Eons of stupidity walls tumble like western tumbleweeds! Donald Trump's crumbling evil policy

Echo opinion - this is an important message!  "Writers on the Range" commentary published in the Idaho's Magic Valley news, by Gary Paul Nabhan.

Evil border wall along the US border with Mexico- Scripture Matthew 25: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."

Few walls last forever- (Maine Writer- even walls that don't collapse, they are overwhelmingly irrelevant or have become tourist attractions). 

In fact, last winter, part of Donald Trump’s new border wall wavered toward collapse under the force of strong winds whipping through the twin cities of Calexico and Mexicali. An 80-foot segment lurched into Mexican territory, and it took cranes from the U.S. side to right the steel panels.

Most of the families I know that live close to the border have arrived at the same conclusion: The monstrous wall so close to them has further militarized our international boundary with Mexico. They say that a steel barrier with a yard-wide concrete footer — and lighting that never dims — permanently blocks the free flow of wildlife, seeds, pollen, water, religious pilgrims and essential workers across the U.S.-Mexico border. We have watched U. S. agencies rush to build a wall through the poorest communities in western North America without local consent.

Thirty years ago this last November, the Berlin Wall was demolished after 26 years of dividing Berlin and East Germany from West Germany. Its deconstruction cost far less than its original construction, thanks in part to eager people who pitched in to turn the concrete part of the wall back into rubble. The two sections of Berlin have now been reunited for a longer period of time than the construction of the wall in 1961 divided them.

Closer to home, the first barrier built on our southern border, dividing Nogales Arizona from Nogales Sonora, came tumbling down faster than the walls at the Battle of Jericho. This wall was erected a little over a century ago, during the time that Mexico was in the depths of a revolution.

American-made rifles were frequently smuggled into Sonora through Ambos Nogales. To slow the flow of firearms, Sonora’s Gov. Maytorena ordered the erection of an 11- strand barbwire fence to run down the middle of International Street, where the two countries met.

Yes. That’s right: The first border barrier along the boundary line was erected to keep U.S. citizens from illegally passing rifles into Mexico.

But that first border wall so enraged the community of Ambos Nogales that it was brought down within a mere four months of its being erected. As soon as Gen. Obregón defeated Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in Nogales, Sonora, in 1915, he ordered the 11-strand fence torn down.

Both supporters and opponents of this bigger wall speak fatalistically about the barrier. They seem to concede that more miles of wall are irreversible because the courts have upheld Trump’s legal waivers of 41 state and federal laws.

Meanwhile, the wall does damage wherever it’s built or expanded. Habitats for endangered species have been fragmented, and human remains in sacred sites have been desecrated. The doom-and-gloomers say there is no going back.

All the technology in the world will not stop illegal immigrants

But one needs to read only a bit of world history to realize that walls can come down as a quickly as they were put up.

Regardless of your political stance about our current border policies, it is time that we recognize that a permanent border wall is not a fait accompli. The pandemic has reminded us what a true “national emergency” is, and a hyped-up emergency at the border does not justify such environmental and economic costs.

If we don’t want it, it can be legally deauthorized, once again allowing surface waters to flow. Dozens of species of wildlife now threatened by habitat fragmentation could once again migrate, and seeds could tumble across the desert floor.

A debate is already underway about how the wall should be deconstructed, how its materials could be recycled, how sacred sites along its pathway would be reconsecrated, and how damaged natural habitats could at last be restored.

I live just 14 miles as the crow flies from the Arizona-Sonora, Mexico, border, and though no one can predict when the times will dramatically change, it is never too early to consider the possibility that this foolish wall will fall.

It is already time to support a broad-based “Border Wall De-Commission,” one with United States, Mexican and tribal nation representatives. 

Let us now envision and restore a more just and humane future along our border with Mexico, and with trans-border tribes.

Kino Missions - sadly waiting for refuge

Kino Border Initiative: 
Father Sean Carroll sj, Executive Director

• Participation in collaborative networks that engage in research and advocacy to transform local, regional, and national immigration policies.

It's absolutely beyond belief and tragic to know that tens of thousands of refugees are trying to enter the United States, but are bottle necked for processing, detained and often rejected at the US Mexican border, just because they are seeking a better way of life. These people have not been engaged in crimes. In fact, they desperately want to work, but the US immigration policy is now clamping down on all of them, without  a consistent triage system for their humanitarian needs. It's a cruel Donald Trump right wing policy, rooted in selfishness, and protectionism and shouldn't be tolerated by any Americans.  Nevertheless, the news media isn't allowed to freely publish their plight because right wing Republican governors don't want Americans to know what's happening on their international borders with Mexico. Therefore, we live with our heads buried, not knowing the immigration indignities being suffered by refugees.  

