What are we becoming?

It has become official policy of The United States of America that persons seeking asylum and refuge in the United States who arrive uninvited with children will have said children forcibly removed without even any proper parting, with the possibility of never seeing their children again. There appear to be credible reports from staff of some of the facilities in which some of these children are housed of directions to staff that the emotional trauma suffered by these children is not to be comforted and the siblings shall be forbidden to comfort one another.

To such policies and directions three words apply:

This. Is. Evil.

The United States operates what is, in effect, a concentration camp in Guantanamo, Cuba.

It has operated smaller facilities, euphemistically termed “black sites,” for the interrogation under duress of kidnappees.

It has tortured prisoners and encouraged the maltreatment of prisoners.

When campaigning for the office, its current chief executive vociferously advocated resumption of torture and adoption of harsher versions. And was wildly applauded.

It freely expresses contempt for agreements with foreign nations, for foreign nations themselves, their governments and leaders.

Though the torch upheld by the Statue of Liberty burns at full illumination, as an example to the world and as a beacon of hope it is now dim and flickering.

The nation whose uniform I proudly wore for a quarter-century is vanishing before my eyes.

What are we becoming?

John P. Simanton, LCDR, USNR (ret)

Spokane