SUFFER THE CHILDREN

     The New Testament speaks of a child leading the way. The Nazis targeted Jewish children as future problems in the path to total genocide of the Jewish people, so they were killed, quite brutally. Parents throughout history have died protecting or attempting to defend their children. And it seems that the theory of getting to the parent via maltreatment of the child is alive and well in the Trump administration.
     It is bad enough to initiate a blanket policy to separate children from parents and other adult guardians and then lose them in the system somewhere, keeping thousands of children for long periods of time in inhumane conditions. But when it seems that the official policy is to treat these children, many very young, cannot even talk and identify themselves, brutalized and traumatized by the machinations of the United States government, the brutality of the ICE and Border Control people, then we have gone beyond the pale.
     To think that the government had to be hauled into court and then argue in favor of their brutality is mind boggling. To insist that these children, kept in freezing cages, under permanent bright lights, without adquate food and water, clothing and adult care, leaving children to take care of children, is beyond words.
     There can be only one explanation for this. Break the child - break the parents. Suffer the children - suffer the parents. Kill the future - and change the present. Brutal. Beyond all acceptable limits. No one is suggesting Hilton Hotel standards - or perhaps we should place them in the Trump Hotels where business has fallen off! - but certainly there are minimum standards, particularly for innocents such as these children. They, for the most part, have no say other than to say yes and walk thousands of miles to the border, to the future, to the land of safety and possibilities, of education, safety, food - hope!
     Where does this brutality originate? It comes from the top. It comes from an administration whose top priority is money, profits, enrichment of self and family and friends. Kinda' like the family and friends discount, huh?! It comes from a President who is now not only accused of sexual harassment and perversion, but also of rape and his denial stems not from the fact that to be accused of rape, an awful deed, is bad enough, but to deny it not on the basis of morality, but that someone is "not my type" and lie that he never met her when there is a clear picture of a lovely chat, well, why then should the rest of official government be any better than the sleaze at the top?
     How do we explain to our own kids why the President and his henchmen are allowed to get away with alleged criminality, with violations of government protocols and security, refuse to cooperate with Congress and attempt to destroy the independence and functioning of the other two branches of government. Truth is, we cannot explain it away at all, yet here he is, here are his minions, all not denying any wrongdoing, but refusing to obey the law, refusing to testify, keeping a dark shroud over their deeds, this government and the entire country.
     The people of this country are hopefully finding their balance once more. The people of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, who were promised the return of manufacturing jobs - which never happened , the truckers who have fewer loads to transport as tariffs and trade wars cut commerce, the farmers deep into environmental disasters and economic idiocy of the administration, the people who are tired, simply tired, of a madman, the erratic and unthinking, uncaring government, the lack of experience - all combine to lead us to hope that there will be a change come 2020. We sure as hell need that change.
     Enough of legislators running away - literally - from their jobs, allying with militias, unthinkable - with supposed adults, leaders of the country, behaving worse than children, refusing to admit wrongdoing, leaving behind all morality and operating purely on the fuel of selfishness and fear. Fear of losing their seat in office, of losing their pathhway to riches, to a cushy lobbying job, anything, but serving the people.
     Suffer the hldren? No! These parents are going against odds that would shatter msot of us, all to benefit their children and we need to recognize that. Wish to stop the tide? Then stem it at its sources by helping those countries establish a better economy, help the governments become responsive to the people, make a better life for the people there and they will not flood the borders here, if that is the goal. But never, ever, should we just shut the doors to our country as Trump and all haters wish, for new blood, new ideas, new energies, are all part and parcel of what does make America great and not the hatefilled chants of a mob. No more suffer the children. No more break the parents on the backs of the children. No more of this brutality. We should hang our heads in shame that this has been allowed and that there are actually those among us who think it right and proper. Who were the concentration camp guards? Need we look in the mirror?