In an editorial today, the New York Times gets up on its high horse and lectures Europe about the need for "higher levels of legal immigration." The Times condemns European "xenophobia" and expresses disappointment that the European public "does not share Americans' more welcoming spirit." The Times editorial says, "Distressingly, too many politicians are willing to capitalize on anti-immigrant sentiments."
Well, before lecturing Europe on the need to welcome immigrants, the Times might have checked to see if its own house is in order on the immigration issue. It isn't. In fact, in an editorial published August 24, 2000, the Times dismissed an appeal from the Mexican government for the free movement of persons across the border. Such a policy "is not practical anytime soon," the Times fretted. It might result in low-wage Mexican workers competing "with the poorest, least skilled Americans," the Times warned. What we really need, the Times said in August, is "improved Mexican border enforcement."
What was that again about "Americans' more welcoming spirit"?
Very divisive figures: The lead New York Times editorial today describes Linda Chavez, President-elect Bush's choice to run the Department of Labor, as one of the "very divisive figures" Mr. Bush has chosen. Smartertimes.com has said this before but will repeat it again. Ms. Chavez is not a divisive figure. Her policies would tend to unite Americans. The dividers are the ones who would pit Americans against each other and categorize them by racial and language groups, rather than, as Ms. Chavez does, advocating government policies that treat Americans equally and encourage assimilation.
Opening Friday: The "Liberties" column on the op-ed page of today's New York Times reports that "opening Friday is '13 Days,' a Kevin Costner movie about the Cuban missile crisis." This is just another indicator of how the Times seems totally unfamiliar with life in its supposed hometown of New York. "13 Days" has been playing here for more than a week. The editor of Smartertimes.com saw it in a theater on Manhattan's Upper West Side on December 28, 2000. The movie may be "opening Friday" in some remote provinces like the District of Columbia, but you'd think the Times would at least make some acknowledgment of the fact that the movie already opened in Manhattan.