Reaching out to Central America

Re “Fixing Central America,” Opinion, Aug. 6

To understand why Central American countries are in their current state, we would have to go back centuries and study the colonial subjugation of indigenous peoples there.

But with that being water under the bridge, Luis Alberto Moreno is right: There has to be a concerted effort by the United States and others to help Central American countries reach a better level of industrial and economic livelihood. It is in their best interests as well as ours.

The answer is “infusion of development,” on a partner basis, for these countries, not building bigger fences. Help these countries to rebuild now; this is what family does for family, but I don’t think some people in this country understand that.

History is progressive, and hopefully, poverty, illiteracy and corrupt governments can be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Chet Chebegia

Long Beach

Moreno’s call for the United States to work with the governments of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador echoes the sentiment of those who think that paternalistic interventionism would help the socioeconomic conditions of those countries. The events of our post-9/11 world do not support this theory.

The parents of those children sent illegally into this country are paying the high emotional price of having kids they couldn’t afford and for the delusional optimism that the U.S. would save these children. As difficult as it is to see these innocent children facing uncertainty and abandonment, we should not let sentimentality obstruct our resolution to return these minors to their senders as soon as possible.

Failure to do so will encourage further transgressive behavior and worsen the chaotic situation at our border. Berta Graciano

Buchman

Beverly Hills