A $4 billion border funding bill was passed by Congress today. Although at first blush it seems to be the funding “demanded” by Trump in order for him to finance a southern wall (that he vowed would be financed by Mexico), in fact, this bill is not for financing a wall.
Actually, the funds are intended to finance care of those who are migrants and being held in detention while waiting for an immigration hearing.
How far removed these detention centers are from the detention camps of WWII becomes questionable when the most recent news reports revealed how dire the circumstances of the detainees. Little to no food, no hygiene, no beds, children caring for other children and infants.
One compelling story seemed to push the envelope, that regarding the Central American man and his daughter who drowned while attempting to ford the Rio Grande.
Trump was shown pictures of their corpses. Appropriately, he expressed dismay. But he immediately returned to character by rebuffing responsibility in any form by blaming hardball politics used by Congressional Democrats, that resulted in delays as attributable for the deaths.
What I keep asking myself is whether this man who many call the President of the United States (the legitimacy of that title is still in question) is actually capable of being an effective leader.
Does he have any grasp of what is required of him? Does he know how to tell the truth? Is he capable of taking responsibility for his own actions? Does he realize how much divisiveness he is creating? Is he even remotely aware of the racism he’s nurturing and growing (which is now being replicated in many places)?
Does this man called Donald Trump realize that while he purportedly holds the title of President of the United States, it is not only a concern of The Press but also of The People of this country with regard to what he will say to leaders of other countries when he attends conferences and meetings? He is acting in his capacity as the leader. The people are entitled to full disclosure and awareness. He is accountable for his words and actions, even if he keeps bending the rules so that he becomes the New Age Teflon Emperor.
The answer came to me several weeks ago, perhaps a few months ago. It was in the form of some old words that are beginning to fade with the passage of time. It appears those words, and the document which embodies them, need to become an essential lesson for those who are ten years and older. The words?
“When in the course of human events . . ..”
References:
- House sends Trump $4.6B border bill, yielding to Senate, ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM, Associated Press (June 27, 2019)
- At a white nationalist hearing on Capitol Hill, GOP witnesses dispute there’s a threat, Alexander Nazaryan (National Correspondent), Yahoo News (April 9, 2019)
- Trump on what he tells Putin: ‘It’s none of your business’, CAITLIN OPRYSKO, Politico.com (06/26/2019 02:55 PM EDT)
- ‘When in the course of human events’ means what?, Study.com
Additional Resources:
- Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor
- The Art of Servant Leadership II: How You Get Results Is More Important Than the Results Themselves
- The Humanitarian Leader in Each of Us: 7 Choices That Shape a Socially Responsible Life
- Talent Genius
- Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change
- Talent Genius
The Pundit 