# Why the sudden surge in Xenophobia? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 4, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155 "2010-08-04T15:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/41 "2010-08-04T19:47:34Z")
We are in a recession, so people are focused on immigrants. I used to hear about H1-B visa workers in Silicon Valley taking away good programming jobs from citizens, and depressing the wages of coders. On TV this morning in my hotel room, I listened while the Republican talking head mentioned anchor babies and wealth birth tourists. Anchor babies is around 300,000 per year according to most Googled guestimates. Whether you consider that to be a risk or a problem is another question. Whether it is enough of a problem to amend the US Constitution - not by my standards. Birth tourism is when the Hong Kong folks came to the US to give birth. My son’s school has a fair number of kids born in the US to foreign parents. However, these are kids from money, their parents buy nice houses, and they are sticking around. I don’t see them as a threat - they are a benefit. We are cash positive from these people. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/42 "2010-08-04T19:58:57Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > So, **Bricker** , you respond to **Euphonious Polemic** ’s question, which referred to the explanation he gave in his post, by quoting someone else’s post which supports your view? I’m sure there’s a name for this debating tactic. Hm. What could it be? > > If you don’t agree with the reasons being offered, offer up some of your own. My favorite part of his reply is… The post he quoted (which was not mine) actually came AFTER his charge of “liberals are all crying racism”. I guess his time travel machine told him that DianeG was going to post to this thread. Priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/43 "2010-08-04T19:59:59Z")
> [@Caffeine.addict](#): > > **Bricker** , did you read the article cited in the OP? The article states that the Republicans want to amend the 14th Amendment and revoke birthright citizenship. I’m willing to give people the benefit of the doubt on the argument for illegal immigration, but birthright citizenship? What argument do they have for revoking birthright citizenship? What possible reason do they have? Nope, that _can’t_ be what they are doing, because it isn’t in the official platform of the Republican Party. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/44 "2010-08-04T20:05:52Z")
Of the 16 threads right now on the Hannity forums, 5 of them are directly race-related (the others can, of course, be summed up as “Liberals suck”). But I’m sure that \*\*Bricker \*\*will be along any moment now and offer us a different, more Conservative-friendly explanation. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/45 "2010-08-04T20:10:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > Hmmm… You read “racism” into this, did you? > > Call me crazy. :rolleyes: Your defense is a post that came after your initial claim. I feel like I’m watching Daffy Duck as Robin Hood take on Porky Pig as Friar Tuck. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/46 "2010-08-04T20:13:45Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > I’m not positive as to the exact reason, but I’m pretty sure it’s middle name is “Hussein”. I am a registered Republican (for now). And I am ashamed to say that I believe you’ve hit the nail right on the head. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/47 "2010-08-04T20:14:48Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Anchor babies is around 300,000 per year according to most Googled guestimates. What Googled guesstimates? The only ones I can find that are so absurdly high are on “resistance” and Minutemen-type websites. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/48 "2010-08-04T20:20:03Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > > > Bull-fucking-shit. Let me just run over to the [US-VISIT](http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/usv.shtm) office and check with them. > > > > Yep, yep. Just as I thought. They don’t sort their overstays by nationality. In other words, you make shit up. > > Wow, you got all that from that link? All I get is the main page of a Homeland Security website. No, I didn’t get that from a link. I got that from the US-VISIT people. They work right ::turn around:: there. > [@DianaG](#): > > Oh look, Chessic Sense is here. I’m sure we’re all about to be overwhelmed by his awesomeness. > > Seriously dude, you’re a retard. You have never once, in any context, said something that made me think anything other than “Damn that boy is stupid.” > > ETA that I take that back, and apologize. Upon further consideration, I realize that you have occasionally made me think “What a weaselly little shit that kid is.” When I read your posts, I can’t help but imagine tears streaming down your face. I don’t know how you have the time to imagine all sorts of persecutions going on in the world. First its “Women are so oppressed” and now it’s “we only deport the brown people”. Both statements are utterly retarded. The world would be a better place if you just shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/49 "2010-08-04T20:27:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@Algher](#): > > > > Anchor babies is around 300,000 per year according to most Googled guestimates. > > What Googled guesstimates? The only ones I can find that are so absurdly high are on “resistance” and Minutemen-type websites. You have to sift (and I have not looked since our last thread on this): BusinessWeek[400,000] [http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2009/07/anchor\_babies\_no\_more\_us\_citizenship.html](http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2009/07/anchor_babies_no_more_us_citizenship.html) CBS [300,000] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/07/eveningnews/main4000401.shtml?source=mostpo](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/07/eveningnews/main4000401.shtml?source=mostpo) p\_story Houston Chronicle [360,000] [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4209908.html](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4209908.html) All of these claim estimates. I welcome a counter-number or a different estimate if you have one. