The world shows its love to kids in a Thai cave. We need that same love for kids at the border

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http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/thai-border-rescue-compassion-for-children-u-s-southern-border-20180708.html
Will Bunch, STAFF COLUMNIST
Updated: Sunday, July 8, 2018, 1:19 PM
It’s incredible that any of these young boys have made it out alive.

The odds against these kids seemed truly insurmountable. But one thing was clear: They couldn’t stay where they were. It was just too dangerous to remain in place, trapped, unable to breathe the free air. Every day that they stayed put, the odds of untimely death — the unthinkable snuffing out of a life that had barely begun — grew greater and greater.

The children were cut, battered and bruised. And they were hungry, sometimes going days without a thing to eat. Their journey to safety meant crossing through deep water, even though many of them could not swim. The odyssey out was agonizingly slow, and it passed through dangerous places. And yet somehow, miraculously, they began coming out on the other side.

And yet despite their escape from such an uncertain fate, the thousands of young boys — and girls — who’ve made their way out of their virtual caves of gang violence, rape and murder in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador didn’t receive a hero’s welcome when they finally reached America’s southern border. Instead, these kids so desperate to have a safe and healthy childhood and grow into productive adults are more often treated as criminals — sleeping in wire cages inside abandoned Walmarts or in dusty desert tents in 104-degree border towns.

<snip>
What is happening at this very minute in northern Thailand is a reminder of how we are supposed to act when children anywhere are in danger. We are supposed to move heaven and earth, and spare no expense. And this time, that’s exactly what happened. Top divers from around the world descended on remote Chiang Rai to assist a team of highly skilled Thai SEALS. Helicopters buzzed overhead and a large fleet of ambulances idled nearby. Journalists from around the world chronicled every development, great or small, and even the president of the United States has expressed a newfound interest in the topic of reuniting children with their families.

Link to tweet

[Arkansas Granny]

1. K & R

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Yes,once again our so called Media

is single source interested. We have thousands of Kiddies missing some where in the USA and since Wednesday,the news interests is Supreme Court,and now some POS called Rudy. Mean while,hundreds of Kid's are being housed in a Interment Camp in Texas with the Heat index in excess of 120 degrees without A/C. That's right,according to HHS,it is a camping outing.

[renate]

3. My daughter just suggested that it's because there are cameras in Thailand

And of course none in the detention centers.

Which just made me wonder... does that mean that the refugees’ cell phones (surely some of them had cell phones) were taken away? Even if their phones didn’t have cameras, they aren’t even able to text.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. There are I-phones by private

citizens taking pics or videos around these Kiddy Prisons and are not making it into the News. So much for your local TV Station crying for personal interest videos,right.


Again,if bleeds it leads. The odds of getting these kids out of that cave is 50-50 and it is a blood guts and glory story waiting in real time.

[dawg day]

7. Not to mention the staff-- they all have phones.

I hope some are filming.
I can't believe this could happen here. I think maybe Americans don't really love children as much as we claim.

[dawg day]

5. Yes... we should be ashamed that we are "caving/caging" our own children

It is painful to see how much love is going to those boys (who need/deserve it), but our own country-- America!- is endangering many more children, even younger than these, for no reason other than Trump wants to be mean.

[Hortensis]

6. Hearts around the planet ache for those children,

and also all across our nation.

Remember, our people chose the enlightenment and decency of liberal, progressive government of, by and for the people. Not Trump. We the People elected Obama twice and intended Hillary to continue what we started under Obama.

[RKP5637]

8. TPTB in America today does not give a sh** about anyone unless they have a wad of

cash and give it to them.

[progree]

9. We should also show love to the millions of children and adults thrown off of healthcare

and no, emergency rooms are not healthcare -- they stabilize you and then throw you out the door with referrals and prescriptions that you can't afford.