Does the term "illegal" offend you?

I was thinking... I'm really sensitive to this whole situation. Like in Ap US History we were talking about immigration and the chinese exclusion act of 1882 and the entire time I felt their pain. When someone makes a comment or anything that could be slightly about us in any way, I'm automatically aware. My point is I'm very sensitive about this and some people are and some people aren't. Which brings me to wonder how many of you guys are offended by the term "illegal"? Also, how sensitive are you to this situation? Do you feel like a complete outsider or do you not care?

I get offended my friends used to joke way to much with that, stopped hanging out with them cause they where idiots. They used to be like ok mexican or illegal, they werent really friends just football teammates but yeah i do get offended

No. At the end of the day, they are just words to me. Being in the situation that we are in has given me some pretty tough skin. Letting words get the better of you can lead to a whole bunch of other problems. There will ALWAYS be people attempting to belittle you. But you cannot let their hate and ignorance get the better of you, because if you do, they win. But I'm with you on feeling others' pain. Chinese, Japanese internment camps, slavery, etc.. It breaks my heart. But the only difference between me and an USC is my status. But that being said, being undocumented doesn't define me.

I definitely get offended because usually the people that use those terms so loosely are the ones that have no idea what life is like for immigrants.

When "illegal" is used as a noun, as in "An illegal," or "Some illegals," I find that offensive.