Immigrants on our Doorstep

 This morning I participated in a rally in Orleans MA in support of bringing immigrant children to Cape Cod.    This is but one of many divisive issues we face here in Massachusetts and in the United States.  We have so many children and adults here that are in dire need of help.  We have streets in need of attention, the environment in need of attention, we have vets that need and deserve care and health care costs out of control.  Why bring in more people in need.  I can understand the perspective of those that are on ‘the other side of this issue.

On the other hand, how can we turn kids away when they show up on our doorstep?  That is not to say we have not done that before, we just need to look back to the holocaust but I think we are better than that now.  I, for one, do not want to look back one day and wonder why nobody took care of these kids.  These kids are just kids, they could be my kids or your kids.  I cannot even imagine what they have been through to get here our how much pain and anguish their parent’s felt sending them.  That is love.  That is trust in the United States to do the right thing.

Not that the US has earned the trust.  We in the US are at least partly responsible for the troubles these families are facing.  We supported the economy that ultimately collapsed after we unceremoniously pulled out without taking the time to ensure they were able to carry on without us.  We supplied many of the weapons that are being used by neighbors to kill neighbors and to subordinate kids to do their bidding and join their gangs.  But still they are desperate enough to entrust us with the care of their children.

I get that this is not an easy choice.  I lament the fact that our children and people in need are not getting the services they require.  But I could no sooner close the door on these kids than I could if they were knocking on my front door.  These are kids! These are kids that will be subjected to rape, murder, gang violence and a life of abject poverty if we do not step up and help them.  We have to be better than that.