As I watch the news of the past few weeks I am struck by the heartlessness of our nation’s leadership. A policy called “no-tolerance” was implemented. Like a thief in the night it came, stealing the hearts and souls from innocent children. Young, “tender-age” children, being stripped of love and trust. Why?

Their parents loved them so much they felt desperate, with no other choice but to flee their homelands, to free their children from the horrors they would face if they remained. They hoped to find a safer, more welcoming and loving place for their children here in the “great” United States. But it wasn’t welcoming or loving at all. Why?

Why did we, yes we (this is our country and what our government does represents all of us to the rest of the world) do this? Because our leadership tells us (and believes) that “these people” will take our jobs, that “they” (as if some other being) will rape and murder us.

I don’t believe the Egyptians thought that way when they let a man and a woman, and their small, nearly 2-year-old son come into their country. This family was fleeing their own homeland in fear of a murderous dictator who was killing little “tender-age” boys. Joseph and Mary were NOT stopped at the border. Jesus, their son, was NOT ripped from their loving arms. They were welcomed, and it’s possible they were not the only refugees/immigrants to flee the murderous king. Egyptians did not fear or despise this family.

On July 10, our leader was asked how to better fix the family separation crisis. He said to the effect there’s an easy answer and that is “don’t come here illegally.” So basically, he’s saying don’t bother to show up unless you have the proper paperwork, go through the proper channels. That may make sense in some cases, but let me understand this better … if I was a mother of a 3-year-old and my husband had been beaten many times, my older son was forced to work for a local drug cartel and possibly forced to kill, and my 14-year-old daughter was being looked at as a possible sex slave to the same cartel, I should be patient, spend as much time as it takes to contact the proper authorities in my country (the country with the corrupt government) and get the proper paperwork. Oh, and forget claiming asylum. Our leader’s policy doesn’t appear to accept that as a reason to enter either.

Our leader shows no concern for these misplaced kids, no empathy of any kind. I guess he believes that the 18-month-old baby who had recently gone to court for illegally crossing and faced a judge all ALONE was a major threat to someone’s job, or maybe that kid was “packing” and could have shot someone! Whew! Aren’t we glad we didn’t let that happen.

Perhaps our leader is not familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ. I suggest he reads Matthew 25:40-45. But then again, he doesn’t like to read. Why?

Colleen Rudelitsch

New Ringgold,

concerned Christian