Distorted Public Discourse

Distorted Public Discourse

Letter to Editor
While it's true the Cambridge City Council passed a proposed order to create an immigrant commission, the Globe report omits essentials. (News Briefs, Boston Globe, City Weekly, May 7, 2006)
The order was passed with no discussion by Councilors or any input from the public. Two provisions prohibiting discrimination, omitted persons with disabilities from the list of protected groups. Do journalists share the unlawful prejudice of elected officials in Cambridge toward persons with disabilities?
Rather than "promot[ing] equality for non-US citizens in the city" this commission will create inequality for non-US citizens. It will make non-US citizens eligible for benefits meant to compensate historical discrimination against native-born Americans. In short it will make non-US citizens more equal than citizens.
A ridiculous requirement is that prospective members of the commission must have a belief in immigration. This is silly. The government may not dictate beliefs. That's a violation of the First Amendment.
This superficial report is an example of why so many Americans ignore their government and journalists. Lies and half-truths can fool many people much of the time. Once trust is lost it almost impossible to regain it. Is this more advocacy journalism in Boston?
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Roy Bercaw, Editor ENOUGH ROOM
Cambridge MA USA