By Mike Appleton, Weekend Contributor
“Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me, but the one who sent me.’ “
-Gospel of Mark, Ch. 9, verses 36-37, New American Bible (Thomas Nelson, 1989)
“If kids come in my backyard, I’ll shoot them.”
-unidentified Murietta, California resident protesting the sheltering of undocumented child immigrants (July 1, 2014)
………………………………………………..
“Collective fear,” wrote Bertrand Russell, “stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.” The ugliness in Murietta, California several weeks ago provided ample evidence, if any were needed, of the power of collective fear. But even more disturbing than the angry shouts at frightened children unable even to understand the words hurled at them has been the reaction of political leaders. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Gov. Rick Perry demanded that the President dispatch National Guard troops to the border, for who knows what purpose. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R. Texas) has been even more vocal. Most of you may recall Rep. Gohmert’s rants several years ago about “anchor babies” born in the United States to be trained as terrorists. This time around he is claiming that the Administration is encouraging the influx of unaccompanied children as part of a plot to turn America “blue” and “ensure Republicans will never get elected again.” Of course, that will require that all of these tens of thousands of children survive the various diseases with which he also claims them to be infected and carrying over the border. Rep. Gohmert could be dismissed as another congressional crackpot but for the fact that he currently serves as vice chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Fear-mongering is such an emotionally powerful tool that it is readily grasped by nascent politicians to fast-track their own careers. Several days ago one Adam Kwasman, a Republican running for Congress in Arizona, made headlines when he photographed a bus full of children and tweeted it to his supporters with the caption, “Bus coming in. This is not compassion. This is the abrogation of the rule of law.” Twitter is a social medium particularly well-suited for those adept at making fools of themselves in fewer than 140 characters. In a follow-up interview with a local reporter, Mr. Kwasman even described “the fear” he witnessed in the eyes of the children as the bus passed, only to later learn that what he had actually observed was what I, as a sometime camp counselor, call Camp Grenada Syndrome, the anxiety universally experienced by kids on their first trip to summer camp, this one run by the YMCA.
Assuming that the over 50,000 (to date) unaccompanied minors surrendering to the Border Patrol are not junior members of the Central America branch of the Young Democrats, why have they come? Well, has anyone been to Honduras or Guatemala or El Salvador lately? Those three countries, known collectively as the Northern Triangle, occupy three of the top five spots on the list of countries with the worst homicide statistics. Honduras leads the pack, with 90.4 murders per 100,000 persons. In Guatemala, over 300,000 children, fully 11% of those between the ages of 7 and 13, work, 21% of them in dangerous jobs, and are subjected to exploitation by organized crime in the sexual tourism and pornography industries. The homicide rate in El Salvador doubled between 2003 and 2011, and rose 44% in the first quarter of 2014 over the same period a year ago. To put this in further perspective, Latin America is home to 9% of the world’s population, and suffers 31% of the world’s murders.
The governments of these countries are weak and riddled with incompetence and corruption. Efrain Rios Montt, the former head of state in Guatemala, was convicted last year of genocide and crimes against humanity for atrocities committed against his own civilian population. But his conviction has been overturned and he faces a new trial early next year. The State Department has issued travel warnings for Honduras. And it is clear that much of the drug trafficking and gang warfare in the Northern Triangle is a direct result of the shifting of the drug trade from countries, such as Mexico and Columbia, in which the war on drugs has been particularly intense. It has also been argued that much of the instability in that part of the world is a legacy of United Fruit diplomacy and U.S. support of corrupt military dictatorships in Central America over many decades.
But regardless of the historical explanations for the problems plaguing these countries, how can any rational person fail to understand the desire of poor and desperate parents to protect their children from the violence and terror they daily face? How can any rational person not marvel at a parental love so powerful that it compels mothers and fathers to send their children on a lonely, dangerous journey? And who is honestly surprised that people gripped by fear and despair will believe the lies of the coyotes who promise, for a price, to deliver their children to the safety of the United States?
In 2008 Congress passed, and Pres. Bush signed, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, named for the British MP who devoted much of his political career to the abolition of the slave trade in England. A portion of the Act establishes procedures for the processing and repatriation of “unaccompanied alien children” who come into the United States. In general, the Act requires that a minor child from a country that is not contiguous to the United States is to be transferred to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services and placed “in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child” pending a determination of whether the child should be repatriated or granted refugee status. The Act affords such children what we as a nation believe essential to minimum due process-the right to a hearing and the right to counsel. 8 USC 1232 (2014). But the sheer numbers of children now in the country have overwhelmed the available resources. And, of course, it is all the fault of the Administration.
In one of the videos of the Murietta protests, a woman can be seen shouting, “Not our children. Not our problem.” In Vassar, Michigan, two weeks later, demonstrators, two carrying semi-automatic rifles, assembled in front of a social services facility selected to provide temporary housing for some of the children. The organizer of the protest, Tamyra Murray, was quoted as saying, “We must save America and stand up against this invasion.” Collective fear at work, one rope short of a lynch mob.
