It's Mothers making the difference- encouraging their kids to fight Social Injustice. Bravo Ms. Orringer and Mama Baldwin.
10
Three cheers: for Julie & Jacob & Alec Baldwin!
10
Jacob and Alec Baldwin has something in common, strong Mothers with character encouraging social justice. Bravo to these women................
8
Even an 8 yr. old understands the obvious cruelty of separating kids from their parents. Yet Trump and Republicans refuse to see the obvious. They are either blind and heartless or are cruel sadists. Unfortunately the latter is the truth. It's very sad to see 8 yr. olds joining protests. Innocent as they are, they more likely fear about being separated from their parents themselves. For them it's not about politics!
8
Totally support you sharing political issues with your child, Ms. Orringer. That's what parents should do - current events should be discussed at dinner tables across the country, and kids should be allowed to express themselves if they are so inclined. Some kids are community activists in the making, while others may not feel comfortable expressing themselves overtly, as young Jacob is.
On the other hand, I am concerned about children whose parents espouse racist or other hateful views around the dinner table. These parents are propagating fear and hatred in their offspring, and in doing so, they are keeping racism and xenophobia alive and well in our country, 150 years post-Civil War, and 70 years after the shameful Japanese internment during WWII.
So, while there is goodness in speaking up for good causes by parents hopeful to make positive change by encouraging their children to promote acceptance and peace, there is, sadly, a good amount of hate coming from the homes of those who see some kind of benefit in instilling fear and hatred in their offspring.
"Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you'll know by." Graham Nash
11
Way to go Julie! Most children even at three can process this and in any case they will hear about it, and best that parents help them with it. They need to know that there are some in the adult world who will harm others. Very often they are people who were themselves mistreated as children e.g. "MY daddy used to whoop me but I always deserved it."
12
You are one awesome mom. Your son is going to be very grateful for you when he’s old enough to understand the values you’ve imbued in him.
19
You're not brainwashing your kids when you teach them about your values. It's called good parenting. Who else do you want to teach your kids values?
26
We know who the real Baldwin is and he is not someone who should be extolled. I’ve heard him berate and fat shame his daughter. I’ve heard him curse his family. I’ve heard that he turns his back on his brother for his politics. We have heard his condescending Hollywood/Broadway elite nonsense for far too long. Enough is enough of his lame theatrics!
13
Once again, whether you like the man (Donald Trump) or not, aligning yourself and your son with Alec Baldwin is not something for which to be proud.
You are dreaming aren't you? Or is it a nightmare? Have you forgotten his tirade, while sitting on a plane, disparaging his daughter, as well as his many other transgressions?
What a horrible message you are sending to our next generation. You could not find anyone else, and, I mean anyone?
That you did not, immediately explain to your son that this man (Alec Baldwin) has no morals, and, at no time should he be proud that this man was using him as a pawn, is disgraceful and sad.
10
Is this the same Alec Baldwin that verbally abused his own daughter??
9
I can't help remembering Jimmy Carter telling us what his daughter Amy thought of nuclear warfare. He was ridiculed for it. My how the world changes. Children will be editors at the nytimes. Why should a child be worrying about politics? Shouldn't he have a childhood? Should he be given an education so he can reach his own conclusions so he could come someday and tell you you got it wrong.
Growing up going to Catholic school I was told what to believe. I felt I was being brain washed. Bad attitude of a child I suppose but fortunately my parents weren't religious. I couldn't imagine getting at home to.
If I was family sure I would love to hear his opinions but I'm not. Somehow I would come up a ball to play catch hopefully before he started on global warming .
1
Yeah, our kid's going on 20 now, and she's been a flaming lib too, since she was barely able to walk and talk. Okay, slight exaggeration, but only very slight. Brainwashed with our values? Sure, we brainwashed some basic human feeling and decency right in there. But it's all coincidence anyway. I mean, I tried -- lord knows I tried -- to brainwash her with Charlie Parker too, but that never really took...yet. Hey, we even told her we'll support her if she ever decides to go believe in crazy Bible stories (which I did read to her, highlighting the craziness along the way)... but she never has. So there you go.
But have you seen the kids at those trumper rallies? YIKES. It's not like they're getting that from anywhere though. Because that would be brainwashing.
13
Ms Orringer, I share your views and your son's outrage.
But, in today's ugly world, I would worry if my child had gone viral on social media for a political cause, because alt-right trolls stop at nothing and no-one in their virtual and real violence.
7
What Alec Baldwin Taught My Son About Political Activism - Act like an idiot, as I do.
10
You are great role model for your son!
I wish more parents guided their kids by actions not only empty words.
I wish more parents take a stand when people in their local communities are compromised.
I wish more parents advocate for their kids and not afraid to rock the boat.
Personal power is leading life with integrity, meaning, and repairing oneself and the world around you*.
Keep speaking out when human rights are endangered.
---------
*Repair yourself and the world around you is the biblical concept of Tikkun Olam.
11
Yup, start brain washing them young.
10
You should be ashamed of taking your child to a protest. Who knows what kind of violence could have broken out at this event? Let your child be a child. Being on Alec Baldwin's Instagram is nothing to be proud of...........
10
Eight year olds know what their parents tell them, period. As for what anyone might learn from Alec Baldwin, apart from how to revive a flagging career by endlessly repeating the same joke, I have no clue.
9
Beautifully written. It brought tears into my eyes.
I have a general question, though. When one goes to demonstrate with a sign, who is the intended recipient of the sign's message? Obviously the message cannot be for the "converted", as it does accomplish little. If, for example, it is intended for Mr. Trump and his administration, we know well that he does not care the slightest. and if he happens to do, it would be only when it becomes politically expedient for him.
Just to make the point, when Mr. Trump wanted to bomb Syria, he went on TV and talked about suffering of "the beautiful babies". But when Saudis use American weapons and ammunitions to kill, maim, and starve millions of kids in Yemen, it is not his business. What he cares about is whether Saudis pump more oil to keep oil prices down, thus making his billionaire friends happy.
5
I oppose families being separated, but do not consider a a sign made by an 8-year-old expressing "outrage" to be a political message. Unless, of course, you're living in a world of infantile politics, where "this is how I feel" is a political statement.
Familes have long been separated by immigration. They were separated under Obama. The emotional Manicheanism that sees two forces in the world - Satan Trump and those who are Good - sets a low bar for understanding of important issues.
