The New Testament is replete with examples of Jesus' love for children. "Suffer the little children to come unto me," was uttered in response to those who thought He had better things to do. This love for children is shared by all major religious traditions. But not the Lehigh Valley Tea Party.
They're blowin' oil because KidsPeace has agreed to accept some of the undocumented and unaccompanied children who, through no fault of their own, ended up in this country. They're being deported unless granted asylum. But we, as a civilized country, have an obligation to care for them until that time. As observed in Leviticus, "You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God."
On Sunday, a day when most families take their children to church, a small army of about 70 boisterous Lehigh Valley Tea Party protesters gathered outside Salisbury Township's KidsPeace. That nonprofit exists to tell children that they matter, even if they've been abused or neglected. But the tea party was there, blocking the entrance, and delivering the loud message that they are unwanted. They were led by Chair Ronnie DelBacco, a failed Easton School Board candidate. Also present were Northampton County Council member Hayden Phillips and failed judicial and Bethlehem City Council candidate Tom Carroll.
Three Salisbury Township police officers had their hands full, trying to keep people from getting killed along Broadway, a very busy road. Some tea party members took to their motorcycles and cruised up and down Broadway, waving signs demanding President Obama's impeachment, along with Confederate flags.
They began filling up the parking lot of the nearby "6 Pack" tavern, whose foreign owner complained and asked them to leave.
"I thought this was a free country," snarled one of them, while others drove off.
It is, and in a free country, property owners have rights. Even if they have a foreign accent.
Ironically, as I learned from a recently retired KidsPeace worker, it is highly unlikely that the Salisbury facility will house any of these children. The Schnecksville facility is better suited, and it could very well be that a bus slipped in there while DelBacco and his crowd were blocking the Salisbury entrance.
I sure hope so.
So all the noise and hollering fell on the ears of American children, many of them already abused. This is similar to what happened a few days ago in Arizona, when the tea party descended on a yellow school bus full of what they thought were Central American migrants. They were YMCA campers, each one an American.
Collateral damage, to people like DelBacco.
Across the street, there was a smaller group of counter-protesters, led by Easton Attorney Joe Welsh.
The wild group of counter-protesters included dangerous children like the two you see in the picture below,* along with adult Jeremiah Lormand.
Counter-protester Kara Rosa struck a pose in the picture you see below.
Speaking of hypocrisy, that came when DelBacco decided to lead everyone in prayer.
To me, this is not about immigration. It's about how we treat children.
* Blogger's Note: I do question the wisdom of letting children attend these events. The whole point of my post is about taking better care of our children.
63 comments:
Well Bernie, they shall be known by their works.
Sadly they are currently in control of the once proud Republican Party. Ike is turning in his grave.
Saw the replay of Ch. 69 news form 6pm. It showed the protest and counter protest. Looks pretty sad when you see a group of old white people yelling about infected illegal kids. It looked like Tom Caroll companion, Simmeo was there saying it is not about the kids but the law.
It was interesting and refreshing that Ch. 69 had a immigration attorney explain that it would appear the government is following the Bush era law that mandates this type of action regarding alien children. He went on to say that as part of the law the children will have to have refugee hearings but until then they are to be treated exactly the way they are by being housed safely and humanely.
Isn't that about the Law? I think Simmeo and company are less concerned about the law then "these" children and "this" government.
I guess by gi8vng a well informed report, Channel 69 will now be considered part of the liberal mainstream media.
Please NORCO Republican Committee, throw out these hypocrites and frauds, they only drag down the GOP with their stupid stunts. Offer them up to the NORCO Democrats, perhaps the Tea Party could be the new conservative wing for that group!!
Why all the secrecy about relocations? Why the lack of openness? Local officials from both parties are upset about this. Secrecy is not a right or left issue. It's a major theme of this blog? Why the secrecy?
That' s One of the reasons Republicans loose is they eat there own.
To preserve there own power.
Agree with anon 6:40.
NOw
Everyone has fallen for the ultimate goal of this fiasco. Divide and conquer. We are all just pawns in the game. I'm sure they are gleaming on how well it is working. So how do we get pass the small stuff. Find commonground unite and solve the problems ourselves. That is where the blog should go. This pettiness all around is a waste of time
Get over it and move on.
