Opinion | Politics

Simon Moya-Smith: A Republican slur on our indigenous relatives






Texas land office commissioner George P. Bush campaigns for his father, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, in Iowa. Photo from Facebook

Simon Moya-Smith explores the anti-immigrant rhetoric employed by Republican presidential candidates like real estate magnate Donald Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush:
I was pouring India ink on a piece of blank wove-finish calligraphy paper, watching the liquid bleed across the page like a wound, when another mainstream news machine began a report on the phrase “anchor babies.”

This time, Jeb Bush, the brother of former POTUS and warmonger George W., aimed the slur at another ethnic minority.

“Frankly,” he said, “it’s more related to Asian people.”

Donald Trump, the blathering troll and leading GOP presidential candidate, uses the generality at almost every speech to curry favor with republican voters who show up at his rallies ready to build a wall, which they most certainly won’t do. Instead, they will seek to hire people to build it for them.

The absurd idea of building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is another matter. So let us return to the slur “anchor babies.”

I’m not a theologian, and I don’t read the Bible, so I’m unfamiliar with the details of Christian dogma, but I can safely assume that it is not very Christian-like to demonize children. And as these GOP God fearers demonize kids with this aggressive language, they simultaneously reel about the “sanctity of life” and their “little angel” who just started first grade last week.

Well, folks, for Republican Christians your baby won’t be considered a “little angel” until they have their papers. “Yes, documents!” they shout with fangs drawn, and foam flowing from their maw.

Get the Story:
Simon Moya-Smith: Slur 'Anchor Babies' Demonizes Children (Indian Country Today 8/27)

Related Stories:
Steve Russell: Donald Trump isn't the only crazy one in the race (8/27)
Hillary Clinton campaign reaches out to tribal voters in Nevada (8/27)
Republican presidential candidates set for first debate in Ohio (08/05)
Hillary Clinton refuses to answer questions about Keystone XL (7/29)
Mark Trahant: Press the Republican candidates on Indian issues (07/27)
Mark Trahant: An ideal year for an Indian presidential candidate (06/10)
GOP presidential field keeps growing with more announcements (05/05)
Presidential hopeful Rand Paul draws 'NDN' supporter on Twitter (04/13)
Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul targeted BIA and IHS (04/08)

Join the Conversation