'Absolute self-parody': Sally Kohn likens term 'illegals' to racial, anti-gay slurs

Sarah D. | 1:36 PM on July 07, 2014

So, what’s the most offensive thing about illegal immigration, according to CNN contributor and über-prog Sally Kohn? Why, the word “illegal,” of course:

https://twitter.com/CodyFNfootball/status/486137837243203584

Kohn indeed believes the “I-word” is as harmful to American culture as a racial slur — and an anti-gay epithet:

For #IndepdenceDay: Why the n-word, f-word & YES, the i-word are un-American — http://t.co/55Xhx4SfsL for @CNN @CNNOpinion #Documented

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) July 4, 2014

Allow her to explain:

Not the same thing? Of course it is.

Once upon a time, the n-word and f-word were utterly acceptable terminology in undermining not only the basic rights but basic humanity of black people and gay people. That those terms seem radically inappropriate and out of step with mainstream culture now is only because social movements and legal and political changes have shifted the landscape. But make no mistake about it, words matter, not only in reflecting certain dehumanizing attitudes toward historically marginalized groups but in actively perpetuating and rationalizing that dehumanization.

…

Today, most people find the n-word and the f-word incredibly offensive. Let’s hope that most if not all people will feel the same way about the words “illegals” and “illegal immigrants” in the not too distant future.