One correction to your story, I was not in any way "leading" the counter demonstration. I simply came as a private citizen after learning about the Tea Party demonstration on this site. I ha no idea how many counter demonstrators might be there.
I prepared a leaflet stating my beliefs as an individual. I handed copies to everyone I encountered including you. Please feel free to publish it if you wish.
My message was that I did not want the Tea Party to be the face of America. I firmly believe that most Americans have a heartfelt concern for the plight or not only these innocent children but for all of God's children.
I was promoting the politics of inclusion, not exclusion. Any statements on either side of the street which were divisive or attempted to classify people based upon race or gender are clearly counterproductive to our society.
What committee does NorCo Council member Hayden Phillips on?
Let me guess, health and human services?
Get pass the pettiness and focus on positive solutions.
We all need to get pass the pettiness and offer solutions!
Who is going to be paying for all these children?
Their parents???
The protest should not have been at Kidspeace. The ones claiming it was about the law should have had it at their congressmans office or the court house. Last I checked children do not write and pass laws. I think it was ok to protest the issue just not the way it was done. This is my entire problem with the tea party is their behaviors not the issues they are representing.
Well said. I was thinking the same thing. I originally supported the protest at kids peace. In hind sight I agree with what you are saying.
Most intelligent comment in here.
These clowns hurt the Republican Party.
Funny, in your blog or the news story, I didn't hear one of the people on the KidsPeace side say how many of these children entering the United States illegally they will take into their home. Why's that??? These people who are for illegals to come into our country on the sly and be given food, housing and money that Americans who are suffering aren't given should take some of these children into their homes until they are found "permanent" homes or returned to where they came from.
Comments like that by the Tea Party Foot Soldier are why people think the Tea Party is anti intellectual.
"I didn't hear one of the people on the KidsPeace side say how many of these children entering the United States illegally they will take into their home. Why's that???"
I see that, in addition to having no compassion yourself, you are quick to point fingers at others. This is an obligation of the United States. A legal obligation. Under law enacted by President Bush. Whether someone takes an undocumented minor into his or her home does not relieve the US of its responsibility under the law. Have we become animals? A child fleeing tyranny and parents who obviously do not give a shit comes to this country seeking asylum. Doesn't it make sense to put a roof over his or her head while we sort things out? Are we supposed to shoot them? Throw them in ovens? Conduct ridiculous protests outside housing facilities, wearing surgical masks.
A society is judged by how it cares for its young, its old and its infirm. In your world we are a bleak society.
"I think it was ok to protest the issue just not the way it was done. "
Bingo.
Wow, Bernie, talk about no compassion. And pointing fingers. Hypocritcal. As long as we all believe the way you believe we're ok, but if don't we are non-human. Unbelievable.
I have no problem of people from foreign countries becoming a citizen of the United States, but there are procedures to follow. But 50,000 slide over the borders with who knows what kind of background they have is not acceptable. These people give their children away to strangers not caring what happens to them.
So. Bernie, how many children will you help out, feed, clothe, pay for their education and medical on your own?
And disbarred Bernie O'Hare again reports lies. The people blocking the entrance were 2 cops and 3 Kids Peace security personnel. Ha, ha, ha....
The Tea Party love immigration. We just demand that it be legal immigration. We love kids. We want the clothed, fed, and returned to their parents. We want their home countries to be made safe for them.
Obama is luring children into this country offering a candy treat called amnesty. On their treacherous journey they endure overcrowding, starvation, disease, abuse and rape. This luring of children is done solely to energize the Democrat base. You people should be ashamed of this despicable treatment of children.
Tom points out one person's lies while spreading his own.
I expected Campione to call me a liar, which is why I took pics. At various points there were as many as nine tea party protesters blocking the entrance. The two cops were there to ensure it didn't stay blocked if someone needed to get in or out.
"there are procedures to follow"
And that is precisely what is happening. Procedures are being followed. Under our law, undocumented children seeking asylum are entitled to due process. They must be afforded an opportunity to be heard. because they are so many, it is impossible for immigration courts in the border states to handle it all. This dispersal is something that was put in place under president Bush, and is sound policy.
