Looking at these families--climbing fences, choking on tear gas--I wonder what could possibly lead them to risk life and limb. How bad could their lives be to storm the gates of America?
I'm afraid that current political debate misses the bigger picture with this immigration crisis. Right now many want America to hold the border with brute force. Shut the gates. Arm the guards. Keep those foreigners out. This is our country. We get to decide who gets in. Deal with it.
But how can a country put that kind of policy into practice? We're already using tear gas. How long before someone gets shot? How long can we sustain such a policy?
Thousands want to flee Central American countries because conditions are so bad there. Whose fault is that? Does it matter whose fault it is?
Here are the big questions:
- What American policies are harming conditions in Central America?
- How is the U.S. propping up corrupt Central American governments?
- What policies can we initiate that will enhance freedom and opportunity in those nations?
- Can we take action without making things worse?
- Can we free up the American private sector to bring jobs to Central America?
- Will it take U.S. government action to improve conditions there?
- What is our border really for?
These are people at the border. On both sides. These are not props for political object lessons. May we see some glorious, unexpected breakthrough in which love triumphs over hate.
