McCain Shows Ineptitude and Intolerance

Published in Prensa Libre
(Guatemala) on 15 July 2014
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Natalie Harrison. Edited by .

Edited by Kyrstie Lane

Last week, the ultraconservative Republican Senator John McCain gave a demonstration of a mentality like that of a Roman governor, outdated in history. In an incredibly intolerant way, he warned that he would use all his influence to get other senators to support him in removing the $80 million given to Guatemala annually, unless their government stops the flow of children causing the current humanitarian crisis. Later he said on CNN that the best way to solve the problem is to send planes full of children and their families back to their country of origin.

With such statements, McCain, the Republican candidate defeated by Obama, demonstrated how terrible it would have been for the United States if he had entered the White House. He also confirmed that the Republican Party, in a manner that is impossible to understand, has reinforced their anti-immigrant position, which not only goes against the principles that gave their country strength for many decades, but was one of the clear factors in the sequential electoral defeats of the Republican Party.

McCain’s case is particularly alarming because he is a former combat pilot who was shot down during the Vietnam War and spent several years in North Vietnamese dungeons, suffering humiliations of all types, so he should take a minimally humane position. He doesn't have one.

The most worrying thing is that he makes clear his inability to understand that he cannot comprehend the causes or the solutions to the humanitarian tragedy that has exploded. Not only has it been in force for many years, but it can also be considered an effect of legal reforms adopted by the Republican administration of George W. Bush. He also does not realize that the tea party faction is completely removed from moderate Republican supporters.

These considerations do not mean that the Democratic senators and congressmen are not worthy of criticism for their eloquent and unjustified silence with respect to the refugee children, as they fear defeat in the November elections.

Someone should explain to McCain that the $80 million in aid is equal to just 4 percent of what President Obama requested to address the crisis, yet it is necessary in an economy like that of Guatemala. And so, if it is stopped, it will contribute to increasing poverty and thus emigration to the United States by children and adults. Also, the infants who are already there will stay for a long time, perhaps years, due to the inability of a judge to quickly determine their legal situation.

So far, the unfortunate game of bipartisan politicking with respect to the immigrant children has been obvious. But what had not yet been shown was the side of inhumanity with which some fanatics address this situation, whose roots are numerous and varied, and which will be recorded by history as one of the most unexpected and painful situations. Little by little, these types of policies are abandoned and enter history as mistakes and malicious intent.


McCain demuestra torpeza e intolerancia

La semana pasada, el senador ultraconservador republicano John McCain dio una muestra de una mentalidad proconsulesa desfasada por la historia. En forma increíble e intolerante, amenazó de utilizar toda su influencia para que otros senadores lo apoyen para retirar los 80 millones de dólares anuales a Guatemala, a menos que su gobierno detenga el flujo de menores, causante de la actual crisis humanitaria, y luego dijo en CNN que la mejor manera de solucionarla es enviar aviones cargados con niños y familia a su país de origen.

EDITORIAL

McCain, candidato republicano derrotado por el presidente Obama, con tales declaraciones demostró lo terrible que habría sido para Estados Unidos que hubiera ingresado en la Casa Blanca. Comprobó además que el Partido Republicano, de manera imposible de entender, ha afianzado su posición antiinmigrantes, que no solo va en contra de los principios que le dieron fuerza a su país durante muchas décadas, sino fue uno de los claros factores de las dos derrotas electorales seguidas que han sufrido los republicanos.

El caso de McCain es particularmente alarmante porque se trata de un expiloto de combate que fue derribado durante la guerra de Vietnam y pasó varios años en mazmorras norvietnamitas, sufriendo humillaciones de todo tipo, por lo que debería tener una posición mínimamente humana. No la tiene.

Lo más preocupante es que deja clara su imposibilidad de entender que no puede comprender ni las causas ni las soluciones a la tragedia humana que acaba de explotar, pero que no solo está vigente desde hace años, sino que puede ser considerada efecto de reformas legales aprobadas por el gobierno republicano de George W. Bush. Tampoco quiere darse cuenta de que la facción del Tea Party está alejada por completo de los simpatizantes republicanos moderados.

Estas consideraciones no significan que los senadores y congresistas demócratas no sean dignos de crítica, por su elocuente e injustificado silencio al respecto de los niños refugiados, al temer una derrota en las elecciones de noviembre.

Alguien debería explicarle a McCain que esos 80 millones de dólares de ayuda apenas equivalen al 4% de lo que ha pedido el presidente Obama para enfrentar la crisis, pero que son necesarios en una economía como la guatemalteca. Igualmente, que si son retirados, contribuirán a aumentar la pobreza y con ello la emigración hacia Estados Unidos, de niños y adultos. Por aparte, los infantes que ya están allí permanecerán por mucho tiempo, tal vez años, por la imposibilidad de que un juez decida pronto su situación legal.

Hasta ahora se había evidenciado el lamentable juego de la politiquería bipartidista respecto de los niños inmigrantes. Pero no se había manifestado el lado de la inhumanidad con que algunos fanáticos abordan un hecho cuyas raíces son numerosas y variadas y que será registrado por la historia como uno de los más inesperados y dolorosos. Poco a poco, este tipo de políticos se quedan solos y entran a la historia como torpes y de malos sentimientos.
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