On May 13, 1939, a boatload of 938 passengers, mostly German Jews, including many children, sailed from the Third Reich for Cuba. Cuba did not admit them, so they sailed back toward Germany. They were close enough to see the lights of Miami, and cables were sent to President Roosevelt asking for admittance to the U.S. The refugees were denied entrance. Luckily most were not returned to Germany. Great Britain took in 288, the Netherlands took 181, Belgium took in 214, and France took 224. The U.S. admitted zero.
Once again we have children at our border. Republicans are calling for increased border security. President Obama has also called for increased border security.
Last week the New York Times had a front page article detailing how children as young as seven were being tortured and killed in Central America.
I’m curious about this call for border security. What are we planning to do with these children? Shoot them when they try to cross the border? Do Americans understand how desperate a parent in Guatemala must be to allow a child to make the journey across Mexico to the American border?
Are the right-to-life people helping these kids? I read that people in McAllen, Texas, have stepped forward to try to help, but that isn’t enough. Surely we can save children.
The Nariel boat lift in 1980 had 125,000 cubans who were admitted into the U.S. That was because of a downturn in the Cuban economy. Why can't we do it for the central Americans who are in more danger than the Cubans were? If someone can explain why, please tell me.
ReplyDeleteGive me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breath free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, If this is not the case the inscription on the Statue of Liberty should be changed to "Sorry you are too late so go home".