Take immigration. I favor open borders. I realize, however, that this is a minority viewpoint. To see a world of no borders, I and people who feel like me would have to win a hard argument with a lot of people who disagree. I could call those people "fascists" and nurture my wounds over an expensive cappucino. That would satisfy my narcissism and superior. But it wouldn't help anyone, least of all immigrants.
Immigration policy can range from open borders to allowing no one to enter. Democrats and Republicans have always fallen in-between those two extremes. The hand-wringing over Trump is hypocritical: no Democratic president has ever shown up at the border demanding that illegal immigrants be let in. Similarly, the long fence (well over half of the US-Mexico border) that existed under Obama did not stir up "outrage" in 8 year olds. A little less emotional virtue-signalling and a little more substance would be good. Let's give our 8 year olds good examples to follow when they grow up.
4
All good parents try to pass along their values and instill in their children a sense of right and wrong. "Brainwashing" is what we call this teaching when we don't agree with its content. Taking a child to a pro-immigration rally and encouraging them to participate with a sign is no more coercive than taking him or her to church. The criticism is without merit.
18
I spent my life brainwashing my kids when they were young. I sent them to Catholic school, and took them to Mass weekly. We talked about the corporal Works of Mercy - part of their catechism - and the responsibility it puts upon all of us.
How is that different from talking to a child about things you feel are important to developing his or her moral code?
Each and everyone of us brainwashes our kids. Some of us teach them to march; some teach them to hate; some teach them to think critically; some teach them never to question dogma; some teach them to find their own balance as adults.
Kudos on the brainwashing, Julie Orringer. It never, ever hurts to show your children what kindness looks like.
17
Beautiful story.
Did you tell your son that Alec Baldwin impersonates Trump to ridicule him. May be not as that would perhaps have confused your son? - or perhaps be he is already fully capable of appreciating humor and derision (we tend to underestimate young people).
To come back to the topic, public demonstrations are still the way to go if you want to share a strong message to the widest audience. I believe in the power of grassroots movements. Lets all share our convictions on public forums, in the street , wherever they get noticed and also LETS NOT FORGET TO VOTE.
3
Way to go, Jacob! Keep being a good citizen and speaking up when you see injustice.
7
All you people who think an 8-year-old couldn't understand what was going on and have a genuine opinion about it clearly haven't been around children. My children could speak passionately about right and wrong (and understood what a law is) at 5 and 6. When my son was 6 and a half he was listening to his 5-YO sister talk about her belief in heaven and that people went there after they died, and he said "I don't believe in heaven. I think when you die you come back as an animal or a different person." I was floored, and asked if someone had talked to him about reincarnation, explaining that was what he had described. He said "no, that's just what I think on my own." You are seriously deceived if you think kids don't have profound thoughts on their own, and deep feelings about right and wrong.
15
With all due respect, there is nothing to compare between the 1956 asylum seekers from Hungary and those seeking asylum today in the US. This may be beyond the scope of appropriate reading for an 8 year old, but Ms. Orringer might benefit from reading the CIA report re Hungary and the refugees who came to the US then.
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-cs...
3
I beg your pardon, but Central America is one of the most violent places on earth, and the US has been largely culpable in encouraging the social structures and governments which help create and benefit from that violence. Why should people not try to join other Hispanic communities here in the US?
6
Thank you for sharing this lovely happening in your child's journey.
8
Between Jacob, his Mom and the magnificent editorial in the Capital Gazette last Sunday, for the first time in months, I don't feel ashamed to be an American. What a wonderful July 4th present.
5
I applaud you, Ms Orringer, for teaching Jacob how to communicate his opinion, and for standing up the alt-right online bullies.
11
Good for you! And thank you, Jacob. Imparting values of compassion and morality to one’s children is not brainwashing...it’s exactly what a parent should do.
7
: When my now 16 year old was 6, my dad, my son and I were sitting at the kitchen table. My dad asked me how I thought I might vote in the coming primaries during the first run of President Obama. I said to my dad, "Before I answer, lets ask Jack." Jack at that time has already shown an interest in world affairs and many other thins. So, without hesitation, Jack said, "Farack Obama because he won't cause World War III." This was an answer I had not expected. Other than correcting him that it was Barack not Farack, I said to my dad, "What he said." Jack hit the nail on the head for me. With all that is in the media and on the internet it is likely our kids are forming more informed opinions than we know especially if we fail to ask them. After the defeat of Hillary Clinton, I wrote my four sons, ranging in age from 26 to 15 at the time, an apology for having tried to prevail upon them what a waste of a vote it would be to vote for Bernie. I thought Bernie's policies too extreme even if I did agree with him in principal. The crux of my email to them was that had I given more credence to their views, perhaps we could have avoided putting forth such a flawed candidate. So, from the minds of the young come a more informed future than ever in the past.
1
I'm not a hand writing analyst but it looks to me like someone helped him with painting the sign. That would be fine except you imply this was his work, not a "team effort."
5
Amazing, inspirational! I need to bring this to my son, as his father is an immigrant.
Of course, he is a bit overloaded with grade 7 math (4 years ahead), spelling bee, piano, basketball, hockey. I'll add liberal outrage to the curriculum.
Problem is he has to compete with the other immigrant kids to get into an elite college, which don't seem to like immigrant kids, so he has to overachieve.
Wonder what the Tiger Mom Yale professor is doing with her kids. Not all of us can be Alec Baldwin and raise a successful Instagram Model.
5
Many supporters of Trump may defend him believing that, "this country needs a strong leader in order to defend this country against terrorist and terrorism," but I think "sadly" that, "by separating children from their parents we are committing State sponsored child abuse, and we have become the terrorists." Even eight year olds can understand this fact.
10
You are doing a thoughtful job parenting your son. Letting him think about how he felt about the issue and prepare his own sign with his own words, is just the right thing to do. The critics of what you did think you are " brainwashing " your child, but you are doing exactly the opposite. I suppose they are also the ones who take their children to church every Sunday and indoctrinate them into their own religious beliefs.
8
"“No Hate! No Fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” so far we, you with your history and, here, a first generation american, agree.
what you didn't tell your son is that the driving force behind disputed policy, however worth constant re-evaluation,
is ILLEGAL immigration, how fair is that?
think it over and maybe fill him in on some of the effects an illegal population larger that the population of russia will have on the future of "a nation of laws."...do that and maybe he'll be better equipped to participate in the needed reforms...given our over-perked and under-worked congress' refusal to make the needed fixes in immigration law, your son will be electable before anything changes.