You are advocating that America ignore its own laws for people you already hate.
But that doesn't bother me. What bothers me is a loud protest outside a facility that houses American children who have already been abused. You just abused them again. That is something for which you can answer on your death.
Evading the question, Bernie? If these children are so innocent, then the counter protesters, Jeremiah and Kara should have no problem with this suggestion.
Nobody wants to back up their mouths by acting on what they say. Just stirring the pot hoping someone else will do their dirty work.
Nowhere did I say I hate these people. You are putting words in my mouth, twisting them around to what you hear instead of actually listening.
Procedures are not being followed. Is it procedure to "house" these children in disease riddled places where they aren't fed properly, where they are abused, raped or even worse killed? Because we all know that not all of these children are innocent. Is it procedure to allow them to climb over the border? Is it procedure to let them think if they come here they will be given whatever they need to survive, but actually are being wrangled into pens like cattle?
"What difference does it make", Time to focus on solutions to prevent more children from suffering
Again, people like you need to back up their mouths instead of spewing just to be heard and stir up people. This creates more problems.
I believe I've wasted enough of time on this blog, too many hypocrits.
Anonymous said...
"What difference does it make",
Famous last words
Time to focus on solutions to prevent more children from suffering
And what do you plan on doing to help these children? Continue blogging?
10:46 AM
Misinterpreted comment. Comment was meant for everyone with real purpose. Stop fighting solve problems please
That jack ass with the face mask on is just hiding his or her identity - under the guise of acting like they may catch a disease by breathing something. They don't realize it, but they are already infected - in the brain.
Thes disease is called "JACK ASS". Sounds like you caught it and weren't even there, huh?
@10:21AM "This luring of children is done solely to energize the Democrat base."
Do you really believe this, or is this a politically motivated comment? I believe it is the latter, because I can't imagine anyone truly believing it. So that leads me to ask, why make this political? To energize your base?
If our Administration didn't want children making the dangerous trip, they'd place the National Guard on the border today. But, that's a big "IF."
Instead of meeting them at the border, immigrants are welcomed across, processed, shipped inland, given a court date 6-months to 3 years away and then mostly never heard from again.
And what exactly would the national guard do any differently? They would still be bound by the law in place that dictates how children detained at the border are processed.
Don't let people cross the border illegally. Not a new idea! No cross, no Amnesty. Then the message back home is, "Don't bother getting on the Death Train."
Ezekiel 16:49 - "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy." Tea Party members are the New Sodomites.
John,
You want an open border. That's not a post 9-11 option. The status quo--the promise of Amnesty (or at least plenty of time to have an anchor baby before being caught)-- is leading to an unending stream of children getting abused an dying trying to come North. You must think beyond your nose.
So the national guard are at the border they somehow stop the children. They fix bayonets and I guess stab those who try to cross. The others they hand over to the Mexican pimps waiting for them.
Do you folks ever vet the crap you swallow from the Fox Faux News Channel. or do you just have a funnel in your mouth letting the hate and nonsense pour down your mouths?
Could someo9ne explain what the fuk a "Death Train is? I know the teabaggers love simple phrases but since they are here they didn't die.
What's up with that?
Pay attention idiot. Here's a death train story from well known teabagging enthusiast, Anderson Vanderbilt Cooper ...
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/14/riding-the-train-of-death/
2:21 wants an open border. Everyone who disagrees is a "teabagger." Eloquent.
I'm shocked that the open border advocates hadn't heard about the famous Death Train on the MSNBC echo chamber.
Kids Peace is a god awful place, even for kids that go there that have parents to advocate for them. Kids Peace is bankrupt and employs doctors that have had their licenses revoked in other states. It's security is lax if not non-existent. I feel for these children--going from one awful situation to the next. Kids Peace went bankrupt for lack of government funding according to an MC article. Now WFMZ is reporting that the facility will get grants to house these kids. Basically, they are pawns and will be used by the government to make money for itself. Kids Peace is seeing dollar signs and a way back out of finacial problems. These kids are being used. Nothing good will come of this....