Nevertheless, I do not believe that the woman in Murietta, California or Ms. Murray in Vassar, Michigan truly believe what they are saying. If they do, they are wrong. It has also been suggested that this humanitarian crisis is Pres. Obama’s Katrina. That is also wrong. Hurricane Katrina was our Katrina, just as Hurricane Sandy was our Sandy. And these children, at least for now, are our children. While they are here, they deserve to be treated as part of the herd.
Sources: Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays (Simon & Schuster, 1950); “El Salvador Grapples With Upswing In Drug Traffic,” http://www.npr.org (May 31, 2011); “El Salvador murder rate up 44% as gang truce falters,” http://www.irishtimes.com (April 4, 2014); U.S. Department of State, “El Salvador 2013 Crimes and Safety Report,” http://www.osac.gov/pages/contentReportDetails.aspx?cid=13875; “Murders in El Salvador spike to record high for May,” http://www.mobile.reuters.com (May 26, 2014); “Honduras, Central America still lead the world in murder rates,” http://www.ticotimes.net (April 14, 2014); Human Rights Watch, “Honduras still # 1 in 2013,” http://www.m.hrw.org/world-report/2014; “Federal Agents With Riot Gear Arriving In Murietta To Subdue Immigration Protesters,” http://www.dailycaller.com (July 6, 2014); “Gohmert: Obama Is Flooding Texas With Immigrants To ‘Turn It Blue,’ ” http://www.breitbart.com (July 7, 2014); “Murietta Residents: Obama Admin Flooding Our Streets to Force ‘Immigration Reform,’ ” http://www.breitbart.com (July 8, 2014); “Murietta immigration debate: Should they stay or should they go?” http://www.america.aljazeera.com (July 11, 2014); Francis X. Donnelly, “Possible housing of Central American children meets with protest in small Michigan town,” The Detroit News (July 14, 2014); Igor Bobic, “GOP Candidate Mistakes YMCA Kids For Migrants, Describes ‘Fear In Their Faces,’ ” The Huffington Post (July 16, 2014).
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays of art are solely their decision and responsibility.
Paul, We are the unclean in their caste system. It’s all done w/ a wink and a nod. Passive aggressive.
RTC:
“I know perfectly well what science is, and I know that you’re not relying on it in your denial of climate change.”
I did not deny climate change. What I specifically said is that I can come to no conclusion based on the problems with the study. And I also said that if climate is not changing now, it will tomorrow.
Stop attributing opinions to be that I have not written.
rafflaw,
You seriously said the law is being enforced?
There are NO illegal aliens in this country?
Every illegal shows up for hearings?
How does the law apply when the Central American have live families at home and are criminals in every country they passed through?
How many BILLIONS of people meet the “criteria” for asylum?
How many of these “immigration” laws are illegally written and unconstitutional?
Is that really the Bush application; the legislation’s text?
Did Bush’s law REALLY read this way or is this “interpretation” like applying amendments written for ex-slaves to illegal Mexican criminal immigrant women who deliberately ABUSE our law to drop a baby on this soil as a citizen.
DO YOU THINK WE’RE ALL STUPID?
So stupid as to believe that blather…NEWSPEAK.
I think it’s time for a little old time; old fashioned justice.
You can twist everything to fit your “bleeding heart” “womb to the tomb” vision of legalized parasitism.
I hope that duplicity serves you well.
I hope that’s polite.
The house this year has it’s own basketball court! The house they rented the last few years was sold and not for rent any longer. MV residents are happy because that old house caused a main island road to be shut down. The MV Gazette is a good paper. I love to read the obits. A combo of elites and blue collar residents.
SWM, This is tiresome. The Border Patrol begged the Administration for action over the last 2 years, seeing the #’s increasing exponentially. The MSM avoided covering this until they HAD TO. Obama is disengaged. Cuellar is not a Republican. He has the balls to speak up, many more weasel Dems are speaking w/o attribution about Obama being totally in a bubble. I read the MV Gazette, the Obamas are planning another MV vacation.
Ted Cruz was on Fox blaming Obama today. Republicans blame Obama while the house absolutely refuses to take up the immigration bill. I don’t think anyone predicted the number of children seeking sanctuary would be so large. I am not for the Cuellar Cornyn bill either, nick.
Karen, We may have discussed this? But, when they elected a Jesuit for the first time ever I said, “Hold on to your hats folks!” I pray he stays healthy and safe. I understand his wanting to be in w/ crowds but he needs to find that balance. If he is murdered by a jihadist it could be a huge shit storm.
SWM, We have discussed Francis and share a deep respect for him. I know some Shiite Catholics who loved that Nazi Pope and are wary of him. Part of it is how the press loves Francis. That scares a lot of very religious Catholics. He is simply a good and truly holy man. The real deal. He knows, being from South America, the horrors of drugs. He recently went to a prison in Calabria and prayed w/ the imprisoned parents of a murdered child, killed by the Mafia. So, his heart is deeply w/ these children from Central America. And so are most Americans hearts. To make political hay out of a handful of frustrated people is as wrong as they are. Obama’s disengagement, something Dem pols have been talking about for some time, is the real problem. That’s my opinion, and most people’s opinion.