2
With all due respect to Jacob Orringer, perhaps a sharper though less emotionally powerful slogan might be:
"Even some Republicans are outraged about family separation!"
1
Sure he wrote that thing? 'Outraged' strikes me as unlikely.
2
So it's OK to teach children that they part of the chosen people in the eyes of God, but not basic ethics like it's not OK to rip toddlers from their mothers?
14
Big question. Despite all the ethical teachings of religions, parents(good ones) and schools and ideals about right is better than wrong enshrined in constitutions of advanced nations, why does egotistical lust for money and power, bigotry, and outright hate keep repeating as a huge part of the behavior our species exhibits? At it's worst, we see genocide, torture, religious killing, vendettas, endless grudges in certain cultures, massive lying to fool gullible believers to achieve malignant goals.
This wonderful 8 year old knows right from wrong, understands it's a better world when you treat other people the way you would like to be treated. He shames all the adults filled with hate, especially Trump and the ruthless GOP. But these so called "adults" are so far gone into moral depravity, they are impervious to shame.
A species that metaphorically cannibalizes itself, and is delighted to destroy the planet it was created and evolved on, may not be worth saving, unless love and the golden rule can triumph once and for all. The evil side of homo sapiens is a truly repugnant phenomenon.
7
Freud figured out that taboos develop because we WANT to do things--which perhaps we really should not. We are animals, for better and worse. Animals with big brains, and that allows for more and less ethical behavior. The natural world isn't really very pretty if you look at the struggle for survival, but every now and then, there is cooperation and a sense of community. Religion is a way to capture to best of us and discourage the baser parts of all of us.
Trump represents every single bad facet of our natures--selfishness pretty much contains all of it, although when we twist our minds to be evil, it's even worse...thus, Dante puts cold calculated cruelty at the bottom of Hell. There find Satan and Trump and all the others.
1
A beautiful story. Sadly there are white supremacist parents teaching their children the exact opposite. I pray there are more Julie Orringer's out there than Richard Spencer's.
9
My 8 year old cousin was outraged when he didn’t have his iPad for a few minutes. 8 year olds shouldn’t be consulted for their thoughts about national immigration policy
5
Shouldn't be using your child as a political pawn. Clearly he was fed a storyline and does not have a full understanding of the law. I believe this would cause him misguided pain for your purposes. Possibly child abuse.
6
Great job, Jacob!!
10
8 year olds also get outraged when they don’t have an iPad for 5 minutes. Maybe asking for an 8 year old’s opinion about matters of national concern should not grace the pages of The Times.
5
Brought tears to my eyes. The right to protest is as American as it gets. Kudos to you, and Jacob.
6
Most people are unashamed of their prejudices. It’s refreshing to see someone who’s not. I think it is good teaching you’re child such ideas, traditions and practices, and especially at a young age; an age we’re still young enough to know everything. I mean, what’s the use of learning to do right thing, when it’s so troublesome and yet isn’t any trouble to do wrong? Keeping this in mind, the most pitiful thing we can imagine is the bad example; that’s what the bad example is—an instance of someone doing what’s so blatantly wrong; not acting with courage that’s inborn, but with courage borrowed from mass appeal, and from fellow supporters. But an example without anyone leading, well; that is beneath pitiful. And if that bad example is conducting public affairs for private advantage; well, that’s just reprehensible. Some of us just suffer from the disadvantage of being alive, and must, as a matter of right—attempt to regulate that of the whole. So, if you must explain politics to someone and especially so young, I suggest; like this women, you never give up and always maintain the most urbane of good will and truculence, fighting for what’s right and doing at all times with activeness what’s proper, fresh and above all, diplomatic and good.
My parents and I also escaped during the Hungarian Revolution. We were refugees, taken in by Canada. What is happening is so wrong.
9
Julie Orringer's response to her son brings tears ... of joy. I've taught & written about Human Behavior in the Social Environment in graduate clinical studies for years. Her opinion-piece on teaching her son about political activism is now "Assigned Reading." Thank you
5
Three -- no, make that a thousand -- cheers for Jacob and his wise mom. This is heartwarming, wise and inspiring for people of all ages.
8
I want to hug this kid! And his mother, too. What a wonderful story.
7
I think the teacher is your son.
8
Who doesn’t love an adorable 8 year old ?
And, of course, as long as that 8 year old respects the same people in our society as his parents, then all like minded adults can smile and talk about the wonder of youth. But this young man will grow up one day. And when he does, I hope that his politically activist role model(s) are no longer limited to wealthy, self absorbed actors (like Alec Baldwin). Who knows, maybe this promising young man will actually admire politically active firefighters, community organizers, or - heaven forbid - school teachers ?
3
I think that you have it wrong. Jacob, even at the young age of 8, was an inspiration and role model to Alec Baldwin and not the way you have described it.
Jacob had no idea who Alec Baldwin was when he made his sign and took it to the protest. He had no idea who Alec Baldwin was when he got home. He found out who Alec Baldwin was only when his mother showed Jacob the Instagram post to emphasize to him that yes, he did have an impact by marching with his sign at the protest.
9
I think that you got it wrong.
It was Alec Baldwin who admired Jacob. Jacob didn't know who Baldwin was until his mother told him.
10
Did you read the article? The kid asked "Who's Alec Baldwin?"
There's nothing in there about role models or admiration, just the fact that social media can amplify a message.
Jacob, you have shown more wisdom than most of my contemporaries, who, like me are a full 8 decades older than you.
God Bless you, you have a bright future.
10
While my Hungarian mother met and married my Yankee father in Turkey, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution did make those of us here take notice. I remember so vividly the Hungarian woman who was in a wheelchair, her legs blown off during her escape through Austria. Camp Kilmer in New Jersey was a well-known stopping place for many others. Hungarians and the '56 Revolution was stymied by the Suez Canal, so the promises from the US that help would come never materialized. Still, many Hungarians became Republicans, perhaps as a way to "prove" their zealotry to their new country. I would remind them of the actions of the GOP and the revolution, but it made no difference. I feel we have perhaps glorified our past when I see how angy and nationalistic we appear today to other refugees, who in the main, are not white, nor literate, but rather, desperate. Hungary, of course, has done the same. Orban was once fiercely for progressive ideas with his participation in Fidesz, the early party apres the fall of the Berlin Wall, highly symbolic. Today a different story. There are too few truly democratic societies today as polarization between the haves, the have-nots, increases.
