It's been awhile since I got on my soapbox - probably a relief for most of you. Just so you wouldn't forget, I decided it was time again.
I originally wrote some of this diatribe four years ago. Sadly, things have only gotten worse in the intervening years. Trump’s diversion of FEMA funds to build his wall of exclusion at the start of the hurricane season only highlights the lunacy of our approach to the humanitarian issues confronting us.
I am reminded that my existence in this country in pretty prosperous circumstances (relatively speaking) was the result of some visionary ancestors I had who were trying to escape the potato famine in Ireland and would do anything to save their family and children. Similarly, my wife's family had to escape the unspeakable tragedy of the Armenian genocide in Turkey to save their family whilst over a million and a half of their brethren were annihilated. Refugees and immigrants are only trying to make a better life and provide food and shelter for their children, not become hardened criminals and "rapists", and gang lords. Wouldn't we do the same under the same circumstances?
It breaks my heart to see children treated like animals separated from their parents for God knows how long. For what crime – trying to escape brutal and lawless circumstances. Having the opportunity to laugh and play like children should. Where is our compassion? Have we forgotten where we came from? Is the best answer we have is to build a wall or use drones to hunt them down like so many wild animals? This isn't the compassion I have been taught. This isn't the world I want. We have been blessed with circumstances these poor people couldn't even dream about, and we want to tell them, "if we catch you, we will deport you." Is that a Christian value taught in the modern-day church? I hope not. We must practice a lot more empathy than we have displayed thus far and realize that "they" could be “us.” When do we start practicing the biblical dictum, " I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Aren't we way, way overdue to work on solutions? When you are blessed with more than you need, It is time to build a bigger dining table instead of a higher wall.