Last week, a congressional committee released a report stating, “The Trump Administration’s child separations were more harmful, traumatic, and chaotic than previously known.”

Our elected officials have a moral and ethical obligation not only to speak out against these human rights violations, but to do something. Over a year ago, Sen. Susan Collins said she was concerned about the practice of family separation, and was working on a bill to end it. However, when the legislation was introduced to do just that, she opposed it. And, the bill she said she was drafting to end family separation is nowhere to be found.

The conditions on the ground in the camps are heartbreaking. The AP report described this scene: “A 2-year-old boy locked in detention wants to be held all the time. A few girls, ages 10 to 15, say they’ve been doing their best to feed and soothe the clingy toddler who was handed to them by a guard days ago.” As these reports of horrifying conditions at the border make their way through the news, President Trump tweeted. He told Senator Collins’ colleagues in Congress to go back to their countries.

I’m reminded of Maine’s beloved former Republican Senator, Margaret Chase Smith, who made her mark on history by taking a moral stand against the unethical practices and behavior of her party. It was a speech about “the four horsemen of calumny” fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear. Sen. Collins sent out a statement to the press blaming her colleagues, and suggesting the president delete his tweet. Instead of a “Declaration of Conscience,” she sent out a press release blaming both sides.

Maine deserves representatives in Washington who will speak with moral clarity on this issue. Sen. Collins  has spoken volumes.

Safiya Khalid

Lewiston

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Letter to the Editor: High excise tax hurts Mainers

Next »

Letter to the Editor: Cruel values at the top lead nations to ruin