10
Thank you for sharing your amazing upbringing of Jacob. You should feel proud of him and yourself for teaching him kindness. Reading about Jacob gives me hope that a new generation will stand for what our fore fathers stood for and what the Trump administration so blatantly ignores: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; unalienable rights given to ALL human beings.
7
As a person who went through depression in mid life, one of the keys I found to getting over it was to better learn how to emotionally process pain, loss and the reality that unfair things happen to good people. I expected karma was real. It isn't. And realising this made it much easier for me to get on with my life and find wholeness in my psychology. But I was spoilt and overprotected as a child. I encourage parents to realise that young children can really become better people through learning to process injustice. Such kids will be well prepared when life hands him hard knocks.
9
No fireworks for me this sad birthday for our nation. But what your son did and your story made me smile. A candle in the darkness. Hope.
22
As a boy, older than your son, I met a Hungarian immigrant who had fought Soviet tanks in the Revolution that brought your family to the United State. He had just arrived in 1956 and he spoke only a few words in English. His accent was thick. But his speech and English improved quickly. He, and others too, inspired my belief in the strength of our country and taught me that value of welcoming immigrants.
17
Alec Baldwin is a grouch. I will never forget the disappointment going to the 92nd St. Y with my cousin for his book signing last year. I live in Wisconsin and she Michigan. We were on a little vacation out in NYC during the week of the signing, so paid up and went to the event.
We waited in line, of course, and were instructed to not take any pictures close to Mr. Baldwin. We could go against a far wall and snap if we wanted. Permissible.
As we went through the line to pick up our autographed books I did say to him how much I liked his portrayal of Donald Trump on SNL and thanked him for it. He never looked up, just muttered “I try” with difficulty it seemed, and on to the next - quickly.
We didn’t stay for the on-stage discussion, as we needed to get back to see a play that night. What was supposed to be a “treat” for my cousin, meeting him, who she adored, was an embarrassing disappointment.
I still will watch him as Trump on SNL, and still have the picture of us standing next to his cardboard statue as Donald at the Y. But wow, what would it have taken for Baldwin to just make a little eye contact?
Probably it would have taken a way more glamorous figure, prettier face, and to be about 40 years younger......
Nevertheless, nice he congratulated Jacob. And nice Baldwin has portrayed our worst president ever. And nice Baldwin will continue to convey the message that this is the worst president ever. For that I am grateful, so grateful. Happy 4th!
9
Book signings are horrible places to see anyone and appreciate them. They are pressured to sign as many books as possible in the time allotted. Small talk, even short small talk, is "in one ear, out the other" because of the assembly line process of a book signing.
9
Baldwin’s was not the only book signing I ever attended. But, having said that, it was the absolute worst.......
MIMA
I want to say you shouldn’t be so easily offended. Baldwin was signing someone else’s book when you complemented him. Book signings aren’t “Meet & Greets”. And, if he didn’t look up how can you say. Probably it would have taken a more glamorous figure, prettier face.....& to be 40 years younger...” implying it was your age and appearance that failed to obtain the attention you sought from him.
2
My first real sense of the Bill of Rights was in the early 60s. I was in grade school in rural Ohio. SCOTUS had outlawed public school prayer a some years prior, but we still said the Lord's Prayer, and a Bible Studies teacher came in occasionally. My parents, who were certainly the only atheists in the closest five counties, gave me the opportunity to choose, in 3rd Grace, if I wanted to be excused from class at those times. Sentimentally and patriotically, it remains a cherished memory.
In our time of poor boundaries and disrespect, it might surprise people that, in my conservative town, the career school m'arms, having taught civics over a lifetime, were respectful of me and my privacy when they escorted me to the nurses office. We pleasantly practiced the Constitution together.
Later, I learned that kids got really pretty gold and silver ribbons for memorizing verses, and I wanted back in the fold.
There was no traumatizing element in that, only learning in a childish but intelligent way.
Last week, I was afraid of violence, and the deciding factor of not having bail money, made me stay at home. I'm glad you didn't experience that, or swastikas, or ugly words or demeanors and that your child didn't see arrests or breath teargas.
I can see how a protest rally would open your child's mind to a score of important principles and rights which Americans have the right to practice.
11
I was 11 when I read Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography and fell in love with liberal values. My conservative evangelical family was less than thrilled. Kids are exposed to lots of view points which is how they learn critical thinking skills and empathy. Parents can share with their views with their kids and tell them what is happening in the world but their children will decide what to do with the information.
24
At the San Francisco march I saw 400 teddy bears and other stuffed toys tied to a steel fence to represent some of the detained children. It was a shocking sight, all the more when we saw parents with their beautiful children turned out for the march. Children like your son. Thank you for sharing your story.
31
Great column. Thank you for raising a bright, caring and appropriately aware son.
19
Teaching your child about your values as a human being is not brain washing. No one would question your right to teach your child about your religious beliefs, or your belief in democracy, or your feelings about patriotism.
I feel respect and gratitude to parents who bring their children to marches. It is our right to demonstrate and to speak out against the cruel practices against immigrants. This child will feel empowered by his actions and will grow into an adult who participates in our democracy. Thank you for teaching him well.
42
We used to sing a hymn in Sunday School that taught me a key lesson of preciousness of children and of-course, racial equality. I was just five and took it to heart. My parents just happened to echo the message - and I'm grateful for it.
"Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world"
Kids understand far more about the world than what we give them credit for.
32
People are criticizing Mr. Baldwin who (like all of us) is certainly not perfect. That being said, I appreciate his acknowledgement of this little boy and the message on his sign. That he recognizes how important this message is - that we should ALL be outraged - puts him on the side of the angels. With a lot of other not perfect folks.
50
Once my young son piped up from the back seat of the car: "We hear much more than you think we do!"
It gave me pause. One of the other things I learned, raising my two sons, is that that they understand much, much more than we think, and feel deeply, much earlier than we assume. Especially if your grandparents were asylum seekers, as this boy's were, it would be very strange not to tell him how his own story is connected to a tragedy unfolding in the world around him.
Sociopaths and narcissists lack empathy. Children who are neither of these understand and feel what is happening around them.
48
Alec Baldwin is a man with many faults.
Nonetheless, Alec Baldwin is a caring, compassionate man with a real feel for the little guy.
I marvel at Mr. Baldwin's activism in light of his other gifts. He's a darn good actor, a wonderful comedic talent, a guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of cinema, knows classical music, etc.
Alec Baldwin is a very interesting human being. He's one of few celebrities whom I'd like to meet.
45
Wordsworth
No you would not want to meet him. He would ignore you. Read my post. But he is as you describe and we are grateful for that.
MIMA
1
Young Jacob is not even old enough to have been eligible for the blue ‘kerchief’ of Young Drummer Boys (preceding Young Pioneers) in the old Soviet block. But, it seems his dad is ready to indoctrinate him anyway. This column by Dad is as good as anything Gajdar ever wrote.
9
Teaching a young child to respect life and protest brutality is hardly indoctrinating, especially in your manner of thinking. It seems like Jacob weighed the situation and grasped it in a way that he could relate to -- children being taken from their parents.
Thank you, Julie Orringer, for raising such a sensitive and courageous young son. And thank you for telling the world about him.
8
There appear to be some challenges with your reading of this article. First of all, the author of the article is the boy’s mom (Ms. Julie Orringer), not his dad. So when you go back to recheck that, maybe consider rereading the article also so you can see that no one is “indoctrinating” their child. If we, as parents, fail to share our values and do not lead by example, we have failed entirely at parenting.
2
You might want to pay attention to the children at Trump rallies.
6
There are many things I believed as a child. Then I grew up and learned there are at least two sides to every issue. I, too, welcome immigrants. However, I do not support illegal immigration. Even at an early age, I knew the difference.
11
As smart as you are, I’m surprised you don’t realize that the young boy was protesting family separation policies. Not illegal immigration. These are not the same issue.
6
That you could comment on this story, and voice some support of the president without even mentioning the horrible tactic of separating babies from parents speaks volumes about you.
If losing the capacity for empathy is growing up, then apparently I haven't. And I hope young Jacob never does.
6
It's sad that when you 'grew up' you also didn't learn compassion.
4
Your AND you Son got very lucky, to have each other.
Best wishes.
29
This is a sweet story. I'm glad your little boy is a little famous for making and carrying a sign that I agree with. Thank you.
21
Clearly, Comrade Trump learned ZERO morality by the age of eight. His behavior was that of a mean, violent bully. He smashed his 2nd grade teacher in her face, terrorized his classmates, and was finally shipped off to the Hudson School for (Bad) Boys at the age of nine.
Kudos to Jacob, and his mindfully attentive Mother who has taught him early on that humanity toward others is the backbone of a just society. Meanwhile, Comrade Trump is the role model for man's inhumanity to man.
53
I regularly discuss current events with my two young sons. We discuss what each of us thinks and why. We talk about empathy, values, and compassion. I'm well aware that there are parents out there who are instilling the exact opposite. I can't help but think of those South Pacific lyrics...
"You've got to be taught before it's late, before you are six, or seven or eight, to hate all the people your relatives hate. You've got to be carefully taught."
41
Alec Baldwin is a has been actor.... a rude, mean spirited, angry leftist who needs medication. He is a role model for no one.
9
Well you're a hypocritical and reactionary right-winger.
It's hilarious and totally laughable that you would claim that Baldwin is the mean-spirited one here.
Just in case you've forgotten how cruel and extreme the right wing has become, here are some recent hits:
Breaking governing norms, deriding immigrants as animals, separating children from families, rolling back food stamps for our poorest, contempt for healthcare unprecedented in the developed world, accepting open white supremacists into their fold, running an 8-year racist campaign out of fear of a black president, stoking fear among disenfranchised white men that has converted into militias with an insane bunker mentality, breaking relations with our postwar allies and international institutions of governance, courting totalitarian strong men, looking the other way at obvious tampering with our elections, undemocratic gerrymandering to destroy voting rights, outright sexism and misogyny, pedophiles nearly elected to national positions, failed economic ideology clearly linked to the rise of inequality and widespread despair, encouraging violence at political rallies, attacking a free press, supporting outright lies and nutjob conspiracy theories, an anti-modernist rejection of science, a 19th century nostalgia for coal. I could go on forever.
So you're going to tell us that the "leftists" are the mean-spirited ones?
165
Judge not, lest ye be judged. Oops, too late.
Sincere thanks for two bits of guidance from the dimbulbbery... kinda like an agitated chicken with a broken left wing... floppische to the right, as it were. See other replies for a more rational response.
1
Where does the Times find all of these "novelists" and other o[-ed specials who write about subjects about which they know nothing but who please the claustrophobic editorial board, most of whom, as these guest writers, know little of what they write.
Ms. Orringer's precious perfect son probably doesn't know much about illegal immigration, nor what a law is, for that matter. But he sure knows how to mimic a cute propaganda poster for mommy so she can be published in the Times.
17
"Ms. Orringer's precious perfect son probably doesn't know much about illegal immigration"
He knows that it is wrong to rip young refugee children away from their mothers, which apparently is more than many Republican adults understand.
20
Well. Aren’t you brave and righteous, going after an eight-year-old. Sounds like there’s more going on with you than meets the eye. A simple “get off my lawn” would have sufficed.
3
Thank you. I thought it was just me.
Almost 30 years ago I read this fact:
That a single weekday edition of the New York Times contained more information than a 17th century man came across in his lifetime.
That was long before Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc etc etc.
Children today confront a tsunami of information each and every day.
Whether you think that's good or not, your child will hear about other children being separated from their parents. Will hear and perhaps worry about whether it could happen to him or her.
Of course parents should talk to their children about what is going on in the world, if only to reassure them that they are safe. Of course parents should teach their children what they, the parents, consider right and moral and good. Of course they should teach their children to use their voice and their vote.
What else are parents for?
I'm willing to wager that those here calling that indoctrination send or sent their children to church or bible school or whatever because that's what they, the parents, believe in.
How is that any different than this?
Ms Orringer sounds like a terrific, caring parent.
58
The best thing I've ever heard about Adam Baldwin.
5
Are there no grown ups?
Trump will be stopped when a majority of adult voters act like grown ups.
Grown ups do not use 8 year olds to do adult work.
4
The boy was encouraged to express himself—his own feelings—and did so. You fault him or his mother for this??
17
All bets are on that Jacob will ALWAYS cast his vote. He will never be missing in action. He is ALREADY a conscientious citizen. You can thank his Mother for that.
39
Is it part of your world view that breaking the law and entering into a country illegally is acceptable? Under what circumstances? I am sure Jacob would like to know. And since you have such a big heart, are you willing to have a few illegal immigrants live in your home and provide food and shelter? How about medical care and various other sundries. By the way, there are plenty of poor children who are American citizens. What have you done for them? You have taught Jacob how to virtue signal.
