Letters: ‘Good starting point’ for child-immigrant crisis

A ‘good starting point’ for child-immigrant crisis

Thank you for a calm, reasoned, Christian response to the human tragedy of immigrant children.

You are so correct in pointing out these are children, not hardened criminals and threats to our “national security.” Likewise, how wrenching would it be to a parent to risk sending your children or grandchildren on such a perilous journey. Conditions in your home country have to be so horrible, so dangerous, so lethal to send them so far. How difficult to wait, helplessly, for word your child is safe in a relative’s arm or safely in custody of a benevolent, welcoming country as you’ve been promised by the human smugglers.

We as a country of immigrants must remember our history. This is not the first wave of unaccompanied children to arrive on our shores, usually sent by grieving parents because home country conditions became too intolerable. Our “Christian nation” has too often been too inhospitable to so many immigrants, legal or otherwise—aged, infirmed, healthy, robust; yes, even unaccompanied children.

We forget the Christ’s message when we wrap ourselves so tightly in our flag that we bind our arms of compassion, mercy and grace.  As you so eloquently write, “to the least of these ….”

Thank you again for your reminder of the commandment to first love one another and your vision of how we as a people of God and a nation of hope should respond to the crisis and providing a good starting point to resolve the long-term problem.

Mike Cate    

Granbury

‘Our response is to Christ’

Christians have forgotten their call to be “little” Christs in God’s world today. Politicians need to solve the political problems caused by illegal migration and undocumented residents. They can, for there is a political solution if both parties are willing to address it—and have the will to rise above party and put government of, by and for the people first. That is their task, the task to which they have been elected. If they do their job, we should applaud them.

But Christians have a higher calling—love your neighbor as yourself, do unto other as you would have them do unto you, serve the least of these, love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you, love mercy, walk humbly—how much more do we need to hear?

You are right on target—Christians must care for the children first.

Thank you for reminding us we are followers of one who loved us more than anyone should or could. Our response is to Christ more than it is to either party or both parties or any party.

C. Gwin Morris

Allen

‘Care for these children’

Thank you for taking a strong stand for the children, who are in fact refugees fleeing violence and extreme poverty in their homelands. The instability in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador can be traced to destabilization caused by U.S. interventions in the past, and we therefore bear some responsibility for the outcome.

Your voice is a much-needed call from within the religious community to care for these children instead of being threatened by them. We are a nation of immigrants, and our multitude of diversity has made us strong.

The only point on which I would challenge your commentary is on the issue of the flow of illegal drugs.  The only way to stop the flow is to end the “war on drugs,” which is an abysmal failure. We cannot stop the flow of illegal drugs until we begin to address drug addiction within our American culture as a public health problem rather than as a law enforcement problem. Law enforcement has failed over the past 30 years to stop the illegal drug trade into and within the United States and has instead made it a highly lucrative and dangerous enterprise both here and abroad.

Your voice of reason and advocacy is much appreciated. May it be heard and acted upon.

Sharon Salih

Fort Worth

Immigrant children need a neighbor

Thank you for stating so clearly the realities behind the flood of immigrant children. Thank you also for challenging Christians to take their eyes off themselves and their own personal prosperity and put them where they should be—on the widow, the orphan and those who have no one to speak for them.

We need to re-examine the response of Jesus to the lawyer who asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Wrong question, Jesus said. The real question is: Who needs a neighbor, and to whom can I be a neighbor?

Keep speaking until more listen.

Don Williford

Abilene

Immigrant children & the Great Commission

Thank you for expressing what I have been feeling in “What are we going to do about all those children?”  My community, League City, passed a resolution to disobey requests to take these children. Now others are following.

I pray for our country, our leaders and my community. If we can only make our voices heard. I am so saddened at the state of our country.

At my age I am limited at what I can do, but I will help. I lived in South Texas for over 20 years.

Our small Baptist church helped support an orphanage for disabled children and adults in Mexico. Sometimes, we weren’t sure if we could meet their physical needs, but God always provided.

Once again, thank you for reminding us of our Christian duty. Sometimes, we become too comfortable in our church community and don’t look for opportunities to carry out our great commission.

Pat Morgan

League City

‘Get back to basics’ on fighting poverty

“Blessed are the poor, for they shall always be among us.” We, as Christians, have the responsibility to help the poor. We have delegated that to our government, which, in turn, decreed standards to define the poor, called the poverty level.

As most government programs, the war on poverty was lost because laws don’t change human nature. In fact, the war on poverty has increased poverty by creating a welfare state, removing incentive to work, thus perpetuating poverty.

We Christians need to get back to basics, and this Sunday would be a good day to start.

Fred Rosenbaum

Gainesville