Take action

Readers: No matter what your views on immigration are, separation of children from their parents should be horrifying to everyone. As a parent, I am horrified at the thought of having children forcibly separated from their mothers and fathers. How can anyone look at the pictures now surfacing on the news and turn a blind eye?

Who is verifying that these children are fed adequately, receiving necessary medical care, have proper hygiene facilities and are safe from abuse from either the adult caretakers or other children? Locking young kids in “dog kennels” is horrendous. Children are not stray dogs. They are innocent kids. Who is going to protect them when a tornado or hurricane destroys the “tent city” they are forced to live in?

I implore you to contact your people in Congress and demand action to put a stop to the directive that is immoral, inhumane and possibly criminal. Senators can be reached by mail, phone or online at www.senate.gov; for representatives, go to www. house.gov. In addition, use social media and petition websites to mount a protest.

I thought I would never have to say this, but I am ashamed to be an American right now, and everyone in this country should be, too. If you do nothing to speak out, then you are as responsible for harming these children as our government is.

— Sandra Cutler, Brookfield, Vt.