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/50 "2010-08-04T20:32:41Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > So, **Bricker** , you respond to **Euphonious Polemic** ’s question, which referred to the explanation he gave in his post, by quoting someone else’s post which supports your view? I’m sure there’s a name for this debating tactic. Hm. What could it be? > > If you don’t agree with the reasons being offered, offer up some of your own. Here is what **Euphonious Polemic** said: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > n times of economic hardship, populations often need a scapegoat to blame for their economic woes > > Hmmm… You read “racism” into this, did you? > > What is your alternate explanation? Fine, upright citizens have suddenly decided (in the middle of a recession and high unemployment) that they must uphold the letter of the law, and the best way to do this is to demonize anyone who is in your country without all the “t’s” crossed. Is that your explanation? > > Or do you have an explanation? Did you just come into this thread to shit and laugh? No. But My post was not intended to read into that quote, but to the tone of all the posts up to that point. It’s true that the first post I chose to illustrate the trend appeared later, but it certainly proved the point. Or… are you contending that no one, until **DianaG** , was ascribing racism or evil to the Republicans? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/51 "2010-08-04T20:37:50Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Your defense is a post that came after your initial claim. > > I feel like I’m watching Daffy Duck as Robin Hood take on Porky Pig as Friar Tuck. So YOU feel that, until Diana’s second post, no one was suggesting racism on the part of Republicans? > [@](#): > > You can also see it in the demonization of Muslims in instances like the proposed mosque to be built near Ground Zero. No hint of an accusation of racism there? > [@](#): > > Because banning same sex marriage for the 4th time doesn’t sell as well to the base? Not a single hint or whiff of a suggestion of ‘evil’ there? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/52 "2010-08-04T20:41:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Good move, Republicans! Now, for a generation of Latino voters, you’ll no longer be the Party of No, but the Party of _La Migra_. Smooth. Democrats can’t win with the electorate they’ve got, so they need to import a new one more congenial to their agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/53 "2010-08-04T20:43:40Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > > So, **Bricker** , you respond to **Euphonious Polemic** ’s question, which referred to the explanation he gave in his post, by quoting someone else’s post which supports your view? I’m sure there’s a name for this debating tactic. Hm. What could it be? > > It’s called “being a fucking coward who can’t give you a straight answer to a question if the question was ‘what color is the sky?’” He’ll dress it up in legalese, but the truth is he’s forgotten what truth is. I’ve long held out the hope that Bricker doesn’t believe all his own arguments, but is simply playing a Devil’s Advocate, defending the indefensible. He is a lawyer after all, that’s what they do for a living: argue stuff, even if they don’t neccesarily agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/54 "2010-08-04T20:47:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Anyway, birthright citizenship for the children of non-residents _is_ kind of unusual. I wouldn’t want to hijack such a well-directed thread as this one, but…how many/which other countries have this? In response to the OP: I’m no racist, but why not review a 145 year-old law? It served a purpose when _Tom Sawyer_ was relevant, our flag only had 37 stars, our map had 50% of its area, and automobiles, machine guns, HP Lovecraft and interstate highways had not yet darkened our landscape. Perhaps our role in international politics and our socioeconomic profile has changed just a bit since the time when this seemed like a good idea. And yes, that means why not review portions of that document that are nearly a century older still? I can’t speak with any degree of certainty, but I have to wonder if The Founding Fathers ever truly believed their work would have endured this long. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/55 "2010-08-04T20:50:50Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No hint of an accusation of racism there? I used the word “Xenophobia”. A distinct concept from racism, although I admit there is a fair amount of overlap between the two terms. Must I draw a Venn Diagram for you? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/56 "2010-08-04T20:56:30Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > > > Your defense is a post that came after your initial claim. > > > > I feel like I’m watching Daffy Duck as Robin Hood take on Porky Pig as Friar Tuck. > > So YOU feel that, until Diana’s second post, no one was suggesting racism on the part of Republicans? > > No hint of an accusation of racism there? > > > [@](#): > > > > Because banning same sex marriage for the 4th time doesn’t sell as well to the base? > > Not a single hint or whiff of a suggestion of ‘evil’ there? Really? Xenophobia. You know, _the subject of the thread_? Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! THRUST! ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/57 "2010-08-04T20:57:57Z")
> [@bup](#): > > What do you mean, sudden? Xenophobia always sells. > > “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” - not Sinclair Lewis, nor Huey Long, apparently, but still pithy and applicable. Are you talking about the real America, which has taken in hundreds of millions of immigrants from every corner of the globe, far more than any country in human history, and continues to take in hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants a year? Or are you talking about AmeriKKKa™, the evil empire that invaded Iraq so Halliburton’s private army could rape a peasant girl and then harvest her heart for Dick Cheney? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/58 "2010-08-04T21:03:02Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > > [@bup](#): > > > > What do you mean, sudden? Xenophobia always sells. > > > > “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” - not Sinclair Lewis, nor Huey Long, apparently, but still pithy and applicable. > > Are you talking about the real America, which has taken in hundreds of millions of immigrants from every corner of the globe, far more than any country in human history, and continues to take in hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants a year? > > Or are you talking about AmeriKKKa™, the evil empire that invaded Iraq so Halliburton’s private army could rape a peasant girl and then harvest her heart for Dick Cheney? There’s no need to choose. The British legacy includes Runnymede **and** Amritsar. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/59 "2010-08-04T21:10:48Z")
A willingness to exploit the racism of others is not proof of racism, only a breathtaking moral bankruptcy. Good point, **Bricker** , a fine distinction indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155/60 "2010-08-04T21:20:13Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t think of any reason to repeal the 14th Amendment that can’t be boiled down to Xenophobia, of which, as has been pointed out, there is a certain intersection with racism. But in this particular case xenophobia is a better descriptor than racism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-sudden-surge-in-xenophobia/549155.md?page=4)