I’ve always loved Butterflies. I remember as an elementary school student we had to learn about the transformation of the caterpillar into a glorious butterfly. it was so exciting to watch this magical, colorful and lighter than air creature take flight.
We live in a very different world today. The education of our children, the incarceration and child trafficking that the united States finds itself condoning is unconstitutional. The behavior of a government to treat men, women and children of our neighbors is very telling. It means that no child is safe. We are not safe.
The horrific treatment of children and their parents isn’t something I ever thought this country would support. The mistake Americans make is that if this country can jail babies and children, ripping them from the arms of their mothers and fathers, house them in cages, don’t allow them love and comfort, but force them to live in terror and fear. This is beyond shameful and we are next.
I couldn’t believe children as young as 3 and 4 being placed in a court of law before a judge and being expected to defend their right to remain in the United States. It angers me so that I can hardly contain myself.
This nightmare must end and our children must be cared for and reunited with their families. I say our children because if this horrific treatment is happening to children of immigrants its also is happening to children born here. The methods might be slightly different but the effects very similar. The children live in fear, suffer from abandonment, are uneducated, frustrated and angry.
We are one family, related to everyone. We are all brothers and sisters no matter the color, gender, nationality, race or religion.
The government here clearly isn’t for the people and they are doing their best to make us believe that our problems are caused by immigrants, the economy and our own bad judgement. We lose our jobs and are unable to secure work, our fault, feed our children poor quality food from big box stores where everything is designed to create obesity and illness, our fault. Our families are destroyed by the opioid epidemic, our fault.
It’s interesting that that the reports on homelessness, drugs and addiction, the welfare system always show Blacks and Hispanics, rarely white families. The victim is ALWAYS blamed for the problems. Never would the government or corporations take the blame for the fact that jobs have moved out of the country.
The government of this country has let the people down. The Republicans and the Democrats are very much in the same boat. The Democrats just have a few things that they do that are better. But they are still beholden to the big spenders and corporations. The Congress passes regulations on themselves. They get paid for life for doing their job. They have great healthcare and their children don’t have to go to war. Really?
If the Congress had to live as we do. I wonder how fast things would change?
Seems to me this is lopsided. When will Americans get mad? We are so complacent and have no passion. The majority of Americans appear to feel as though everything bad happens to “other people” who just don’t do the right things. They don’t make money because they must be inferior.
The poorest Americans pay the most for everything. In the neighborhoods there are liquor stores on every corner. Children lives lives with little hope that their lives will be different from their parents. The schools are struggling to even the playing field. If you look at the academic programs of schools in South Los Angeles and the west side of town you will see wide gaps in the programming. The wide gaps prevent many high school students for having the requirements for getting into college.
We know that they are at a disadvantage and yet we send them out into the world unprepared. Few music classes, no civics or home economics. No trade classes such as the wood shop or engineering. The basics – students are graduating high school not knowing how to read.
I became a Delegate to the Democratic Convention three years ago. I wanted to make a difference. I still do. I am a volunteer and I am primarily involved in arts committee’s because I believe children with an arts education – in particular music have a better chance of creating a life that they choose.
I’ll stop now because I have a lot to say and I don’t want to take up anymore of your time.
I believe in what you are doing and the courage of your convictions. I can imagine that your work can be dangerous and bring you in contact with people who disagree with your ideals and safeguarding the lives of millions of Monarch’s.
Thank you for taking my picture and bringing a special feeling of compassion and inclusion to me today in Silver Lake.
