Wanted: Input, civil discussion on important topics

Newspapers have sought for as long as newspapers have existed to engage readers in a conversation on important topics, but never have there been so many opportunities as today.

Letters to the editor and newspaper-sponsored community forums and debates are among the earliest forms of engagement.

Now, we have all of those plus social media, comments on online stories, online chats and online surveys. And we've made a couple of moves recently to enhance the conversations.

The vendor we use for online comments recently added a feature that automatically moderates conversations. This is helpful because we don't have the staffing to monitor comments on the thousands of stories on our website at all times.

The auto-moderation system is programmed to recognize hate speech, personal attacks, curse words and anything that violates the community standards we have set for Dispatch.com, and block those comments. Here are those standards: By participating, "you agree not to submit any content in any interactive areas including forums, chat rooms, discussion boards, emails or otherwise that:

• is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, grossly inflammatory, false, misleading, fraudulent, inaccurate, unfair or otherwise illegal; contains photographs or illustrations in poor taste;

• is threatening, abusive or disruptive to other users (including without limitation repetitive, meaningless

Ohioans who are citizens and want to be productive should not be held hostage to their parents’ legal status.

Even more terrible is the humanitarian situation at the border, raging even though the United States surely has the resources to provide decent shelter, food and care for people it has taken captive. What’s lacking is the will of the Trump administration to make it happen. That’s why Congress must step up, and The Dispatch calls on the Ohio delegation to become part of a solution.

Mild statements of disapproval such as many Republicans have issued over family separation don’t accomplish anything; the same goes for more strongly worded denunciations from Democrats, including one issued Wednesday by Rep. Joyce Beatty of Columbus.

This debacle calls for Congress members to rise above their basest instincts and provide a de-politicized response.

Congress took a first step last week by approving $4.6 billion in emergency spending to address the humanitarian crisis. It should go further, with legislation to establish a commission to investigate and oversee relief operations at the border. A broad, bipartisan House/ Senate panel could work with reputable, established national and international aid organizations to provide the short-term relief needed immediately.

Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman could establish a lasting legacy of moral leadership by heading such an effort. Ohio’s Democratic representatives — Beatty along with Marcia Fudge of Cleveland, Marcy Kaptur of Toledo and Tim Ryan of Niles — obviously would have no political problem demanding a change, but they should rise above the urge to make partisan hay over this crisis.

It is Ohio’s 12 Republican House members who would have to show the most courage — and could have the greatest impact – by stepping in. Ohioans have sharply divided views on immigration, and many GOP constituents support Trump’s aim of cutting off the illegal flow.

But these legitimate differences of opinion can wait until the true border crisis — the humanitarian one — is addressed.

No member of Congress, whatever the views on immigration, can stand by in good conscience as the U.S. becomes responsible for more and more human suffering.

We ask Reps. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington and Troy Balderson of Zanesville to lead their colleagues — Steve Chabot and Brad Wenstrup of Cincinnati, Jim Jordan of Urbana, Bob Latta of Bowling Green, Bill Johnson of Marietta, Bob Gibbs of Lakeville, Warren Davidson of Troy, Mike Turner of Dayton, David Joyce of Mentor and Anthony Gonzalez of Rocky River — in doing the right thing.

Congress has the power to end this shameful chapter and a moral responsibility to put politics aside. It must do so as quickly as possible.