Mother's Notes: My Sons Being Ripped from My Arms
As the summer vacation begins, I am home with my sons, as I remain unemployed (trying to start a political writing career), and they are excited about it. They are now 10 and 11 years old. Activities on their agenda this summer are: sleeping in late, playing video games, going to see the Cubs and our hometown team, the Slammers, swimming in the neighborhood pool, and with luck, a family vacation. My agenda for them includes those things, plus some reading and playing outside (besides at the pool), and some activities that will include some life skills and knowledge about the actual world around them. We are lucky and privileged in our lives more than some, and even than most human beings in this world, and it is important that they learn to appreciate and know these things. We don’t have a lot but what we do have, we are grateful. Everyday I am grateful for my sons, my spouse, and the other people who love me. Every day I am grateful for my home, my nation, and my Earth.
This appreciation helps me express empathy for other humans that I share with this universe, and I
hope my sons inherit this from me. Throughout my life, I try to “put myself in other people’s shoes.”
Often, I imagine, even briefly, being a refugee coming from a situation that I only see in movies. So I
am going to use this writing to share one these images. Bare with me, because many of you will find
it ridiculous or even humorous. But it is not meant to be, if you are American reading this, and think it
can’t happen here, then you are taking your nation and your status for granted.
hope my sons inherit this from me. Throughout my life, I try to “put myself in other people’s shoes.”
Often, I imagine, even briefly, being a refugee coming from a situation that I only see in movies. So I
am going to use this writing to share one these images. Bare with me, because many of you will find
it ridiculous or even humorous. But it is not meant to be, if you are American reading this, and think it
can’t happen here, then you are taking your nation and your status for granted.
THE SCENE:
Our democracy has fallen or maybe just a certain group is being targeting for various reasons, think
Japan Internment camps during World War II. But let’s say it’s a broader target, let’s say because you
do not agree with the political party that has control of our government, they begin to “round up"
political dissidents and target them. Maybe you are one of those people. Maybe I am, an unemployed
half Latino woman, who had decided to write a political blog, challenging the current political powers.
I, and others, become enemies of the state, I mean they have already imprisoned intellectuals, the
more known political voices and pundits, and now they are coming for the “normal” citizenry who
oppose them, like me. A fictional scenario on a mass scale, but for some American groups, I would
argue that they have lived it on a smaller scale. Maybe I need to leave the country. Maybe I head to
Mexico or Canada with my sons. I trek through Wisconsin with others trying to seek political asylum in
Canada or through Texas to reach Mexico. Anywhere I can go on the resources that I have and as far
as my feet can carry me.
Japan Internment camps during World War II. But let’s say it’s a broader target, let’s say because you
do not agree with the political party that has control of our government, they begin to “round up"
political dissidents and target them. Maybe you are one of those people. Maybe I am, an unemployed
half Latino woman, who had decided to write a political blog, challenging the current political powers.
I, and others, become enemies of the state, I mean they have already imprisoned intellectuals, the
more known political voices and pundits, and now they are coming for the “normal” citizenry who
oppose them, like me. A fictional scenario on a mass scale, but for some American groups, I would
argue that they have lived it on a smaller scale. Maybe I need to leave the country. Maybe I head to
Mexico or Canada with my sons. I trek through Wisconsin with others trying to seek political asylum in
Canada or through Texas to reach Mexico. Anywhere I can go on the resources that I have and as far
as my feet can carry me.
Keep in mind that these governments are already tired of American refugees crowding their borders.
We are asking for safety for our children, as all of our neighborhoods have been torn into violent civil
war fields. Neito claims, “We will build the wall and the United States will pay for it.” Or maybe it’s
Trudeau who claims this. Maybe they demonize all of us by proclaiming: “If we let the Americans in
our borders, they will shoot up our schools and kill our children!” “They are Mass Murders.”
“They all belong to gangs and will shoot up our neighborhoods!” “They are all Junkies!” And of
course, the ever faithful, “but they will take our jobs!” They demonize us to the point that everyone and
no one wants us in their country no matter how bad it is, no matter how unsafe, how hungry, how
desperate we are.
We are asking for safety for our children, as all of our neighborhoods have been torn into violent civil
war fields. Neito claims, “We will build the wall and the United States will pay for it.” Or maybe it’s
Trudeau who claims this. Maybe they demonize all of us by proclaiming: “If we let the Americans in
our borders, they will shoot up our schools and kill our children!” “They are Mass Murders.”
“They all belong to gangs and will shoot up our neighborhoods!” “They are all Junkies!” And of
course, the ever faithful, “but they will take our jobs!” They demonize us to the point that everyone and
no one wants us in their country no matter how bad it is, no matter how unsafe, how hungry, how
desperate we are.
I track through, I finally make it to one of the borders. They ask me about family within their borders.
They ask me where I am from, meanwhile my sons are complaining about being hungry and tired.
They ask about their video games and when can we go back home. I tell them that it doesn’t matter
because we will start a new life in a safer place and that we are at least still together. Until, the border
agents take my sons away from me, telling me that it’s because I tried to sneak over the border with
my sons. I shouldn’t have tried to break their laws. “What?!” “Where are you taking my sons?”
“Give my sons back to me!” “How long before I can see them again?” “Why are you all doing this?”
They are sent somewhere far from me, I can only guess. Then I am stuck wondering all the time if
they are safe. My whole time of keeping them with me, safe from child human traffickers has seemed
pointless. I count the days and nights before I see them again, wondering if I will.
They ask me where I am from, meanwhile my sons are complaining about being hungry and tired.
They ask about their video games and when can we go back home. I tell them that it doesn’t matter
because we will start a new life in a safer place and that we are at least still together. Until, the border
agents take my sons away from me, telling me that it’s because I tried to sneak over the border with
my sons. I shouldn’t have tried to break their laws. “What?!” “Where are you taking my sons?”
“Give my sons back to me!” “How long before I can see them again?” “Why are you all doing this?”
They are sent somewhere far from me, I can only guess. Then I am stuck wondering all the time if
they are safe. My whole time of keeping them with me, safe from child human traffickers has seemed
pointless. I count the days and nights before I see them again, wondering if I will.
AND SCENE.
As someone who has not lived it or experienced this in any way, I can’t say for sure if this what would
happen or what I would do. In my reality, I do know that I am gone more than a night, my sons seem to
want to know when I coming back. I can imagine the children asking the same for their parents.
I can’t image a small child or infant being ripped away, crying for the mother or father. Why would any
administration think this is good immigration policy? Why would any human being support this? To
use it as a deterrent?
happen or what I would do. In my reality, I do know that I am gone more than a night, my sons seem to
want to know when I coming back. I can imagine the children asking the same for their parents.
I can’t image a small child or infant being ripped away, crying for the mother or father. Why would any
administration think this is good immigration policy? Why would any human being support this? To
use it as a deterrent?
Recently, a White House aide, Stephen Miller, who seems to have a deep-seeded hatred of Latinos
(Immigrant or American-born), stated that applying this inhumane “zero policy” approach was
“a simple decision”. Let me repeat, a White House official stated that ripping children and imprisoning
them was A SIMPLE DECISION. But at the same time, the Secretary of Homeland Security tweeted,
“We do not have a policy of separating families at the border.” Then turns around and says at a
conference that they are enforcing the law. What law? No one says specifically what law requires
these children to be taken away from their parents. Please note that a recent report stated that the
administration is reclassifying these children accompanied by their parents, as “unaccompanied”.
Some Americans could not imagine our American lives, as we know it, being destroyed. Maybe it is
their demographic/income status that prevents them from worrying about such a thing. Or maybe they
are worried about such a thing and want to maintain their status, they support and implement such
policies. Maybe they lack empathy skills.
(Immigrant or American-born), stated that applying this inhumane “zero policy” approach was
“a simple decision”. Let me repeat, a White House official stated that ripping children and imprisoning
them was A SIMPLE DECISION. But at the same time, the Secretary of Homeland Security tweeted,
“We do not have a policy of separating families at the border.” Then turns around and says at a
conference that they are enforcing the law. What law? No one says specifically what law requires
these children to be taken away from their parents. Please note that a recent report stated that the
administration is reclassifying these children accompanied by their parents, as “unaccompanied”.
Some Americans could not imagine our American lives, as we know it, being destroyed. Maybe it is
their demographic/income status that prevents them from worrying about such a thing. Or maybe they
are worried about such a thing and want to maintain their status, they support and implement such
policies. Maybe they lack empathy skills.
Maybe it’s my studies in genocide that has led me to believe that gathering human beings en masse
is alarming. I tend to agree with former First Lady, Laura Bush, that the images are reminiscent of
Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. I am alarmed by any government, but
especially my government, once again participating in a form of ethnic cleansing. Even though many
of you will accuse me of hyperbole for that last statement, I can tell you as a student in genocide,
these “things” start exactly like this and can escalate rapidly. And as a final warning, these “things” are
often taken a rumors and fake news. As of this morning, one pundit is already lying about the children
in the images as “crisis actors”. I guess this is a standard that comes out of hateful people’s mouths.
If you are an American with empathy or sympathy, please call your Representative or Senator to stop
this policy. If you are like me, do we really need any more sins committed in our name?
is alarming. I tend to agree with former First Lady, Laura Bush, that the images are reminiscent of
Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. I am alarmed by any government, but
especially my government, once again participating in a form of ethnic cleansing. Even though many
of you will accuse me of hyperbole for that last statement, I can tell you as a student in genocide,
these “things” start exactly like this and can escalate rapidly. And as a final warning, these “things” are
often taken a rumors and fake news. As of this morning, one pundit is already lying about the children
in the images as “crisis actors”. I guess this is a standard that comes out of hateful people’s mouths.
If you are an American with empathy or sympathy, please call your Representative or Senator to stop
this policy. If you are like me, do we really need any more sins committed in our name?
