To the editor,

We strive to protect our children from the dangers of the world and teach them good values, like treating others with respect, being honest, and taking responsibility for their actions. We call it the “Golden Rule” or even “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do). 

Of course, we can’t possibly keep the world out and shelter our children from all the world’s ugliness. They are bound to see and hear the kind of behavior we teach them to avoid. Unfortunately, many of these “un-Golden-rule-like” behaviors are coming directly from sources that are supposed to set good examples. 

Today, our children are seeing supposed law enforcement agents shouting profanities, stalking citizens, following school buses, breaking down doors, and even killing people in cold blood. How are they supposed to feel safe and trust the government when they see masked government agents menacingly carrying guns, breaking windows, barging into schools, and even disappearing and kidnapping children and families.

They also witness some of our country’s leaders excusing and even encouraging such behavior. They witness government officials calling people cruel names, ridiculing the weak, and seeking revenge. How does the Golden Rule, the one we’ve been trying to teach them, fit into all this dysfunction, and how can we expect them to follow our examples if we support the bad behavior? They are confused, concerned, and even distressed, and it’s not just immigrant families who are affected.

My grandson, despite his strongly Caucasian appearance, broke down sobbing the other night, fearful of dying or of being kidnapped by ICE agents. Children are perhaps more in touch with their humanity than we give them credit for, and perhaps we can learn from them. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch suggests that perhaps we should have a “police force of children,” because they can remind us of our humanity. 

Help our children navigate the cognitive dissonance they see by being a good example for them. Treating all people with respect, decency, and compassion, and denouncing atrocious, inhumane actions is a good start. It’s up to all of us to lead the way by showing kindness, compassion, and most of all the Golden Rule to our fellow humans. 

Laurie Harmon

Hudson