A few thoughts about the horrendous, immoral Trumpian policy of border security separating children from parents of people trying to enter our country on the southern border:
- It's good to see former First Ladies come out against this policy (at this point, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama). Melania Trump's statement was better than nothing, but could have been stronger. But ... where are the former Presidents? I'd like to see Obama give a speech about this, and George W. Bush and Bill Clinton as well.
- The agents themselves who are implementing this policy - separating children from their parents, lying to the children, as a means of separating them - are as much to blame as Trump and his lying minions. Those agents are no better than Nazis who said they were just following orders. Where is their humanity? Without them, Trump's bluster would be just that, bluster without consequence. I hope the next Democratic President fires each and every one of these agents.
- Where are the Republicans who, in the past, have shown a shred of decency on this issue? Where is John McCain*, Jeff Flake, Ben Sass, Susan Collins? Why don't they step up and vividly denounce this inhumane policy? Some have made statements, and some are better than others. The time has come for every Republican with any compassion to come out with clear, unconditional statements calling for this heinous policy to end. *[McCain just tweeted the following at 7:30pm Eastern, "The administration’s current family separation policy is an affront to the decency of the American people, and contrary to principles and values upon which our nation was founded. The administration has the power to rescind this policy. It should do so now." Excellent - exactly!]
- Much has been said by Trump and his supporters about the Democrats made this law. That's not true - as just about everyone knows, this is a policy, not a law, that Trump has chosen to initiate. But even if it was a law - as our great philosophers have told us throughout the ages, there are moral imperatives that transcend the law, and should be followed when the law calls for something evil to happen. Caring for our children, seeing that no harm, let alone indelible harm and pain befalls them, is among the most important moral imperatives in our human condition.
- Credit to the media for shining a spotlight on this awful state of affairs. If ever it was clear that we need a free media system, unregulated by government, the baneful actions of our government are demonstrating this today.
- Psychologists accurately say that separation of children at such early ages (especially toddlers!) can cause enduring psycho-social damage to the children. This is something that every parent, and everybody who was ever a child, which means everyone, should instantly understand.
