When it comes to children, many Americans are a confused and angry lot. As a nation, we take great pride in rushing in to rescue people all over the world after natural disasters or horrific despotic regimes. We see pictures of starving children on another continent and we dig deep into our wallets or volunteer at food-shipping events.
But when it is American children who are hungry, there are those among us who become self-righteous jerks: "Why don't they just pull themselves up by their bootstraps?"
Such people call for drug testing of the parents, as if feeding a hungry child should depend on the behavior of their parents. And even after finding out that people on welfare actually test positive for drugs at a much lower rate than does the general public, opponents still cry out that welfare recipients must be gaming the system.
Why is there so little compassion for our own hungry children? Why is a child who goes to school hungry and tired supposed to become superhuman and do amazing things in life? When did we become a nation that turns on its own and looks with suspicion on anyone who needs help?
Read the words at the base of the Statue of Liberty again and remember what we once stood for.
LYNN GARTHWAITE, BLOOMINGTON
