Harder to celebrate

Independence Day is my favorite holiday. Family and friends gather to celebrate how this country declared its independence from a tyrant king. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson laid out the infractions and cruelties upon which this king had imposed on our colonies. A migrant nation thus imposed itself on and eventually freed itself from a tyrant. All my life, me and my family and friends have celebrated the Fourth as Mr. John Adams had advised in the 1700s. I find it difficult to celebrate this Independence Day this year especially when we find ourselves dealing with another tyrant.

He separates children from their parents who wish for a better, safer way of life who have little recourse and resources to do so legally; that’s wrong.

I just read an article in this newspaper that described a child— 1 year of age— going before a judge to determine his immigration status. Let that sit. One year of age. In a court. Who can speak for this child who can barely speak himself? What have we become as a nation of migrants that do this?

I am a patriot. I am proud of my immigrant ancestors that fled Hitler’s Germany and the potato famine, proud of those who serve us to protect us and keep us safe. I am ashamed of this presidency, its administration, its policies, and rhetoric that is inhumane, degrading and disrespectful to our allies and fellow countrymen.

This is not what Mr. Jefferson and the founding fathers intended for the basis of this country.

ERIN and RICHARD POWELL Little Rock