They are all "our" children

[sheshe2]

[url=http://postimage.org/][img][/img][/url]

I believe that it is wired into humans to protect children. But we have developed a mechanism for avoiding that instinct by defining "our" children (who are to be protected) and "their" children to whom we have no obligation. We do that by excluding the ones that don't look like us (black and brown) and then blaming their parents for their condition.

I've seen all of that on display as we discuss what to do about the children who are coming into this country illegally from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Lately I've been finding myself wanting to scream..."These are f*cking CHILDREN we're talking about!!!!" Can we take just a moment to remember that and think about what's going on here before we simply plug them into our politically polarized narrative about how every problem we face is a plot by President Obama to ruin this country?

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has no interest in playing our political games with this issue. They produced a report titled Children on the Run which summarizes over 400 interviews they conducted with unaccompanied or separated children who arrived in this country illegally.

Our data reveals that no less than 58% of the 404 children interviewed were forcibly displaced because they suffered or faced harms that indicated a potential or actual need for international protection.

Read More: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/07/they-are-all-our-children.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. But..but...these kids might grow up to become criminals, junkies, prostitutes,

doctors, artists, or teachers.






Just like American kids.

[Louisiana1976]

2. What would it take to persuade most Americans to see the refugee children as our

children, instead of their children?

[The2ndWheel]

18. First you'd probably have to stop calling us Americans

That creates distance right off the bat. Then you'd have to stop referring to other people as a refugee, as that yet again creates distance. Basically you probably have to get rid of borders and history, which seems like it might be difficult.

[Cha]

3. That's the way I feel about it.. thanks for smartypants, she~

[PasadenaTrudy]

4. Not mine!

Count me out of this one.

[WillyT]

6. Jesus Would Disagree...

[whttevrr]

5. These kids...

They've gone through so much at such a young age. I hope they find solace.

[WillyT]

7. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[sheshe2]

8. Kicking!

[Hofbrau]

9. There has to be a prioritization and limit on resources allocated...

That applies to any problem but especially this one.

Unfortunate but true...

[ohheckyeah]

10. There didn't seem to be any limit on resources

when we attacked Iraq - supposedly to liberate them so their children could grow up "free".

What would you do with these children? Just let them die because you want to limit resources?

[Hofbrau]

13. I'm smart enough to know that it can't be summed up...

... In an Internet message board blurb.

It's actually pretty freaking complex and just declaring that we have a responsibility to all children of the world while not taking into account that the resources to care for them come from somewhere else is... simple at best

As far as Iraq spending goes I try not to point to the past bad behavior of others to justify new behavior.

[ohheckyeah]

14. Ever hear of the Wilberfoce Law?

Sometimes it helps to reflect on bad behavior in order to not repeat it and to help prioritize things.

[The2ndWheel]

17. Of course there were resource limits in Iraq

Which obviously wasn't done to liberate them so their children could do anything.

Plus the two situations are pretty different, even from an emotional standpoint.

[sheshe2]

12. Maybe we should let the do nothing congress in on that information.

How much did our Government shut down cost us? Issa's witch hunts, what was the final tab on that one? Now the speaker wants to sue the President??? At what cost?

Two wars on a credit card by GWB were never a problem. Why are the children such a big effing deal, when there was not any outrage for the rest?!

Hmmmm?

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sheshe.

[sheshe2]

15. Kick!

[Hekate]

16. What will it take? Change terminology from "illegals" to "unaccompanied minors"...

There seemed to be a pivot in the MSM just a few days ago, and that's going to help.

What else will help is a campaign of education about what these kids (and sometimes their mothers) are running from back home.

Americans as a whole are so abysmally ignorant that they have no idea what's going on south of Mexico -- well, just about any place outside our borders. But Americans as a whole also have hearts that can be touched, especially by children in need. The word needs to be gotten out.