Sixty thousand kids are at our border, having recently sought refuge from a violence few of us could imagine. For those of us that are parents, it is inconceivable to raise children under the circumstances faced by many families in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Our country seems at its "wits end" in trying to determine how to deal with this crisis. Sadly we needn't look far in the past to see the country facing an onslaught of children emigrating to America and in need of protection and care.
From the years 1850 to 1930, an estimated 35 million immigrants arrived in this country mainly from parts of Europe. Families moved with hopes of a better life, only to find themselves in unsafe, poor living conditions & unable to provide for their children. Children by the thousands lived on the streets, with or without their families and many became orphans. In 1853, the Children's Aid Society was founded by Charles Loring Brace. He worked to find homes for the children, but soon recognized that there were far more children to place, than there were (local) homes available. Joined by other charities, in particular the New York Foundling a Hospital, & Sister Mary Irene Fitzgibbons, a new movement was born. The Orphan Train Movement lasted 75 years, placed hundreds of thousands of homeless children in rural America, & has been recognized as the beginning of the documented foster care system in America.
As we ponder how to best deal with the border crisis, I am not suggesting that we resurrect the Orphan Train Movement in which children were transported by rail to distant destinations to live with their "new" families. However, I believe the spirit of the Orphan Train Movement is worth preserving & can guide us forward. During the Orphan Train Movement, families motivated by their faith & goodwill, brought these displaced children into their homes and lives & eventually many of these children were considered part of their families. The Orphan Train Movement remains an example of how the nation came together to support the massive relocation of children in need.
Now at our southern borders, there are again children in need. The rumors are flying about the threats they pose to our security, health, & general welfare. These are CHILDREN escaping terrorist conditions & they need our help. The Orphan Train Movement wouldn't have been a success without the dedication of its leadership, religious/philanthropic support, and the nationwide network of host families. Like the Orphan Train riders, the children at the border are victims of circumstance, and they too, could face great peril without someone acting on their behalf. Obviously the US has to deal with the Central American nations so their citizens feel safe enough to stay in their home countries. In meantime, however, who will step up for the kids seeking safety? If we are indeed a Christian nation, (as we claim), can we morally & ethically return these kids to uncertain & unpredictable conditions? What about, "give me your tired and your poor?"
More Information: Orphan Train Depot, Concordia, KS
2:02 PM PT: New York Times Op-Ed article, "America's Test at the Border"
http://www.nytimes.com/...