It seems that the Internet has become a land of hashtags and hatred and I’m afraid that it’s here to stay. I’ll admit up front that I am more often than not, one of those whose stir the pot (some of my friends would tell you stir the sh*t is more like it. And, they are pretty accurate. I like to draw people out. I like to make them think. I like to make them own their thoughts and ideas, to get off the proverbial fence, to get out from behind someone else’s platform, and to have their own.) So, yes, I stir the roux. I turn up the heat and then stand back and watch it cook. I watch it fester up and boil. And, somewhere along the way, I hope I made a few people close their mouths and open their minds and think.

There are many folks out there thinking and speaking with their emotions about the border issues plaguing the U.S. right now. Truth be told, it’s plagued us for a long time. We’ve just never had a president who was willing to step on toes to do anything about it. And, that is not sitting well with some folks.

As a Catholic, I have struggled with the issue from different angles throughout my life. As we grow and circumstances in our lives change and we become more knowledgeable, our outlook and opinions change.

As a Christian, I think it’s horrible that children are being separated from their parents. But do we know the entire story? We’ve all learned with this last election and since, that the media can’t be trusted to objectively inform us of anything. Prime example – the photos of the caged children are from the Obama’s era. And, the storm around Melania Trump’s jacket? Maybe she doesn’t care what the naysayers are saying anymore. She is quite subtle in her messages. She does have class. She wasn’t wearing the jacket when she disembarked from the plane. Do you need a hammer over the head? No, the naysayers just needed to see her message and then missed the boat. I do believe I saw more than a few floundering at sea.

I’ve been taking the time to read through comments on many of the newscast posts. It has been an eye-opener to read and begin to understand that it is not only those attempting to enter this country illegally that is troubling, it is the irrational comments being made by those folks who live on our side of the border. What folks have failed or just not been willing to see is the plight of our own people.

I live in South Louisiana. There are many, many illegals here, working, stealing, killing, and breaking the law. And, yes, there are many here on work visas that lead peaceful existences and send all of their money back to Mexico. On more than one occasion, I’ve forgotten not to make a trip to Wal-Mart on a Friday afternoon. That is the day everyone gets paid and vanloads of workers are dropped off to make their transactions. I say this only to emphasize that it is alive in my community.

Even though I experience and know first hand about the legal and illegals in my area, I do not witness or live in fear as our fellow Americans who live in the border towns do. They tell stories of a time when they would leave water and food out by the fence for them. The workers would cross over and quietly do their work and then in the evening head back home. No one felt threatened. Times have changed. They no longer leave food and water. Mexicans crossing the border enter their houses uninvited if the doors are not locked. There are killings and bodies being dumped and left. Vehicles with dead bodies left by the wayside. They are afraid. It has become a harsh existence for those who make their homes in our border towns.

The United States is not in a unique position with borders to the north and south, not unlike many other countries. Our country is not the first country to have border laws. It is that no one has seen the merit in truly enforcing the laws before now.

Drugs and sex trafficking run rampant. People are crossing into the country illegally by the droves. And, now we are at war within our own boundaries on how to correctly handle the situation.

Yes, we are a country of immigrants. All countries are. But there are laws in place and I am a huge proponent of law and order. Unlike many people, I tend to think rationally and I look at the big picture. There is no getting around the fact that people know if they cross the borders illegally they are breaking the law and along with breaking the law, there are consequences. Yet, they continue to do this knowing they may be separated from their children. It’s not a nice thought but it is fact. They are apparently willing to do just that.

I’ve noticed that folks screaming and butchering people with their harsh words about how wrong it is haven’t stepped up and said, “I’ll take that child in.” “I’ll house that family and sponsor them.” I have a new hashtag for you – #notme. Nancy Pelosi in her fenced in yard – #notme. Are YOU, the one sitting there all self-righteous behind your computer screen – #notme.

People are up in arms about the children being detained at the border, but what about the children in our own country? Those in foster care? Those in group homes? Those on the street? Those being aborted? I ask you – where is the outrage for them? I truly find it odd that people are willing to fight for some children and not others. How do you separate the two? How do you divide the line between the children worth fighting for and the children who aren’t? If you look at the big picture, this is it. Children are being separated from their parents every day in this country and no one is screaming or yelling or fighting for them. #notme

The United States is not the only country to have and enforce border laws. People are yelling that the country was formed by immigrants. And, I don’t discount that but what they fail to think about is the big picture. Our borders make us a country. You need to decide if you want open borders and everything that entails or do you favor a closed border. The closed border has helped reign in illegal drug activity. Not by much, but some. The same with sex trafficking and the drug cartels.

We can’t have it both ways. There need to be laws in place and enforced for the safety of all. That means detaining people at the border. That means consequences for those willing to break this country’s laws – on purpose, not by accident. And, that may mean separating children and parents on occasion.

So, what has turned into a Trump hater’s fest isn’t really about Trump. It is about what you, as an American citizen, want this country to be. Do you want a country that doesn’t control the borders and the consequences of not doing this – the border would be open to not only good people looking for a better life, but also drug lords, trafficking, murderers and the like; or do you want a border with laws being enforced to ensure that you and your family are safe at night. Perhaps a country where you don’t fear for your child each and every time they leave the house.

From where I sit and read, it seems there is a lot of protesting going on that doesn’t include people who are living in the border towns and the bordering states. The protesting is coming from people who do not deal with illegals and the uncertainty and fear that they bring with them on a daily basis. It doesn’t personally touch their lives. I would challenge these people to stop screaming for a moment and think about what they can do to help the situation. Adopt a child? A family? Volunteer in a center? #notme But until they figure out what they can do and actually do it, then they truly should be very, very quiet.

If you have read to this point, thank you. I hope I have opened your eyes and your heart to a different place. I hope I have quieted some of your anger so that you can see a larger picture and maybe a long-term solution. I hope you act. I would love to hear your thoughts.