AP calls migrants "like a ragtag army of the poor."

[deminks]

Link to tweet

We’ve removed an @AP tweet from Oct. 21 that said a migrant caravan in Mexico was “like a ragtag army of the poor.” That wording was poorly chosen and has been removed from our coverage of the caravan.

and as the first comment notes, repeats the poorly chosen wording in case you missed it the first time.




They are not an army. They are not terrorists. They are people. Stop with the hate and fear mongering.

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. That was a disgusting tweet! Who writes that crap? n/t

[Iliyah]

2. "Army" key word to hype up the crazies.

I hope these viigilantes don't try and shoot them, but shithole is basically inciting that.

[DFW]

3. "Ragtag," sure

As if anyone is proud or desiring of being poverty-stricken.

My wife, a social worker, used to work with "ragtag" people all the time. So many of the "ragtag" people just need a chance, that one little break. She tells of one time, when an overweight guy was sent to her office, reeking of booze. He was a German with the same rights and possibilities as every other German citizen, so she told him to take a hike and come back when he was sober--THEN she'd do what she could to help him out. Six months later, he did come back--50 kilos lighter and in a jacket and tie, and asked, "do you remember me?" My wife, said, "well, not offhand, no." He explained that he was the "slob" who had first shown up in her office half a year before. He had lost his job, then his wife, and then just gave in to despair. He only went to my wife's office that first time because the welfare office threatened to cut him off if he continued his slow suicide routine, since he displayed no signs of mental illness. He availed himself of what help he could (being Germany, there was some), got help with his alcohol problem, and changed his diet. It turns out the guy was a university professor (!!!!) who had just had a string of bad luck that laid him low. He just needed someone to care enough to tell him it was worth his while to snap out of it. My wife placed the guy into some kind of carpentry program, which he turned out to have a gift for, and loved it.

The "ragtag poor" are not that way because they like it, gimme a break. They are that way because life has shit upon them. If they are abandoning their homes and risking their lives to come here, chances are, they'll bust their butts to make the best of it if we let them in. Sure, we can't take in everyone, and sure, Fox Noise will make headlines from the one in every thousand who turns out to be a useless violent criminal. But why deprive the USA of the other 999 who are willing to improve both their lives and ours if given the chance? (Rhetorical question--we ALL know the answer to that one)

If poverty of the spirit manifested itself as clothing, the entire membership of the Republican Party would be running around in used animal skins and patches of discarded canvas.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Duer's all need to read your post.

As someone who has Volunteered with as Social Service Agency. I know first hand of what your Spouse says. And this is another reason the reaffirms why I am a big D Democrat.

[DFW]

8. It takes some special kind of guts and caring to do that job

You enjoy the small successes you can accumulate, and know that the times it doesn't work out will sometimes burden your conscience close to the breaking point.

Your true compensation is when people you try to help out actually succeed, and there will always be too few of them. You will never receive pay or thanks commensurate with the effort you put in. I know that from my wife's decades of work, and I know it can't have been any different for you. I bow in humility before anyone willing to take THAT job on.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. This is what ACRON was mostly about.

Ask anyone who Worked for Hennipenn County Social Services,it was the Volunteers getting involved and finding solutions to people issues. Only thing I regret is,just did not have the hours to contribute.

[DFW]

11. My wife was a trained social worker with a degree, and still worked 80 hours a week.

If you aren't close to an engaged social worker, it's difficult to grasp either what they put into their job, or what it takes out of them.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. There is not enough thank you's for those who worked the Social Services.

Until one walks in their shoes,then one fully understands. It is the calls at 3 am that makes these people extra special.

[DFW]

13. We definitely took a few over the years

Sometimes, she handed me the phone, because she had many immigrants from Russia who pretended not to understand her, and used that as an excuse to not keep appointments in her office. I would then get on the phone, repeat what she had just said, but in Russian, and then made them repeat it back to me in Russian so they couldn't say there was a misunderstanding. After the Russians realized the "nix verstehen" routine wouldn't work with her, they made miraculous progress in their ability to speak and understand German. Amazing, eh?

Her main focus was placing long-term unemployed back in the workforce. Some people just didn't want to work, and were very creative in thinking up ways why they coudn't. Others were desperate to find any job they could, even if it meant they would net less money than when on unemployment insurance (an unfortunate quirk of the German welfare system that drives social workers nuts). Obviously these were the ones she was willing to go the extra ten kilometers for. There was one Lebanese guy who never learned German after 15 years here, but found time to father 15 children, and cash in the "child money (Kindergeld)" for each one, which he kept for himself.

In other words, her clients ran the gamut, and so did her mood when she got home from work, depending on whether she considered her day successful or not.

[treestar]

4. Right wing talking point already out says they

are well dressed, looked well fed and have cell phones. Soros is pretty generous with this one!

[lpbk2713]

5. I wouldn't characterize young children as part of an army.

Or old men and women.

Leave the any suggestion of an invasion to the lying Trumpsters.

[0rganism]

6. the class war is real

unfortunately, only one side is actually fighting it. and they are winning. bigly.

[bigbrother05]

9. The reason it is a "caravan" is for safety

Individuals and families trying to make their way north for economic and safety reasons have loosely banded together to cross what can be a hostile landscape. Bandits and others that would prey on a few will steer clear of a larger group.

The GOP is trying hard to make it sound like an organized wave is coming our way to stir up the rabble and have an election issue.