In the ongoing debate on what to do about the immigrant children at the border, there are several individuals who have shown their true colors and the lack of compassion they have for the plight of these children. However, it is relieving to see one individual actually opening his arms wide in an attempt to provide shelter for the children, even at the risk of his own political career.
Reuters has reported that Judge Clay Jenkins of Dallas County, Texas has offered two empty schools and a warehouse to the feds which would provide shelter for 2,000 children. This is despite the fact that it is an election year for him. This is also despite the fact that his own governor, Gov. Rick Perry, has deployed the National Guard to the border.
Judge Jenkins was quoted by Reuters as stating:
?These children need our help now. If I lose an election over this, so be it? We don’t have to solve the border crisis to show compassion to scared children who are alone.?
Despite facing intense opposition in the vastly Republican state, Jenkins polled citizens in the areas where shelters have been proposed and was surprised by the ?positive response from residents after explaining the federal government would be footing the bill and that the migrant children would not be wandering around.?
Dallas resident Eulaine Hall:
?To tell these children that no one cares, and you must go home without due process, that’s not only immoral, un-Godly, unkind, un-feeling, un-Texas, unforgivable ? we will be judged.?
The fact is no matter what sort of argument anyone can give at a podium, these are children. Yes, we have plenty wrong here on our own home turf. However, what have we been doing to help that situation to begin with? Now all of a sudden we’re going to use our own issues that we’ve rarely cared about as an argument? No. That just doesn’t fly for me. These are children that, for the most part, were likely sent here from violent countries to find hope and have a chance at a better life legally or illegally. I’d like to know how many of these children were asked if they wanted to leave their families behind and how much of a choice they really had.
I’m not naive. I know that not all would have American dream stories. However, we’re not allowing any of them to even have a chance at finding a better life here. We’re not even allowing them adequate temporary shelter. After this treatment, why would they even want to stay here? We’re leaving lasting impressions on impressionable minds. We can either show them we’re a country who helps their neighbors or a country that turns its back on children. No matter what your religion or political leanings are, we have to do what is right because it’s just the right thing to do. I leave you now with some excerpts from the governor of Massachusetts Devan Patrick’s speech defending offering help to the immigrant children at the border.
?It bears remembering that these are children alone in a foreign land? I have come down where I have for two main reasons? love of country and lessons of faith. We are a great nation. Unlike any other superpower, America’s power, to paraphrase a great man, comes from giving not from taking. America and this commonwealth in particular have given sanctuary to desperate children for centuries? Once in 1939 we turned our backs on Jewish children fleeing the Nazis, and it remains a blight on our national reputation. The point is this good nation is great when we open our doors and our hearts to needy children and diminished when we don’t. Every major faith tradition on the planet charges its followers to treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. I don’t know what good there is in faith if we can’t, and won’t, turn to it in moments of human need.?
Watch Governor Patrick’s speech below.
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h/t to The Raw Story.
Liz Lee considers herself a modern woman of the South and hails from the swamps of South Georgia. She votes along no party line and prefers to look at issues from all angles before taking a stance. She takes particular interest in healthcare issues, mental health issues, and the battle for equality. She is also an emphatic advocate for the end to dog breed discrimination legislation. She is a wife, mother of one human child, mother to one furry American Bully, a college student, and also your typical everyday Wonder Woman. When she hangs up her cape, you can find her curled up in her office sewing, writing, playing World of Warcraft, or practicing banjo. You can follow her on Facebook to see what issue she is tackling. She also has a Twitter she can’t figure out how to use and is working on a website at this time.