What I don't understand is how this can be allowed when the Mexicans and the Hispanics who live in Central America are among our First Nations groups? In other words, although these desperate people are not Native Americans, the fact is they were invaded by the ambitious Spanish and their heritage dates back thousands of  years. 

My friend Father John Michalowski, sj, visited the Kino Missions where refugees are awaiting processing for immigration.  It's tragic to know how Donald Trump is now cutting funding for these humanitarian programs just because he can.

Father John lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is what he wrote:

Father John Michalowski sj with Julie (Maine Writer) 

Topsham Maine

Social Justice is an area that I have time to concentrate on (in Charlotte).  In the fall of 2016, four of us from the parish went to Nogales, in Arizona and to Nogales, in Mexico, to visit the Kino Border Initiative.  Nogales is a major place from the deportation of illegal immigrants and those whose asylum petitions have been rejected. People are loaded on buses from various for-profit detention centers and driven to Mexico where they go through a people version of a cattle-0shoot, into Mexican customs. They are processed there and then taken to the Kino-run comedor, what we would cal a soup-kitchen. They, there are greeted with dignity, given something to eat, given regular clothes, rather than detention -clothing and they can call their families. Some have been in the US for over a decade. Some were brought as children and their main language is English. Some left spouses an children and jobs behind. Those who are escaping the gang violence and the world's highest murder rates in Central America are mostly turned down for refugee status because American law only recognized refugees from war or political or religious or ethnic persecution.  We need a better system than we have for immigration and processing of these people. AT least, those without felonies should be allowed to get work permits so that their families are not broken up.  Most are doing jobs that few Americans want to do. On another note, over sixty members of the parish were involved in a discussion of cultural racism with members of a Catholic African American parish in Charlotte this past weekend.  Some of the stories were both sad and frightening. Clearly, our society has a long way to go. Enough progress has not been made.  
Peace and joy in the Lord, John

Epilogue from Maine Writer- The desperate refugees and asylum seekers have a recourse. They can assemble, en masse, by the thousands and storm the border.  In so doing, they would set up a video similar to what Native Americans are doing when their lands are being trampled by capitalists.  Mexicans and Hispanics from Central America are First Nations peoples, at least in my mind they are. They deserve to have access to their own country, border or not. It's the right thing to do. 

Donald Trump's mother was a Scottish immigrant. One would like to think that his public policy towards immigration should honor her memory.

The Kino Border Initiative (KBI) is a binational organization that works in the area of migration and is located in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The KBI was inaugurated in January of 2009 by six organizations from the United States and Mexico: The California Province of the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, the Mexican Province of the Society of Jesus, the Diocese of Tucson and the Archdiocese of Hermosillo. The KBI’s vision is to help make humane, just, workable migration between the U.S. and Mexico a reality. Its mission is to promote US/Mexico border and immigration policies that affirm the dignity of the human person and a spirit of bi-national solidarity through:

• Direct humanitarian assistance and accompaniment with migrants;
• Social and pastoral education with communities on both sides of the border;
• Participation in collaborative networks that engage in research and advocacy to transform local, regional, and national immigration policies.

A GOP dance card creates Republican wall flowers

Frankly, many Republican voters seem to throw their considerable wealth around, just to gain political power. No kidding?
Yet, the GOP goals are like concrete, they just don't change, regardless of whether or not voters support them.


More and more, however, the GOP are inconsistent with American values. Rather, right wing and rich Republicans are focused on power, rather than issues.


It seems to me, climate change, immigration reform and stopping Iran from getting a nuclear bomb are essential leadership issues. Those who don't believe climate change is real are, plainly, stupid. I personally don't believe there's any other issue, because, in my opinion, climate change impacts all the other issues.


"Republican and conservative voters are on one side, while majorities or pluralities of Americans — including independents and moderates — are on the other..."


Democratic Party will keep shaping its agenda around the priorities of these core voter groups.


As a matter of act, the wealthy Koch brothers are an example of men who use their considerable wealth to gain political power.

Additionally, many Republicans are following the Koch example of giving considerable money, to buy political influence.


Surely, this strategy is short lived. Of course, it may work for as long as the political contributors are alive. But, Republicans want to exert their influence into the 2016, White House, and for an undetermined amount of time into the future. (Good Luck!)


