letter to the editor

Walk in their shoes seeking courage with justice

Tue, 02/14/2017 - 7:00am

It is sad to see our president appear so afraid and full of anger that he is making decisions ignoring valued constitutional rights. Before we go anywhere with this line of concern, let’s examine why so many citizens and lawyers are saying the process is bringing greater danger to our country rather than protecting our country.

When we want to understand what is a good decision for a problem, we look at its results by walking in the shoes of the victims of that decision. For example, if you were helping the U.S. obtain viable information in your birth country, how would you feel if your 14-year-old daughter was held back from a safe escape because of an unexpected ban without grounds or proof this was a “high risk” person? The U.S. has volumes of information on high-risk people, but fear and lack of knowledge caused this misfire to fail in providing a safer country and instead we made it less safe as others will not trust us to honor reciprocity in helping each other in places of danger.

We have a constitutional requirement to treat all persons “innocent until proven guilty.” The international community of countries also follows that path in the UN Declaration of Human Rights-Innocent Until Proven Guilty. Due process in the 14th Amendment forces the Federal Government to respect all legal rights awarded to an individual according to U.S. law.

Where is our courage? What is our role model for human problem-solving? Justice requires a lot of work and understanding. It also requires patience. Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai received death threats but continued to speak out for the right to education. Against a powerful Taliban take over in Pakistan this teenager had the courage and love necessary to continue life after being shot in the head for stating “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” Indeed she did as her single voice of courage has turned into thousands of voices of courage bringing education to the 66 million children previously denied. We need the courage to help our president listen to more voices that would wisely follow the path to courage with justice to keep us safe.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb