Essay 598

A Mini-Midweek MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The Southern Poverty Law Center claims immigration is inspiring an increase in hate groups and hate crimes. Between 2002 and 2004, the number of U.S. hate groups rose 33 percent — from 762 to 803. A center official said, “More and more groups are turning to immigration to help recruitment.” Hey, maybe the military should consider using hate as a recruitment tactic.

• Now Verizon denies any involvement with the National Security Agency (see Essay 594). A company statement read, “One of the most glaring and repeated falsehoods in the media reporting is the assertion that, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Verizon was approached by NSA and entered into an arrangement to provide the NSA with data from its customers’ domestic calls. This is false.” The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to ask telecommunications officials under oath for their side of the story. It should be interesting to see the committee’s response to the Verizon dude whose only testimony will be, “Can you hear me now? Good.”