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.
Nick,
It is good that the integrity of at least one of the weekend contributors is above reproach in your mind. This blog was never an echo chamber. It was however mostly civil. There were serious disagreements of people who usually agreed on most issues. All you have to look at to believe that is to read some of my older pieces on gun control. People didn’t cast dispersions of one’s integrity, just because that person didn’t accept your argument or claim. But that has changed. I wonder why?
Is claiming that we are purposely censoring your comments just being direct? I am not buying what you are selling.
Very nice.
bettykath,
LOL!
Nick’s latest transparent attempt to divide and conquer the guest bloggers–and to cast aspersions on the character of Chuck, Larry, and me.
Elaihe – two things. 1) you are obviously thin skinned 2) McCarthy was right, there were Communists in both the State Dept and the Army.
Gee, I was hoping that some comments would get lost. Not mine, of course. 🙂
MikeA, Your integrity is above reproach. However, while you can vouch for other people, no one can know for certain what is in others hearts and minds. So, while your unequivocal statement on behalf of your colleagues is commendable, it is not dispositive. We differ on many subjects but I trust you implicitly. The macro issue here is a shift in this blogs commenters. This was an echo chamber for a long time. It no longer is. Some old timers have adapted to the new diverse environment, some have not. Some GBers still make posts about what some of us see as liberal drivel, talking points, and we hammer @ it, something that didn’t happen in the old days. I have an extremely difficult time getting my comments retrieved. There have been stretches when I have had 20 or more comments in a row not retrieved. At times, I have given up even asking. Retrieving a comment on this current thread, where I explained “Godless liberal,” could have avoided a lot of acrimony. That’s how this distraction started. I don’t want anyone to leave. I don’t want anyone to change their views. I simply want to say my piece. I am direct and honest. There was a time, not long ago, where that was always admirable. Now, not so much. Being direct to some is seen as “uncivil.”
Paul,
So do you also think that I and other weekend contributors are purposely allowing your comments to die in the spam filter? We have all had comments grabbed by the spam filter, but if yours or Karen’s or Nick’s end up there, it must be a conspiracy, I guess. Please let me know if you are also accusing me and others of censorship and of colluding to censor the bloggers we allegedly disagree with.
You are right that it is Professor Turley’s job to say who stays and who should go. However, Mike and the rest of us have the right to our opinions, just like you and we also have the right to demand an apology when people try to drag our good names into the mud of accusations. I expect an apology from Nick and Karen and you if you agree with their accusations.
rafflaw – I have stated my case and I have nothing to apologize for.
Well that’ll teach ya Elaine, and weekend bloggers, do someone a favor and they start thinking its your duty. Talk about entitlement!
Annie and Elaine – since it is not in your job description, I will stop worrying about it. I will find work arounds and just clutter up the Vortex of Doom.
Paul,
My only “job” as a guest blogger is to write posts for RIL. We guest bloggers retrieve comments as a courtesy when we’re aware that they have gotten sucked up by the spam filter. Jonathan never told us it was a requirement for being a guest blogger.
Mike has a right to speak his mind–especially when he is being accused of something by people who comment frequently on this blog.
Swarthmoremom,
Intimidated into moderating my views? That’ll be the day!
😉
Elaine, I think they either want you gone or I think ,more likely, they think they can intimidate you into moderating your views.
SWM – you could not be more wrong.
Rafflaw,
Some people can’t accept the fact that you, Chuck, and I are guest bloggers at RIL. They continue to accuse us of selective retrieval of comments–among other things–and try to bait us into making uncivil comments. I believe they want us gone. I don’t know why they don’t start their own blogs where they wouldn’t be constantly annoyed by the likes of us.
To all conspiracy theorists, and you know who you are:
I’m not going to repeat myself, so read this carefully. Guest bloggers have administrative access to this site for the sole purpose of enabling us to draft and post our comments. That access enables us to see what is in the spam filter and to transfer posts that obviously should not be there. When one or more of us is online and someone notes that a post has been trapped, we will attempt to free it. We do not monitor, edit, purge, censor, hide, ignore, ban, squelch, cut, remove, bend or staple anyone’s post. We do not sit in a secret cyber room and decide whose views will be favored with public exposure. We do not draw lewd pictures of annoying posters and pass them back and forth between us. We do not maintain hit lists of posters whose comments should be sent to the trash bin. We do not own this site and we do not pretend that we do.
Enough is enough. If anyone believes he or she is being singled out for unfair treatment by a guest blogger, he or she is wrong. Period.
I have no more to say on this topic. If anyone still believes that he or she is the victim of some dark scheme, perhaps it’s time to move on.
Elaine and Mike – as usual you have lost the thread of the conversation. The problem is that some of my comments are not being retrieved, to the point where I no longer hope them to be. I really do not care who the guest bloggers are, although I would like to see a conservative blogger added to the group.
I enjoy some of the bloggers and sadly some are so predictable I could write their thread in my sleep.
All I ask is that if it is part of the job of the GBs to sort through the Vortex of Doom and find lost comments, that you do it. If it is not part of your duties, then don’t do it and we will figure work arounds.
Mike – Jonathan did not die and leave you in charge of the blog. You are overstepping your bounds to suggest that bloggers move on, that is Jonathan’s job.
Wow! The attacks are starting early today…passive aggressive, uncivil, collusion. As I told Paul yesterday–if you have a problem with me, file a complaint with Jonathan.
No Nick. It isn’t tit for tat. Elaine and Chuck and I did not accuse you of colluding to censor comments. A public apology is what adults do when they step out of bounds like you have. Instead you claim that it exists, but darn, I just can’t prove it. That is a mere repetition of your baseless and false claim.
This is getting tit for tat. I acknowledged I could not prove collusion. I think it exists, you deny it. There is nothing more to say. Please just retrieve our comments whenever your schedules allow. I always say please and thank you and always will. Because I do appreciate it when a comment it retrieved. WordPress is fundamentally flawed. Why don’t we just agree on that and try to move forward. We can all direct our anger @ WordPress, something for which there is consensus.
Nick,
Your statement is disgusting and insulting and uncivil. You are basically claiming that my strong denial is corroboration for your insinuation and Karen’s that we are purposely allowing certain people’s comments to languish in the spam filter. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Elaine M, it is passive-aggressive when someone reads your comment, takes time out to reply, asks a question, and you do not bother to respond. Why so uncivil just because you do not share the same stripes? I mean, it’s not like the question is personal or anything not pertinent to the post.
raff, You denied collusion like a good ILLINOIS politician. Elaine is using the snarky defense. In my 35 years as a PI I only worked one collusion case. The reason is quite simple. There are very few collusion cases filed since they’re so difficult to prove. The MLB Players Association was able to win a collusion case against the dumb ass owners, but it’s rare. We could never prove collusion. But, your faux outrage and arrogant snark are corroborative.
Rafflaw
According to Paul and Nick, you, Chuck, and I are involved in a conspiracy not to retrieve their comments. You know how passive aggressive the three of us can be!
Said with a nod and a 😉
Elaine – I agree with the passive-aggressive part, not the conspiracy.