Several retail chains have pulled this Illegal Alien costume off their shelves after immigrant-rights activists raised a ruckus and called the outfit dehumanizing; it made a “mockery” of the often desperate situation faced by undocumented immigrants, they said.
I gotta admit, when I first saw the costume flash across my TV screen, I laughed. I’m a dunce when it comes to Halloween costumes, so I always appreciate a costume with a clever twist.
Then, I listened to the news reporter explain the reaction of immigrant groups and the controversy. I quickly understood how the outfit would be upsetting to the millions of immigrants and their children walking around on Halloween night. I concluded the pain outweighed the pun and agreed with the decision of retailers. (Although I also heard that the costume’s one of the biggest sellers online.)
What’s your reaction?
10-27-2009 09:33:40
I agree that the costume is offensive. I teach ESL as a volunteer and I am inspired by people from other countries who work hard and want desperately to learn English. No human being is illegal. Yes, some immigrants are undocumented. However, I believe that all immigrants add to the richness of our country.
10-27-2009 10:28:50
still trying to figure out the message. not defending the costume, just failing to “get” the meaning/outrage. to me it just looks like another weird person from another planet. and if that is what it means, calling illegals “weird people from other planets” then perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that a great number of people buying/wearing it won’t get it either. they’re too stupid. hmmm….what kind of category does that put me in?
10-29-2009 13:06:51
That particular mask has always creeped me out – I’m not a science fiction fan. I’m not a fan of the word alien, either, so this costume gets a thumbs down from me.
10-31-2009 08:46:12
I think somewhere over the past 30-40 years, the word “alien” changed from meaning a non-citizen residing in the U.S. from another country to “non-human from another planet.” In journalism school, we started referring to people in the first category as (name-the-country “national”) and the word “alien” was reserved for those in the second category.
I can see how that costume might offend humans. (I don’t know if it would offend any life forms from another planet. Maybe they’d be offended, too.)