Yet, they're on the loosing side of the issues that matter to American voters. 


It's hard to believe, but Republican voters believe they want a president who will oppose climate action, immigration reform, and oppose an Iran nuke deal.  OMG! Seems to me,  this is a toxic political cocktail, especially when the Roman Catholic Pope Francis is on the other side of 2 out of 3 of their ridiculous issues.


Washington Post reporter Greg Sargent reports:


By Greg Sargent April 3 Follow @theplumlinegs 
 

It’s early, but we already have a rough sense of some of the big-picture contrasts that will drive the next presidential election.
This is an incomplete list, but Hillary Clinton will support international engagement and government action to combat climate change; an immigration reform compromise that exchanges more border security for some kind of path to legalization for the 11 million; a deal with Iran curbing its nuclear program (if one is reached); and a continuation of the movement towards universal health care set in motion by the Affordable Care Act (whatever its fate at the Supreme Court).

By contrast, by the time the eventual GOP nominee is chosen, he (no women this time in the GOP) will probably have come out against any global climate treaty and, at best, hedged on domestic climate action; he (sic) will have cast serious doubt on whether he can support a real plan for legalization; he will have promised to undo any Iran nuke deal; and he will have vowed to continue the crusade for Obamacare repeal until he draws his very last breath.
Some new polling from the Washington Post and ABC News helps illustrate why this contrast will likely take shape — and what it could mean for the next election.

The poll finds that on all of those issues, Republican and conservative voters are on one side, while majorities or pluralities of Americans — including independents and moderates — are on the other:

* Climate change: 59 percent of Americans say they want the next president to favor government action to address climate change, versus 31 percent who oppose such action. Independents favor action by 61-32, and moderates favor action by 68-23.
By contrast, Republicans tilt against government action by 55-32, and conservatives tilt against it by 55-35.

 * Iran: Americans want the next president to favor a negotiated agreement with Iran, rather than oppose it, by 49-42. Independents agree by 51-40, and moderates agree by 55-37.
By contrast, Republicans favor someone who opposes agreement with Iran by 60-31, as do conservatives, by 62-32.

 * Immigration: Americans want the next president to support a path to citizenship, as opposed to being against it, by 51-45. Independents agree by 52-44, and moderates agree by 53-42.
By contrast, Republicans favor someone who opposes a path to citizenship by 70-24, as do conservatives, by 65-31.

 * Obamacare: This one isn’t as clear cut, but it’s still instructive. Most polls show the law is still unpopular. But, introduce repeal, and the picture changes. In our poll, Americans want the next president to keep the law, by a statistically insignificant 49-45. Independents agree by 49-45, and moderates agree by a more comfortable 52-42.

By contrast, Republicans want a candidate who will repeal the law by 82-12, and conservatives want the same by 69-28.
Here’s another interesting thing about the polling: The groups in the new Democratic coalition that is powering wins in national elections — minorities, millennials, college educated whites — are firmly on one side of this divide.

Majorities of all those groups — in some cases large ones — want the next president to back government action on climate; a path to citizenship; a negotiated settlement with Iran; and keeping Obamacare. Thus, the

Democratic Party will keep shaping its agenda around the priorities of these core voter groups.

By contrast, majorities of some core Republican voter groups — non-college whites, older voters, whites overall — want a president who would repeal Obamacare and oppose a path to citizenship. Interestingly, even these voter groups are more mixed on an Iran deal and on climate action. But given that both are associated with Obama, the GOP candidates will have to oppose them.

None of this is to say that Clinton has a built-in advantage going into 2016. It’s hard to say how much these issues — particularly climate and immigration — will motivate voters, if at all.

Winning a third presidential term for the same party has historically proven difficult. The economy will play a major role.

But still, you have to wonder whether it could have some kind of impact if the GOP nominee gets locked into positions on the wrong side of public opinion, on many major issues.

Perhaps it could help shape general impressions as to which party is more mainstream and forward-looking when it comes to some of the bigger challenges facing the country.

More to the point, it's essential for Americans to vote conservative right wing politicians out of power! 

It's possible the GOP will eventually go away, just because knowledgeable voters will no longer support them. Nevertheless, they will do a lot of political damage before they disappear. 

It's time to create wall flowers out of these right wing GOP politicians, before they cause any more political damage to our nation's economy and take support away from our safety net social programs, especially Social Security, Medicare and student aid.

Americans must tear up the GOP right wing political dance card.