Words are powerful tools and weapons, when wielded by elites who are respected members of the community and whose education and social standing place them in positions of power over less fortunate people.
Earlier this month my distinguished colleague, Professor Dan Cornfield, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Nashville Studies, wrote an opinion piece about the raid by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Springfield’s Electrolux factory. Cornfield decried the negative impact that the mass exodus of roughly 1,000 people has had on schools, churches and businesses dependent on revenue streams generated by serving undocumented workers and their families.
Going much further than what was warranted by available evidence, Cornfield made a direct link between the ICE raid and a mosque burning in Columbia, Tenn., characterizing both as “a hateful rejection of immigrants.” After mentioning his attendance at a prayer vigil, the professor urged Middle Tennesseans to wake up and embrace the world community.
Although Cornfield’s words were not as strong as those of U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., who recently likened ICE agents to Nazi Gestapo, what he did say, in my opinion, was misleading and disrespectful to the men and women charged with enforcing our nation’s immigration laws.
We should all welcome vigorous enforcement of existing laws and heavier penalties against employers who violate them. Those laws that we dislike should be changed at the national level.
The situation came about because of a failure of the federal government to enforce existing laws. Since we pride ourselves on being a nation of laws, those of us in leadership positions should work together to develop policies and programs that meet the needs of our changing society. To do so, we have a responsibility to work across ideological lines.
Hundreds of legal American workers have benefited from the Springfield raid. I’ve been told that business necessity led Electrolux to hire hundreds of new workers and to improve wages and working conditions.
What is most unfortunate about Cornfield’s words is the insinuation that enforcement of immigration laws is a rejection of immigrants and a sign of Middle Tennessee’s collective backwardness. Clearly, the situation is much more complicated.
We must use our words carefully. Words matter, and words can hurt. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but bones heal. Words can do irreparable harm. We must use them responsibly for the public good.
Carol M. Swain is a professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University. This op-ed ran in The Tennessean on March 20, 2008.
Media contact: Ann Marie Owens (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu