I have read what my esteemed friend Todd Blodgett has written in the Globe-Gazette concerning the hoards of immigrant children who are and have ben arriving at our borders. I think at last count the number was at or a bit over 50,000. The operative word here is “children” for that is what they are; innocent in every aspect. But they are much more, they are a precious gift to us all.
Someone wrote not long ago that Iowa is user-populated, and I agree ; this state needs people. There was a group in Cedar Rapids who expressed a desire to bring these children to their city… how nice I thought, but our governor stopped that before it even started. A lot of what Todd said probably had some degree of merit, but some of it wouldn’t hold water. However, there was an ingredient he left out. He left out the fact that these are human beings and they are children. I guess that part doesn’t count in the Republican Party. On the other hand, I haven’t heard Democrats beating the drum, either.
The theme thats runs like diarrhea through Todd’s argument is cost. He’ concerned greatly about that and I think most people echo his thoughts. But if we could strike a comparison that is easy to understand, we could look to Afghanistan. You remember those people, don’t you? These are the same people who blew up the Trade Center in New York that rook out 3,400 of our own. They hate us. We built hospitals and roads and schools there. You think that is free? What do you think one bomb or missile costs? Just one could feed all those children.
Here is another thought. Just the Hispanic population in this country would absorb those children in the span of one day, given the chance. Every Hispanic family I know would gladly take more than one child in that group right into their home without giving a thought to how much it might cost them. Look how many families are childless that long for children. Those youngsters would be in short supply, if the truth were known.
The world watched us waiving signs in front of buses, saying “GO HOME.” Crowds blocked the buses full of children, not allowed to get off, and then they were turned back. There were no explosives taped to their bodies, these kids were hungry and tired, they posed no threat. In this land of plenty, this is what the entire world saw. I was ashamed.
This has become a political football, like everything else, an is being prostituted by the Republicans… but then, they’re all whores to begin with.
Peter J. Children, Mason City