13
Is your family 100% Native American or African American? If not, your family are immigrants.
67
Can you walk a mile in another person's shoes?
What I am asking is a question you need not answer Sue Mee, but I would like you to consider it for the next couple of days.
What would you do if there was a war in which you or a family member were threatened with death? Would you:
A. accept your fate and wait patiently knowing that your extended family would immediately be in jeopardy because you did so?
B. plead for the lives of your families lives while willingly sacrificing yourself?
C. gather up everything you could carry and march yourself and those people you love right out of the area?
The American culture is constantly changing. It is never stagnant. Nobody can change that without the aid of Death Camps. Are you sure that there is nothing in your background or lineage that would disqualify you to exist?
America is the land of immigrants. If you are not of Native American heritage you are either an illegal immigrant or at risk. Do you know American history?
Every immigrant deserves to be able to tell their story. Only through listening closely might we understand the validity of their story. But if you refuse to hear then you may not be a whole person capable of astute compassion.
Am I willing to have refugee immigrant in my home? Yes. Because I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that I would fled with my children if my and their lives were threatened. Oh, wait! I did do exactly that. Walk a mile in an immigrant's shoes then be heartless
57
Nothing more than fodder for his college application essay. A self serving and tiresome article. Pointless. Gives new meaning to gratuitous.
11
If that's brainwashing, I say, have at it.
63
No its indoctrination.
2
I'll tell you what Sect Clinton's campaign taught me about being a woman in this country--and it's a lesson that's on display every time a woman dares to raise her voice in an op ed in these pages: in our country we disagree with a man. We attack a woman. Ms. Orringer is vilified in comments. Lindy West and Michelle Goldberg are vilified whenever they post a piece. Clinton wasn't disagreed with--she was vilified. Nancy Pelosi is being vilified. When a woman raises her voice in the public space the results are really, truly frightening. What does that teach our 8 year old girls? I hope they have great, thoughtful parents like Ms. Orringer to help them make sense of it all.
227
This might be the most woke approach to parenting I've seen, short of the parents who encourage gender switching.
I think we'll know we've achieved peak-wokeness though when 90% of Smith, Reed, and Oberlin students are claiming mental illness. Right now, the numbers are at roughly three quarters, one quarter, and four fifths. We need to do better. And while I'm sure the vast majority of these students claiming mental illness were raised by parents just as woke as this author, the numbers should be higher.
For to be "sane" in and insane world - where borders are used to keep minorities from migrating into the developed world - is itself insane.
We need to abolish ICE! Open the borders! Grant asylum!
6
This screed is typical of the monochromatic world that exists in Blue Cities like NYC. A contrary viewpoint is hardly heard.
While it is important for your son to understand the importance of the Five Freedoms enunciated in the First Amendment, it is also important to recognize that he will (at times) no longer dwell in a Blue echo chamber.
Another valuable lesson to teach your son is the value of hard work. Too many of today's youth feel entitled to earn a good living (without the requisite understanding on how to make this happen).
Raising a child is hard enough; raising a child in a Blue echo chamber to behave responsibly may be nearly impossible.
4
That does it. I’m moving my family to Waverly Ohio asap. Thanks!!
6
Aaaaahhh, yes, that's why those "blue echo chambers"* are the financial drivers of this country - because "blue" parents aren't raising productive, smart and responsible citizens. As well as compassionate ones.
*https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2016/11/29/another-clinton-tru...
4
Recently, I asked a young urbanite where milk comes from. The answer was from the grocery store. The fact that this young man did not recognize that it took people on a farm to milk the cow and then the distribution system to get the milk to the grocery store was lost on this young man.
While family separation is unnecessary and cruel, are there other things this administration is doing that deserve more attention and protest? Trump and his cronies practice misdirection all the time. I fear this is just one more case. Get the liberals upset, while we accomplish what we actually care about.
11
So what directions do you suggest? What are the causes that are under-protested? What are the causes that mothers and their children should march against? And what should be done about the administration's policies on immigration?
7
The strength of this protest springs from the humanitarian rather than the political. That said, I agree that there is much more to protest.
2
Ms. Orringer please don't feel badly about all the people who will call this political indoctrination, they don't seem to have the same problem when it comes to religion or the National Anthem. Thank God your son was standing up straight or I could just imagine the memes.
123
Good for you and your son. Never too early (nor too late) to LEARN what is truly important.
Now more than ever the stakes could not be higher nor more dire.
Time to wake up America.
VOTE for DEMOCRATS.
You wanna make US 'great again' Democrats NEED the House AND Senate in order to get that started.
50
It's not about democrats or republicans.
it's about leadership with integrity.
Unfortunately we have seen corruption and dirt on both sides of the aisle.
We need new non partisan way to unify people and the country.
3
Well done, Mom. Bravo! Here's hoping Jacob's generation will be more tolerant than the one currently calling the shots.
90
I AM POWERFULLY MOVED By the story of July Orringer's family who came to the US after the Hungarian uprising in 1957. And by her precocious son who clearly shows the benefit of the family love and social conscience. What a wonderful experience for Alex to have his first foray into the world of electronic media result in his realizing their power to convey his feelings about the families torn apart by Trump's crimes against humanity. I am also grateful to Alec Baldwin for sharing you son's message with the world.
86
We strongly disagree with you. What better way for a child (or any age person) to LEARN what IS important.
Besides from what I read, it appears that Jacob had a lot of fun while participating and learning some crucial lessons.
PS kids these days grow up a lot faster and are exposed to much more information than they were in my childhood decades ago. While that might not always be a good thing, it IS the way of our world now.
Great going Jacob AND your parents! I like your sign too and even more what you did.
100
Does compassionate, wise parenting include sharing one's values, one's feelings, ones ethics and morality with one's children, not just by Say So but by one's actions and acting on one's responsibilities?
If Ms. Orringer's observation was accurate, then Jacob the son already understood at age 8 the meaning for him of that grim situation she described. Although he had not experienced government-imposed horrific separation from parents, he could easily imagine its emotional impact.
When KW comments "LET YOUR CHILD BE A CHILD," my thoughts turn not only to the bureaucratically-abused children of immigrants but also of the children in Syria, Yemen and so many other regions. In spite of themselves, children are children, but the world's Outrageous Misfortune treats them as worthless debris, not as human beings of value. They are pawns in power's evil.
