In my country, the government of Donald Trump has a zero tolerance policy for persons who cross the border without permission. These persons are arrested, prosecuted and persecuted. If they happen to have their children with them, the children are “separated” - a kinder word for abduction - and sent away to a detention camp. Yes, detention camps, shameful places from our history. Sometimes the parents are deported back to the place they were escaping, without their children. What cruelty is this?
Crossing the border without permission from the government is a civil crime, a misdemeanor. Violating traffic law is a misdemeanor. Where is the equivalency?
In my neighborhood, the city and county governments have a 100-percent tolerance policy for persons who take over public sidewalks and violate many laws. Having open containers of alcohol and using drugs in public are unlawful. Trespassing is unlawful. Leaving trash everywhere is unlawful. Threatening people is unlawful. These are all misdemeanors. And yet in my neighborhood, all of this is tolerated 100 percent. And the livability of my neighborhood, and the livelihood of the business people in my neighborhood suffer greatly.
In my country, 21st century storm troopers sweep in and swoop up hard-working people who are productive members of their communities and pay their way in the world, but who happen to not have permission to be here. Families are splintered; communities are terrorized by these ice-blooded storm troopers.
In my neighborhood the cops do their best, but the total tolerance policy means that people who break the law every day, who don’t work, don’t pay taxes, don’t vote and are anything but productive members of my community are allowed to continue doing whatever they want to do in public spaces.
What the hell happened to my country? What the hell happened to my neighborhood? 2 + 2 = 5. Up is down. Yes is no. Orwell got it right.
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