Tonight on Lawrence O’Donnell’s “The Last Word”, two guests painted a chilling portrait of Trumpian cruelty. Caitlin Dickerson of the New York Times portrayed the squalor of children and families living across the border because Trump sent them back to Mexico. (1) And then Mary L. Trump, Ph.D., the Donald’s niece, talked of man who is apparently comfortable with his cruel, despicable behavior. She said that seeing this behavior is one of reasons that compelled her to write: Too Much and Never Enough/ How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.
In his debate with Joe Biden, the man seemed unmoved by that fact that 545 children taken away from their parents have become orphans because the Trumpers were not able to locate the families. He claimed they came from “coyotes” in fact, he had his border agents take children as young as 4 months old away from parents. He also made it sound as if these children were now living at The Ritz.
I’ve written about this earlier, but it bears repeating. How can we cope with an administration policy that has been taking sobbing children from parents seeking asylum at the Mexican border? The evil of this Trump administration and Stephen Miller is unconscionable. (2) Stephen Miller, the Man Behind Family Separation – The Atlantic. 2018/06
Will these children thrust into cages ever recover?
Even now we must ask:
- Are the children hungry?
- Do they wake up at night needing a drink?
- Do they wake up screaming because they are having nightmares?
- Do they just want to be held?
- Are they cold or feeling sick?
- Is there a monster in their cage — not under their beds — because they are sleeping on the floor?
- And what about babies — do they need a diaper change?
- Are captured teens the new mothers mothering children?
Pediatric and psychiatric associations have expressed concern. Yet, we might ask ourselves some questions about the welfare of these children even as the legal process proceeds. Fully two years ago, May 25, 2018, The Nation reported: ICE Is Sending a Message to the World’s Asylum Seekers: The US Is No Place of Refuge.
Access to private prisons is denied to attorneys, observers, and even US senators who have tried to visit. These children were brought here by parents who loved them enough to risk a long and uncertain path to freedom. It makes us angry to see how they are being treated.
Can any of us even imagine such horror for our own children? How much longer can we allow Trump and Stephen Miller to victimize children? Daily Trump creates a new crisis. It is time we say, “Enough.”
It is time to VOTE for compassion, honesty, and decency. Time is running out for the children. Time is running out for America.
Copyright 2020 Rita Watson
Adapted from Children Taken from Parents at the Border: Love and Pain/ Watson 2018