Letters: Saving kids from the unendurable
This June 18, 2014 file-pool photo shows detainees in a holding cell at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in Brownsville, Texas. The surge of Central American children crossing the U.S. southern border has shifted the politics of immigration. Credit: AP
In 1938, Britain allowed 10,000 mostly Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe to come to that country ["Immigrant kids and American vitriol," Opinion, July 31].
They were placed in foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. My wife was among the Kindertransport children who otherwise surely would have become some of the millions murdered.
We are a nation of immigrants, the most generous people ever. Why have we become so hate-driven?
Let us place a few nationwide ads, and I bet we would have a million households willing and ready to take in these children who crossed our southern border. Let these innocents live and grow up in this beautiful and free society to become good, productive and loyal U.S. citizens.
End this mass hysteria, and allow us a few years from now to look back with pride at what we have done, rather than face the shame and scorn of our children and grandchildren.
Rolf Grayson, Melville
I am not a racist, and I am not filled with "ignorance, bitterness and hatred." I have immense compassion for people. I understand why these immigrants are coming here. My son worked as a landscaper for a few summers with several immigrants here illegally, and he heard the stories firsthand. If I were in their situations, I would want to leave, too.
But if we take in these people, more will come. Most of them are good people, and they want to work hard, but there are also people suffering in Africa and Iraq and so many other places in the world. If we could, I would like to save everyone, but we can't. We don't have the resources to take care of them or enough jobs for everyone, because the jobs have been outsourced.
As much as we think our way of life will never end, it can and it might if we don't take care. We could be leaving our children a country like the ones these people are trying to get away from.
We send money to these countries, and they have to start to help themselves to make their countries better. The people on the Titanic lifeboats saw people drowning in front of them, but they did not go and save them -- not because they were heartless but because they knew that if they tried to save them, the boats would sink and everyone would die.
Teresa Pescitelli, Shoreham
