Journalism is losing the war against pseudo-newspersons who want
to hijack the craft for personal motives.  The latest skirmish
between common sense and so-called political correctness
involves a move within the Society of Professional Journalists
to eliminate the terms "illegal immigrant" or "illegal alien"
from the pages of your favorite newspaper.  What next? Should a
bank robber be referred to as one making an "unauthorized
withdrawal?"  No, I'm not equating felons with those who enter
the country illegally, but you get the picture.  The "illegal
immigrant" tag, which now is listed as the preferred description
in the Associated Press Stylebook, was the hot topic of debate
at the SPJ's annual convention last month. The society will make
no formal decision on the matter until its 2011 confab. But I'm
betting that the group will prefer "undocumented" immigrant or
worker in an effort to push for change in the stylebook.
Perhaps I'm old fashioned. But if someone is in the country
illegally, "illegal" seems to