It is easy to stereotype people we don't know, and even convince ourselves that our suspicions are valid. This is certainly true if we honestly evaluate reactions to immigration concerns. Attitudes changes when we personally know people caught between hope and reality.
As a retired educator with 30 years experience working with children, I now have the privilege of caring for Latino children at our church while their parents learn English. Never in all my years of teaching, have I met children who would not eat all of their snack in order to share part of it with their moms. These children do just that. There is love, kindness, and respect.
Now imagine the emotional and psychological trauma these children will suffer if their parent or parents are taken from them and imprisoned or deported. Do we have the heart to do this to children and families? I hope not!! After reading recent articles in the papers about children who have parents caught in the immigration trap, I sadly add -- I guess we do.
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