Friday, June 22, 2018

US Has To Be Better Than This...

By Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle
What this country and administration did with regard to separating children from their parents at the U.S. border was immoral, unethical, inhumane, disgusting, and decidedly un-American. End of story.
I try and keep this space focused on local matters, with an occasional foray into national issues. But this is something that cannot be ignored. It affects us all. This strikes to the core of who we are as a people.
Punishing those suspected of committing the misdemeanor offense of crossing our borders illegally by taking their children and putting them in detention facilities is so reprehensible. These children are not a threat to national security. Many are incapable of breaking our laws by virtue of their age alone.
If their parents are arrested for serious crimes such as murder, rape or abuse, that separation is necessary. If they are simply accused of illegally crossing the border, be it to seek asylum or not, in no way does that justify taking their children. It just doesn’t, regardless of what some alleged “leaders” may say.
And don’t for a second believe those who say “but this is the law.” It is not. There is no law requiring the government to broadly prosecute all these cases with “zero tolerance”, and certainly no law requiring children be taken from their parents while their status is determined — and beyond.
No, that was a choice made by the Trump administration, the attorney general, and the president. Despite their inconsistent lying about it, this was their policy. The president could have ended it with a phone call or a stroke of his pen at any time. But he waited until public pressure forced his hand.
The president, his chief of staff, his AG and others all admitted they were using these children for leverage. They wanted to discourage more people from crossing the border, and push Congress to fund the border wall. The president says these people are “dangerous criminals” and blames Democrats for the fact children are in camps, even though that is a lie.
Former first lady Laura Bush rightfully and accurately compared this to the shameful interment of people of Japanese descent into camps during World War II. Her words were frighteningly striking and sincere.
Defenders of this policy said the kids are being well cared for, even have videos and movies. Conservative pundits called it “like summer camp.” They ignored that they are behind fences, some in cages. There are pictures of small children wearing numbers — something that should chill us all to the bone.
This was never about Democrats or Republicans, wins or losses, examples or deterrents. This is about innocent children. Those responsible for this horrible policy should be ashamed and rejected.
Let there be no doubt. President Trump created this policy. Giving him credit for now stopping it is a bit like congratulating the arsonist for putting out the fire he started.
In essence, the president has continued his “zero tolerance” policy. Now instead of detaining innocent children alone, he will detain entire families who in many cases are just trying to survive and looking for asylum in the “Land of the Free”.
We have to be better than this. Better than him.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

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