President Obama speaks out on the Family Separations

[sunonmars]

Link to tweet

Barack Obama on family separations: “Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms, or are we a nation that values families, and works to keep them together?”


Today is World Refugee Day.

If you've been fortunate enough to have been born in America, imagine for a moment if circumstance had placed you somewhere else. Imagine if you'd been born in a country where you grew up fearing for your life, and eventually the lives of your children. A place where you finally found yourself so desperate to flee persecution, violence, and suffering that you'd be willing to travel thousands of miles under cover of darkness, enduring dangerous conditions, propelled forward by that very human impulse to create for our kids a better life.

That's the reality for so many of the families whose plights we see and heart-rending cries we hear. And to watch those families broken apart in real time puts to us a very simple question: are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms, or are we a nation that values families, and works to keep them together? Do we look away, or do we choose to see something of ourselves and our children?

Our ability to imagine ourselves in the shoes of others, to say “there but for the grace of God go I,” is part of what makes us human. And to find a way to welcome the refugee and the immigrant – to be big enough and wise enough to uphold our laws and honor our values at the same time – is part of what makes us American. After all, almost all of us were strangers once, too. Whether our families crossed the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we’re only here because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, how our last names sound, or the way we worship. To be an American is to have a shared commitment to an ideal – that all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve the chance to become something better.

That’s the legacy our parents and grandparents and generations before created for us, and it’s something we have to protect for the generations to come. But we have to do more than say “this isn’t who we are.” We have to prove it – through our policies, our laws, our actions, and our votes.

[C_U_L8R]

1. That's what a real President sounds like.

Thank goodness for Barack Obama.

[Gothmog]

2. I miss having a real POTUS

[malaise]

3. Off to the greatest page

Now

[Cha]

4. Mahalo President Obama.. a brilliant President

That's the reality for so many of the families whose plights we see and heart-rending cries we hear. And to watch those families broken apart in real time puts to us a very simple question: are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms, or are we a nation that values families, and works to keep them together? Do we look away, or do we choose to see something of ourselves and our children?

[backtoblue]

5. Thank you President Obama. Kick and Rec.

After all, almost all of us were strangers once, too. Whether our families crossed the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we’re only here because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, how our last names sound, or the way we worship.

[sheshe2]

6. Thank you Mr President.

But we have to do more than say “this isn’t who we are.” We have to prove it – through our policies, our laws, our actions, and our votes.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. Bravery.

Finally, the leadership we need.

Long may he advise us. Thank you, Sir.

[Stuart G]

8. Thank You. Mr. President

[redstatebluegirl]

9. Lord I miss this decent man and his family.

No matter how much the orange wonder tries, he will always be a boil on the butt of humanity. He will try as he might to be respected in the same way as President Obama as a "strong leader", but in fact will be seen as a weak sister and not good enough to shine President Obama's shoes.

[heaven05]

13. ++ nt.

[treestar]

10. Absolutely President Obama!

You understand what this nation stands for far better than the loud mouthed “patriots” who care about nothing but the flag!

[The Genealogist]

11. The words of a wonderful human being

Seems so long ago now that he was guiding our country on a steady course. I miss him so much.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. MUST HAVE HIM BACK!!!

[pazzyanne]

17. President Obama,

you have no idea how much you are missed. Please come back.

[Raster]

14. Thank you, MR. PRESIDENT!

[flibbitygiblets]

15. every time I see or hear one of the Obamas I cry. I miss having decent, compassionate, SMART

and HONORABLE people leading our country.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO DESERVE THIS??

[brer cat]

16. K&R

[NNadir]

18. It seems like forever since we had a President who...

...was a human being with a brain.

Was it only two years ago?

I feel as if I am living in a different country than the one into which I was so privileged to be born.

In that country Republicans were not all cowards on their knees before a Nazi wannabes.

I seem to remember a party that, although I disagreed with them, who loved their country and were actually proud to have fought against Nazism.

[Stuart G]

19. k and r...nt

[Midnight Writer]

20. How dare he agree with what Trump claims to believe?

[Honeycombe8]

21. Thanks for reminding us of the sort of President the U.S. SHOULD have!

One who has compassion, understands what democracy and compassion are, is eloquent and respectful.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. K&R

[Scurrilous]

23. K&R