If children are indeed "the future of the world," then the world's adults bear responsibility for mentoring that future.
The absence of compassion displayed by Donald J. Trump and millions of others (so many of them parents) will not escape notice by children "just because they're kids."
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
169
Thanks Doug that’s a great comment
15
May we assume that those who politically differ with Ms. Orringer and her son are deliberately or indirectly indoctrinating their children with the political leanings of the parents? There's some wisdom in Oscar Hammerstein II's poetry:
You've got to be taught to hate and fear . . .
A thread through life's process (or progress)
involves learning and unlearning what we've learned to believe. What will the nation's political-racial-gender landscape be when today's 8 year olds are 18 or 28 or 38 or 48 or older? To borrow more from the Hammerstein pen, "Who can explain it?"
Some of us will always be "stuck like a dope with a thing called Hope."
In times like these, sometimes it seems that Hope is all we have to keep us going.
9
And when KW writes "LET YOUR CHILD BE A CHILD," s/he really means let your child be ignorant and stupid. Children are smart and can understand a lot. They don't need to be told what to think; they need to know what is happening in the world and they can draw conclusions.
I don't mean dosing them with horrors; I mean they need to learn context. They need the vision that comes with knowledge. Then they can grow up as thoughtful citizens instead of victims of brainwashing broadcasts.
19
Bravo! We also talk to our kids about our outrage and we then encourage them to find facts (something foreign to this administration) and think about how to make the world a better - not meaner - place!
87
Alec Baldwin became irrelevant the day he denied Dylan Farrow’s molestation accusations against his buddy Woody Allen. Baldwin is not a champion for the weak or vulnerable. I’m sorry your son was on his Instagram.
8
And the day he verbally abused his daughter Ireland - that, too.
Children this young, BTW, do not belong on Instagram - the terms of service require children to be at least 13. Enough time later to expose them to all of this garbage.
9
You're really going to drag that into this? OK. Woody Allen didn't molest anyone. Mia Farrow's and Dylan Farrow's stories never made sense and a judge agreed. You may choose to believe what you want but keep in mnd that your opinion is not fact. A court's decision is.
2
I am horrified by most of what our President says and does, and now I am horrified that people that share my outrage are indoctrinating their eight year old children to engage in political activity that they cannot really understand.
16
I beg to differ.
I think any kid (or anyone humane) can readily understand that ripping children away from their parents (assuming the parents are not child abusers) is WRONG.
And I don't need nor wish to hear any BOGUS arguments about "border security" "what the law is" or other rationale justifying what trump, miller, sessions, et al are doing.
Suggestion: next time you visit DC spend some time at these National Museums: Holocaust; Native American; African American. Might broaden your viewpoint.
35
As was fully and eloquently explained in the article, Jacob did understand what was going on, and was in fact, like the rest of us, outraged by it.
For anyone else who’d like to imply brainwashing, it would be better to slowly and carefully read the words written, then retreat to a quiet place to evaluate your own prejudices.
77
An eight-year-old is not only entirely but actually uniquely qualified to know - to feel - the consequences of ripping children out of their parents' arms.
46
It seems to me that "outrage" in an 8-year-old child is a failure in parenting.
16
Actually, it seems like an incredible success in parenting. Making sure that your child is a good citizen of the world is the best education you can impart.
189
Seems to me that YOU have a failure in understanding a much bigger picture.
I know a bunch of children-- nieces, nephews, grandchildren of close friends, as well as some of their friends-- these kids AND their parents would agree with me (and Jacob's parents) that they are NOT too young to be outraged at what trump (and his enablers) are doing and ARE quite right to OPPOSE trump and his disgraceful policies!
One is never too young (nor too old) to LEARN right from wrong.
PS my brother and his wife took their 5 year old daughter to DC protest marches. Had I not been in California I would have joined them.
73
Really? Maybe we should just teach them to meekly accept the outrageous actions of our government without question. It seems to me that you Trumpsters have more in common with your Russian comrades than you do with the patriots who dumped the tea overboard. Maybe you should ask yourself why that is ERP?
74
Hard to imagine that potty mouthed Alec Baldwin is a model for anyone, much less a child. I certainly hope that your eight year old isn't watching SNL or listening to his ranting. As a parent I find this whole thing rather appalling. What 8 year old needs to participate in a protest or politics? Get the kid some Lego for goodness sake!
14
What “ranting” are you referring to? Although Alec Baldwin may not have the same political beliefs as you and may not be perfect, his material has substance.
Playing with LEGO is not the only activity that a child engages in which provides learning opportunities. The fact that he has a voice and is heard is profound.
Listen to what kids have to say, for goodness sake!
Good job, mom! This country needs people like you to make it great.
40
Dear Me, I recommend you listen to the Nixon tapes - his language was much worse than Baldwin. And President Trump has said things MUCH MUCH worse than Alec Baldwin.
40
Imagine, then, what sort of role model our president is. Your concerns seem to be deeply misplaced.
3
Parents of young children tend to think that their kids' lives move in a straight line. But kids don't live according to their parents' bucket list. I got my eight year old son on the evening news once. He totally opposes what he said then. Child separation is probably opposed by some fascist parents. You don't get a kid with solid moral values because you want a kid with solid moral values. That goal is an every day undertaking.
14
This is frightening indoctrination, and cannot be healthy for the kid. LET YOUR CHILD BE A CHILD. They will grow up and have to worry about politics most of their lives. Don’t make them artificially scared and worry at the age of 8!
12
I think the same message could be directed towards the Trump administration. The children who are being detained in the tender age shelters are not "artificially scared". They are legitimately scared for their lives, the lives of their parents, and a future that is decidedly political at the tender age of 3 months and up. Politics is scary and deadly for many, for the rest of us it is our duty to educate our children (and others) that all of us have a responsibility and voice in the direction of our country.
I reject your comment while so many children are not allowed to be children due to the practices of the administration.
131
Gosh! The Church never had any issues with scaring children in Sunday school that they will go to Hell if they don't believe in a made-up all-knowing character.
Kudos to the parents of Jacob who are exposing him to the reality of our world rather than keeping him blissfully ignorant and secluded in Disney or video-game virtual realities away from the real world.
117
'Gosh! The Church never had any issues with scaring children in Sunday school that they will go to Hell if they don't believe in a made-up all-knowing character.'
Basing child-rearing methodologies on what the (presumably Christian) churches have done is setting an absurdly low bar.
Personally, I'm against any sort of overtly ideological/group-based indoctrination for children. Values, sure....but no ideologies.
