U.S. reputation hurt
The global reputation of the United States, already damaged by our treaty-breaking, insult-hurling, dictator-praising president, suffered another blow when this administration decided that our country should no longer be a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
This action, based upon claims that the U.N. is biased against Israel, will make it harder for human rights abuses to be addressed and remedied in many parts of the world. Ironically, our country might soon be condemned by this same Human Rights Council due to the White House’s decision to separate children from parents in families seeking asylum from countries south of our border.
Karl Gustaffson, Half Moon Bay
Bury Constitution
Regarding “Couple see sidewalk plaque touting time capsule: Here’s what was found” ( June 20): Along with Heather Knight’s suggestion of items to place into a 2018 San Francisco time capsule, might I add this: A copy of the U.S. Constitution?
The inclusion of this document will remind future generations that our city defended an independent press, ensured the right of citizens to protest, and provided sanctuary to undocumented law-abiding immigrants at a time when our constitutional freedoms were under attack by an authoritarian-styled leader. Hopefully, our country will still be a democracy in 50 to 100 years, assuming that some mercurial heads of state haven’t triggered a nuclear annihilation of our planet before that time.
Bennie Oosterhaus, San Francisco
Won’t be silenced
I was glad to read that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is pushing her bill that would end the Trump administration’s excuse for separating families. But I want to see the Democrats show more courage.
If this bill doesn’t pass, Democrats should run fullpage ads, especially in President Trump’s base territory, printing the key language of the bill and how the Republicans have responded. Being a minority party shouldn’t mean accepting being silenced. All that legislation that should be introduced but won’t get heard? Introduce it, publish the key provisions in ads, and explain how the opposing party was so afraid of the issue that they didn’t even dare let it come to a debate and vote.
Miriam Mueller, San Francisco
Negative effects
Last week, the American Medical Association passed a resolution opposing the separation of children from their parents at the Mexican border. The San Francisco Marin Medical Society, representing doctors across specialties who care for children and families, joins the AMA and condemns this horrific policy. The story of an 8-year-old who experienced a brief but traumatic separation from her mother during their immigration journey highlights the harm.
The child had no prior mental health issues, and even months after being reunified with her mother, threatened to hurt herself with a knife at the thought of going to school and leaving her mother’s side again. The negative health consequences of childhood traumatic events disrupt the natural development of a growing brain and body, and increase the lifetime risk for heart problems, cancer, diabetes and stroke. The negative effects on the family and community are far-reaching and long-lasting. As physicians in San Francisco and Marin who prioritize health over politics, we join the chorus of other physician organizations speaking out against this unnecessary and inhumane policy decision.
John Maa and Heyman Oo, San Francisco
Protect children
Prior to college, I classified fingerprints for New Jersey State Police in Trenton, N.J. The most rewarding aspect of that employment was doing criminal checks on adults seeking to drive school buses. Every Thursday afternoon, for over a year, I had keen satisfaction in catching two or three convicted child molesters and keeping them away from Jersey school children. Later as an investigative journalist, I learned that child rapists gravitate to kids that are unprotected and emotionally vulnerable. And, so it is for children being ripped away from the protective and loving care of their moms and dads in the Lone Star State.
President Trump and his administration have provided a killing field for these children’s innocence and basic protection from sexual predators who will silently flock down there and con their way into those facilities. Never in 83 years of life have I witnessed a president of the United States conduct such organized cruelty and rape of children’s fundamental human rights, on American soil. Did we not conduct trials in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II for similar crimes against humanity?
Kenneth Wooden, Shelbourne, Vt.
Remove symbols
According to “Slavery apology” (News of the Day, June 20), the City Council in Charleston, S.C., has issued a formal apology for having had slavery in its state. While this action is a positive step toward creating better racial relations, this state still has well over 100 Confederate monuments on public display. Unless and until these symbols of soldiers who defended the institution of slavery are removed, the wounds inflicted on our national psyche by the Civil War will never fully heal.
Demetrius McDaniel, Oakland
Beyond outraged
I am beyond heartbroken and outraged. Let’s face the truth: step by step, insult by insult, blunder by blunder, this president and his enablers, and their supporters, are transforming this democracy into a neo-fascist society.
Traumatizing children by taking them from parents to use them as political bargaining chips is more than a moral nation should tolerate. References to an infestation by immigrants comes right out of the Nazi playbook that characterized Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and political opponents as vermin to be exterminated. We are not actually exterminating the strangers in our midst yet. I only hope that the current level of concern leads to an enduring response that makes a difference. This is (mostly) a nation of immigrants, founded on genocide and racism, but also with a commitment to create a more perfect union. However, we have never seen here something like what is happening now.
Steve Zemmelman, Albany