Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jul 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Jack Kinstlinger
Page: 24

THE U.S. BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MIGRANT CHILDREN

Commentator Jonathan David Farley claims that the violence in Central 
America is that is driving the influx of children illegally crossing 
the border is "not our problem" ("#Sendthemback," July 22).

Really? The violence these children are fleeing is directly 
attributable to drugs and drug cartels. It's our demand for drugs, 
our dollars and our archaic drug laws that have created the problem; 
therefore it's our responsibility to assist in the solution.

On another level, we should thank our lucky stars that young people 
are still clamoring to come to our shores, despite our own not 
insignificant domestic problems, including our gun violence.

With an aging population and low birth rate, we are in serious danger 
of becoming a senile nation, losing economic vitality, world 
influence and the ability to continue to support our growing 
population of retirees without a robust in-migration of young people.

A wise policy would be to accommodate the children who have come to 
our shores by connecting them with their families in the U.S. or 
finding foster homes for them, as Gov. Martin O'Malley has advocated.

Jack Kinstlinger, Towson
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom