouldn't and a responsible free press should be choosing their words more carefully.

They have also stopped identifying these people as refugees. I guess they think we might have sympathy for "these people" if they are labelled this way. So, now, they are "asylum seekers". Yes, that choice or words does not arouse any emotional appeal for them. When they are not described as asylum seekers, the media reminds us that they are "illegal immigrants". They are "illegal" so they must be bad, that is what the media wants us to think.

And the media is influencing us to have sympathy for the residents of Emerson. Apparently, their lives have been turned upside down. They live in fear that someone will knock on their window. Yes, their lives have been turned upside down. Really. Today, I watched the story of one of the "asylum seekers." He left Somalia over three years ago after his family had been killed and he felt he would be next. Somehow, he ended up in Brazil. It took him about 6 months to arrive in Texas. His trip was largely on foot and he depended on the kindness of strangers to help him. I could have said that "he risked his life everyday by putting his trust in people who had no interest in helping him" but this might make you feel sympathetic towards him. Anyway, after arriving in Texas, he was placed in a facility in Florida where he was held for about fourteen months before being denied asylum in United States. So, with no family or any supports of any kind, he made his way to Minnesota and it only took him 6 months. He crossed the border by foot after walking 14 hours continuously. Alone and with no nutrition How dare he "turn the lives of Emerson residents upside down." He sure has a lot of nerve asking for a glass of water.

Sadly, Emerson is now miking their bigotry for all its worth. The hotel is fully booked. They are international celebrities for "all that they are suffering". Yes, Emerson residents. They are worth reporting crews travelling from as far as Japan to cover their distress. A new cafe just opened to accommodate the increase in demand in business from the media. Fake news at its finest. They have managed to turn their "tsunami" into a huge economic growth opportunity. They now have more tourism than ever before and these tourists are the media. I predict a reality show chronically their horror.

A free press is a foundation of a democratic society. They wield tremendous power to influence all of us. The only way our democracy really works if the free press also exercises their responsibility and if we hold them accountable. Don't allow them to trivialize words. What is happening in Emerson is neither a crisis nor a tsunami.