I get the feeling that members of the Tea Party neither like the Old Testament quoted to categorize them, nor do they like being called New Sodomites.
John seems quite familiar and rather obsessed with tea bagging and sodomy. John has daddy issues; not that there's anything wrong with that ;-)
On May 7th the Express Times reported Kidspeace would be taking refugees as part of the agreement with the office of refugee re-settlement. This is all part of law not signed by Obama. I guess if he didn't follow the law congress would threaten to sue or impeach him overr that as well.
this is really old news but the teabaggers are not ones to follow any logical train of thought.
You guys still have the pictures of Obama dressed as an African witchdoctor you all carried in 2009?
John and 3:27pm like the Death Train I guess. To this ilk, real compassion lies with the coyotes. So some get raped, die...collateral damage.
Dear Anon 3:27,
How many of these illegal children will YOU be adopting and when?
Surely, Anon 3:27 will be adopting lots of illegal immigrant children, to set a good example for the rest of us "Haters" out here.
an9on 3:27 makes a good point some have yet to answer e3xcept w2ht insults. Are you legal beagles stating that the President should disobey the Bush era law he appears to be following to the letter. Will he get a pass on impeachment and lawsuit from your congress?
Apparently the President is supposed to disobey the law as the TP's want him to.
Gov. Perry just did the kind of thing these guys like, he sent the national guard to the border. Problem is under US law the guard cannot stop, arrest or even point their weapons at anyone. Basically they are in the way. That is what the head of US immigration stated as he wondered why they were even sent there. A thousand Texas guardsman over the next moth. that is the type of useless photo posturing the teabbagers love. Even the general of the guards said we have no power on the border and are not policemen.
2007
Yes, I think Ike is turning over in his grave, and has been for some years. As a crazy old lady, I may be one of the few remaining persons who remembers him. But, probably he is not having his rest disturbed because the local Tea Party chose to make a public display of their stance on the plan to bring in hordes of illegals from all over the world, including the unaccompanied children.
I was not there, but someone who was counted about 180 Tea Party demonstrators. She reported several flags for Communist causes, and the playing of the Internationale (Russia's Anthem) by the counter-demonstrators. Sounds like a real party, and I think there ought to be more street theater, maybe once a month? Sadly, the only race-baiting vermin present seem to have been among the counter-demonstrators, if those two signs Bernie snapped photos of are any indication.
I do not belong to either group, so my opinion is an independent one. I think the Tea Party people at least have an interest in debating some important points about national policy, and I think the issues are only marginally about 'The Children.'
1150, Both sides were provoking each other. I doubt anyone there is a Communist or believes in slavery. What is unfortunate is that this occurred outside a children's home. The tea party selected this site, hoping to maximize coverage. The children were just collateral damage to them.
"I do not belong to either group, so my opinion is an independent one."
Yeah sure you are!
Wow, I thought that guy was a woman. Nice manboobs there Ronnie.
Eloquently said. Let's hope any organizations with good intentions can take constructive cristism so they can be more effective in the future and not distract from the real issue rather than open themselves up to scrutiny.
Bernie, Mr. Phillips may have been their , but his issue would be the LAW of the Land. and I'm certain nothing else. I ,like you have a soft spot for kids. I would even help them somehow ,escaping almost a certain disastrous life in South America. How ever this Government and it's people must not make a mockery of the immigration system that so many have fought so long to achieve successfully .You know I for one HONOR those who follow rules ,as I am usually at our county immigration proceedings.
Peter, Haytden was definitely there, and I am disappointed that he thinks so poorly of the already abused children at KidsPeace that he was willing to heap more on them.
Did we ever decide how many adopted stray cats would be too many adopted stray cats for the average single family dwelling?
It isn't a large issue that you apply for for personal loan with basic look online. If you need to achieve important dollars as personal loan then you need to check us out in addition to make application for personal loan! These kinds of online payday loans are generally released simply by loan companies devoid of strenuous any kind of prolonged ritual or perhaps security. In case you are susceptible to damaging credit scoring like CCJs, IVA, financial obligation, late obligations, or perhaps default, you possibly can having access to apply for for ez online payday loans in order to acquire important dollars.text loans lenders online
Post a Comment