RTC:
RTC:
I am sorry, He/they doesnt know what he is talking about on that subject. I wouldnt want the 2 equated if I were him either.
But you keep on believing the 2 are opposites if that makes you feel better.
I see the core message of Pope Francis as being one that emphasizes offering sanctuary to immigrant children rather than one that is overly concerned about the morality of gay marriage or abortion. That is not to say the beliefs have changed but the emphasis certainly has.
And when we talk about unions, we’ll talk about unions. Stop conflating issues, you’ll confuse byron.
Actually, Karen, all you’ve done is snivel about being outed as a shill. You have failed to address any of the facts I threw out there. Start with the ice sheets, then consider the hardiness zones. Those zones are drawn up for hard-boiled farmers who only care about one thing – growing crops. Not even the Bush Leaguers could edit those changes. Big Ag was too powerful. The warmer climate zones are creeping north. Enjoy the rest of growing season.
RTC – As we know from the Medieval Warming Period, a longer growing season is very helpful for crop production. The question is both global warming (aka climate change) and whether it is man-made. The evidence that it exists is weak and the evidence that it is human made is even weaker.
BTW, remember there is a BIG difference between weather and climate. I just got back from Minneapolis, worst flooding in 50 years. Weather or climate?
Byron: As has been explained to you over and over and over again, they are opposite ends of the spectrum, like hot and cold. The really industrious kids here can find miles of comments from some very insightful, intelligent posters in the archives of RIL.
Karen: I know perfectly well what science is, and I know that you’re not relying on it in your denial of climate change. You’re not having a discussion about when you continually dismiss every study and the overwhelming evidence that shows reasons for concern.
That’s because you’re not here to have a discussion. Some division of Fox News has embedded you and several others here to push the propaganda and make it appear that there are more people out there who refuse to believe the truth.
You gave it away when you claimed that the rich are being taxed into oblivion when every study proves the opposite.
RTC – if you were really interested in the science of ‘climate change’ you would be horrified by what Michael Mann is doing. Faux studies are faux studies. Peer review in this field is a circle jerk.
RTC:
All I see is a continued use of personal insults, and a failure to address the sincere concerns I’ve raised about ACC in other topics. A genuine person will discuss both sides of an issue. A zealot or bully will just insult those who disagree with him.
As per usual, when anyone says they have concerns with a climate change study, it becomes a personal attack completely devoid of rationale. There is no point trying to debate with anyone who just wants to drag the thread into a quarrel.
Same thing happens when we talk about Charter Schools and Public Schools (and YES I understand that Charter schools get public funds.)
Same thing about immigration.
Same thing about unions.
Basically, when anyone disagrees with, or at least wants to discuss the other side, of a Liberal position, they just get insulted. It has become boring. And it frankly leads me to believe that any Liberals must not thoroughly understand their position if they can’t even discuss it without ad hominem attacks.
The same would be true of any political party who engaged in this behavior of attack rather than debate, but I have not personally experienced it in any other party. I suspect that the media is forming a habit of mind, because this is the same behavior that hosts engage in when they give the talking points parroted by the general population.
I thought you only believed Republicans are racist. Are Libertarians, Independents, fiscal conservatives all racists? What about the Green Party? What political party screens out the racists?
Dredd:
“Spinny libertardian racists hate kids of color who need help.”
Based on what?
Nick:
Pope Francis is a very kind man with infinite compassion, but Liberals mistake if they believe he is not conservative. He may make some changes, but he believes in the Catholic faith at its core. He will never support abortion because he believes it is murdering an infant; it is incompatible with his compassion.
I like the Pope very much. I do not always agree with his politics, but that is why there is a separation between church and state. As a side note, he reminds me of Mother Theresa, whom I wish I could have met.
SWM:
Celibacy among the clergy was only initiated around a thousand years ago. The difficulty was money. At the time, the church was wealthy and powerful, and those high up in the hierarchy enjoyed the wealth of the church. It was an abuse of their mandate. In any case, the issue came up on inheritance for widows and children of church officials. So they mandated celibacy as a means to avoid any inheritance issues, and focus on the faith.
I was raised Catholic, and I disagree with celibacy among the clergy. I think many good hearted people ignore a calling to serve in the church because they don’t want to give up having a family. Islamic clerics, Jewish rabbis, and many Protestant denominations all marry, and I see no reason why Catholic priests cannot do the same. The priesthood is aging, and it would be a means to inject fresh blood. Plus, I suspect that there are still malingerers among the priesthood that still need to be cleared out and arrested. Catholicism is a beautiful faith, full of tradition, but this is one tradition I hope will change. They changed the mass from Latin to the local language, and they changed the communion fast to only one hour, so one can hope . . . Although my father used to tell me that it was so comforting to be able to go to any Catholic church around the globe and hear the familiar Latin upon entering. It is a shame Latin became a dead language.
Thanks again, raff.