As a parent, what do you think of their parents?
3
The children at the border in detention have the kind of parents that are willing to walk in the heat, through treacherous terrain, to save their children from violence that is worse than the walk north. So as a parent, would you try to save your children? I don't think anyone really knows what they would do. Your post implys that only a bad parent would make the trek.
106
I think they are desperate. As desperate as my great Aunt Lenke was when she put her oldest child on the Kindertransport to London. Then never saw each other again. My second cousin made it to America and her younger brother and sister were gassed. I don't know why my great aunt didn't send the two younger ones, maybe it was money, maybe the fear of being separated from children younger than 12. Who knows. But they are dead. And so is Lenke.
96
@Ed, If you're referring to the asylum seeking parents, I wish my parents showed that much courage devotion and sacrifice. To throw everything away for the safety of their child is the most loving act possible.
72
Parents can’t be everywhere. Children are exposed everyday to things that their parents would wish to shelter them from.
An 8 year old knows that separating a family is wrong without having to see it on television.
You can only shelter a child today for so long. It wasn’t even possible in the 60’s. My parents and parochial school wanted to make sure I stayed ignorant about my body and sex. I had a library card and informed myself.
Better, as parent to inform and explain (or try to explain) the irrational behavior of adults rather than have the child try to puzzle it out on their own.
The author is raising a good citizen.
352
Hooray for Jacob (and his parents)! “Brainwashing” is what happens when you teach your children to hate. Jacob has learned to care. Zero tolerance is what we should have for Trump and his Republican enablers, who seem incapable of caring. The average eight-year-old knows enough to be outraged.
415
When society educates the children and citizens of the future - the power of a political awareness is a shield of protection from those who would deceive, and lie to take away the rights of being a citizen.
Education without walls.
Education without age limits.
10
"Jacob has learned to care."
Yes, in a different and important way. Before this, he already cared. Children have to learn *not* to care about the suffering of other beings (both human and non-human).
2
Yes citizens should educate their children about the political system that they are living under, as everything that is done in society is political.
There is no age limit about becoming aware about citizen rights, the more politically aware that children are the more they will be able to fight and combat child abuse in all its form and vile practices.
Education is power.
Educated children are the future of society.
300
I agree that education can be power, however, as the statement in this article about Instagram commentators who consider themselves pro-Trump indicates kids can also be educated in a very inappropriate way as well to learn false statements and lies and believe them. Unfortunately, much of the education that occurs in that way at home, from inappropriate beliefs of parents, is a major problem to improve the education with contacts at schools that are often very appropriate (but strong desires of current president to remove what he calls 'false' information from the education and replace it with what he considers true but are actually lies.)
I've ingrained into me kids a saying that I have repeated a thousand times since they were very little : '' You were born (3) times lucky and with that comes responsibility - you were born in a western democracy, you were born white, and you were born into money ( I could have used you were born a boy, but they are all girls ) ''
I've explained to them what ''privilege'' is and every time they didn't want to eat their vegetables, that there were millions upon millions of hungry kids in the world, that would gladly eat just those vegetables. ( let alone the rest of the meal )
I have shown them the harsh images of war, of uprising and the tenuous positions of billions of other people around the world that have not been born three times lucky.
We have traveled extensively and have seen it first hand the crushing poverty. They have all learned empathy and what it means to give of your time, your efforts and your money through donations. They are sponsors of families on the other side of the world and write extensively to them and others. They are activists with dedication and love in their hearts.
They have been taught love, instead of hate. I am proud.
358
You have every right to be VERY proud! I am certain your daughters are equally as proud of their Dad.
23
Funky--"You were born white and with money?" We can see how proud you are of those things. Yikes.
6
@Ches
Really ? I was explaining how a person can be born lucky and that they don't use that privilege to be selfish in their life. I was clear in my comment that my family was trying to make the world a better place, regardless of that privilege and here you are making a snide remark...
Again, really ? smh
17
Morality is taught & learned in childhood. The ability to reason and distinguish right from wrong is developed by the age of seven.
"Give me the child until he is seven, and I will show you the man."
Jacob is already a FAR better person than that poor excuse for a human defiling our White House and country.
565
Generally I agree with your thoughts. However, I guess I broke the mold. I was raised in a McCarthy era family who thought "None Dare Call It Treason" was a call to action (also the only book my father ever read) with parents who had more ugly names for black people than the dictionary could hold. Italians and Mexicans weren't far behind in being called belittling names. Irish and German immigrants were fine (their heritages) but others?
But by mid-teens, I had grown to be more unlike them than they wanted to recognize. I can't be specific about why -- maybe by watching and hearing people with different mindsets -- but I knew that the people they denigrated couldn't possibly be as bad as they claimed. By 21, I realized they had taught me a valuable lesson. I didin't know exactly what a good parent and good citizen was yet, but I knew what they weren't.
So. Even children who grew up steeped in ugly ideas can learn to eschew the teachings. I'll never know how common that is, but it does exist and gives reason to continuing to overtly behave in ways that show them there is another way to think and behave. Like Jacob's family.
7
Amen.
3
I sometimes wonder if I simply imagined all the progress I have seen in my lifetime: Brown v. Board of Education, the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the legalization of birth control and abortion, Title IX, Affirmative Action in all its nuances, LBGT rights and protections, gay marriage, women clergy in the more progressive Christian Churches, the increasing awareness of the environment as our lifeline and therefore in need of our protection, the rising attention to climate change and global warming, the Affordable Care Act, increasing diversity, etc.
Was that all just some idyllic dream? I wake up every day bracing myself until I hear which of these blessings Trump/Pence/Pruitt/DeVos/Zinke/Sessions et. al. are eviscerating today.
Your eight year old son's sign made me smile. He knows what everyone should truly acknowledge deep down inside, that all children and families deserve respect, protection and help when in danger. He knows that he has advantages these poor border-crossing families can only dream of. And, simply, he knows right from wrong.
That Alec Baldwin noticed and shared his photo is cool. Your child is a pebble thrown in the pond whose rings emanate outward, farther and farther. Please tell him he inspired me to donate, just now, to the ACLU. They are fighting hard for immigrant families to be reunited.
448
Thank you for your appropriate statement/explanation. Our president and the Instagram commentators who oppose your beliefs and those of the author of this article obviously need multiple time daily education as you have given them. It is apparent that many of Trump's statements are lies, do his readers understand this or have no desire to understand his evil desires?
3