Chiang Rai

It is pure coincidence that my daughter is presently in Chiang Rai, the location of the heroic rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach in some nearby caves. Jenna is hosting a National Geographic Student Expedition program (Thailand Community Service) for high school students. She has been there for the last week, making preparations for the students, who leave New York today for the long flights to Chiang Rai. I asked her how the city was reacting to all the attention, but she was not aware of any inside information. She chalked that up to the fact that she doesn't speak Thai. Duh. Again, just coincidence that she is there.

We are all aware of another coincidence which has taken place in the past week. While the world was riveted on the cave rescue and looking forward to the boys' reunion with their parents, a much larger group of young people were also awaiting a reunion with their parents right here in the United States. These children did not wander into a cave. These children were forcibly taken from their parents by a heartless administration's "zero-tolerance" policy on border control. Although it was Jefferson Beauregard Sessions who announced this strategy designed to prevent illegal border crossings, it seems that White House senior advisor Stephen Miller is the brains behind the inhumane policy. You know Miller -- presently in the news for throwing $80 worth of take-out sushi in the garbage after a bartender at the restaurant flipped him two birds. Yep, Miller's the kind of man I want advising our leadership. Not.

As of this writing, 57 of the 103 children under five have been reunited with their parents. The administration failed to reunite all of them by yesterday's deadline, a ruling issued two weeks ago. Still separated from their parents are nearly 3000 children over the age of five. An order demanding those children be reunited with their families has a deadline of July 26. What are the chances?

Whether you are Asian or Latino or European or African or any other ethnicity under the sun, there are certain human needs that apply to all of us. This is a no-brainer. Children belong with their families. The stupidity and arrogance of this administration equals pure evil. Yes, let's celebrate the successful rescue of those young Thai boys. But let's not be silent about the children still being warehoused (in cages instead of caves) right here in our own country, separated from the only security they have known, the love of their parents.

Oh, and fuck you, Stephen Miller. I hope you choke on your sushi.