Children without destiny

By Jim Killebrew

[June 13, 2014]  Of course most people who have watched the actual news organizations in America, or listen to the radio talk shows have heard of the thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America crossing the United States' border illegally over the past few days. Those children have come in such numbers they are overwhelming the American border guards and are being rounded up and placed in warehouses and military bases in other states.

Officially, Americans are being told the children's arrival to American borders are a result of high crime, violence, poverty and parents already in America who fled months or years ago from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. This is the version of the Administration's reasons for the great influx of children arriving alone in the past few days and weeks. In a rush to find protection for the children they are being transported to military bases in Texas and other facilities in Arizona. Deportation is not only slow, but impeded by the President's policy of non-deportation of young people.

"An urgent humanitarian solution," is needed according to the President. The children are being given food, water and shelter by the government. The conditions of the shelter are poor at best, very overcrowded with very little supervision. There are reports that many of the children have suffered abuse in these make-shift shelter situations. The processing of deportation has been slowed by the increased surge of child immigrants in the past few days; officials have said the number has increased, "very dramatically" and have caused delays in processing.
 

All of this is happening during a time in our own government where the politicians are fighting about the "immigration reform" issue. The "reform" from some means amnesty over time for as many as eleven million illegal immigrants who are already in the United States. "Reform" from others means tweaking the current laws, sealing off the borders and establishing progressive rules that lead toward citizenship and assimilation into America. The political upheaval that rages in our Administration and our Congress will likely continue for at least the duration of the current election cycle. Depending on who gains control in November, we could see some significant changes in the immigration laws as early as the "lame-duck" session after the election this year with those who lost voting their conscience which may be against party lines because they do not face another election cycle.

In the meantime, put yourself in the shoes of the any of the individual children who are making the trek from their home to what they may consider a safe-haven home. Think of your own experience as you grew up in your home town, cared for by your parents, attending school with your friends, perhaps going to church, parks, movies and eating out. Recall your memories from your own childhood and then compare them with the forming memories of each of those children who are separated from their families, dangerously trekking across a continent not knowing the next minute whether you are going to be abused, raped or even murdered. Each one of these children have a short history in a personal, young life that has dealt a cursing blow of life. Yes, some may have mischief on their mind, wanting to strike back at a world that has caused them hardship. But mostly, they are simply looking for a place to be secure; safe from harm, safe from hunger, safe from exposure to the elements, safe from gangs, safe from those who would hurt them. The numbers seem large, and yet by the comparison to the largeness of our country and the heart of many who still believe in the foundation of "God and Country" implanted in our own experience and up-bringing, the number of children coming is comparably small.

There are statistics that are spouted from various pollsters that cite numbers like 78 percent, or 83 percent of Americans who still believe in the principles on which the country was founded: Christian principles of love, nurturing, accepting, hoping for a better future, forgiveness and mercy along with grace. Perhaps now is the time for all good Christians to come to the aid of those children. Perhaps the churches, Christian organizations, faith groups, humanitarian groups, and all those individuals who want to build a better civilization should stand and tell the government to go and take care of the political business as they must, but those who still believe in the mercy and grace of Christian living can take care of the children. If this is like Katrina, mobilize, take charge, send groups from your church, take in each individual to love, support, help find family, socialize in Christian and American thought and behavior. There can be no better assimilation that Christian love in practice. Then remember the words of Jesus about the subject at hand.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:9-11)

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)

"He [Jesus] called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such thin gs must come, but woe to the man through whom they come?" (Matthew 18:2-7)

Let us see if in future days those majority who still consider the United States to be a nation built on Christian principles and still considered a Christian nation, will rise up and take charge of the influx of young souls who have migrated to America will be received with open Christian arms, or be relegated to the whims of the politicians who continue to squabble over matters that are more likely structured to help them in their re-election bid than to provide actual humanitarian comfort.

[By JIM KILLEBREW]