Growing up in outback Maine during the 1940s and ’50s, before and during the coming of television, we had no way of knowing how people of color were being horrifically abused elsewhere in our country. The few early TV programs that existed did not tell of it.

Not until the civil rights movement of the 1960s, reported by local stations of the fledgling ABC, CBS and NBC networks, were we shown the truth. Once seen and known, it could not be unseen or unknown. There was no avoiding the question: What kind of a people, a country, would we be?

Now, with instantaneous eyewitness images made possible by the internet, shock and shame are again challenging us to argue, question and do something about what religious leaders of all faiths are calling immoral – the governmental taking of children from their parents as they cross our southern border seeking safety from threatening conditions they have fled, asking for help.

Privileged leaders allowing this seem to have either lost their capacity to know how they and their children would feel under similar circumstances, or do not believe these people are worth the same protection they and their babies are. There are, after all, observable racial and class aspects to what is being done in our names.

But in 2018, all Americans are watching. The whole world is watching. It will be told throughout history that we did this. Who are we?

Please, let’s call the Maine offices of our congressional delegation – Sens. Susan Collins (945-0417) and Angus King (945-8000) and Reps. Chellie Pingree (774-5019) and Bruce Poliquin (942-0583) – to thank them for speaking out and to tell them that we believe and expect they and their colleagues have the skills to solve these problems in a more humane, respectful, safe and loving way.

Patricia Ranzoni

Bucksport

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