The moral outrage!
I don’t usually like to get up on a soapbox, especially if it is affiliated with anything political. But I have noticed in the news lately there is a lot of attention given to the so-called ‘caged children’ of late. Upon looking into this matter with Fact Check.org. I came up with some interesting facts. If you do not do your due diligence the statistics can be alarming. But if you look farther you find that this is a problem that is being dealt with in a very compassionate way. As of June 15, there were 11,517 minors in the “Unaccompanied Children’s Program,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. That figure doesn’t distinguish between those who crossed the border with their parents and those who did so alone. A journalist named José Vargas included a photo of a caged child in one of his tweets and blamed the Trump administration for it. He later admitted he didn’t know where the photo came from or what its origins were, he just found it on the Internet and thought he’d pass it along. The photo was tracked down to a Leroy Penna, saying the photo was taken during a demonstration. The photo is the son of one of his friends and wandered into the cage and became upset when he saw his mother. He said he wasn’t trying to deceive anybody, but he did not explain how he took the photo and how the child was not caged for any reason. That photo has made its way around the Internet 1 million times and the more it travels the more outrage it instills in the people. Who can resist its crying child? The truth be known, most children are processed through these facilities within 72 hours of their coming. Many of them are sent across the border without parents at all, so the separation took place long before they came to the authorities.
But let’s move on to the moral outrage that this has caused in this country. I find it to be one of the most distasteful displays of hypocrisy I have ever witnessed. You’re worried about these children who were housed in temperature controlled places, have food, clothing, medical supplies, and game rooms? Then I can only assume that you are staunch supporters of the Save the Children foundation. It was founded in 1919 and has been working tirelessly to save children all over the world. And not from imaginary drama that we see on our local television stations, but real life threatening problems. 5.6 million children die each year due to preventable and treatable causes. Malnutrition and poor drinking water are the leading factors in child deaths all over the world. The spread of HIV and children who are affected by AIDS get care, support, and the education they need from this organization.
How about the World’s Children organization, who has been the in business of saving children since it’s beginning. They work against human trafficking, malnutrition, abuse, and health problems. 1.2 million girls are kidnapped or sold by their families and are now in brothels. They have an orphanage called “Swadar” in Amdahra Pradish, India. This orphanage is run by Catholic nuns, with the assistance of the World Children organization. Together they are saving children who have been sold as child brides, human trafficking, HIV, and commercial sex workers. Some of the children have been sold by their parents into the sex slave trafficking. These people work tirelessly to bring these children and young adults back to health, give them an education, and teach them a trade. The name Swadar means self-reliant, and that is what they are trying to give to these people.
In 1946 UNICEF came on the scenes helping people all around the world with medical supplies food and clean water.
My question is this, where has your moral outrage been all this time? In some countries they even sexually mutilate their young women to make sure they will receive no sexual pleasure and will remain faithful to their husbands. I find it very offensive when people’s moral outrage is only connected to their own political agenda and have nothing whatsoever to do with the children who are in harm’s way. Because if they were, their help and outrage would have started long ago and not since some newscaster was trying to make a name for himself on the network news.
As parents we need to protect our children both mind and body. We need to teach them empathy for those less fortunate. Teach them what, it’s better to give than to receive, means especially during the holidays. Take them to visit an orphanage or a homeless shelter, so they can understand first-hand how truly blessed they are, and to be thankful.
We as authors can be part of the problem, or part of the cure. Like the irresponsible journalist who posted a picture with every intent of misrepresenting its content. Part of the cure could be our part in addressing the problems around the world and our heroes could be those who are fixing those problems. I don’t know about you but I would rather be part of the cure then part of the hypocrisy.
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mark 10: 13-15
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:6