What a disgraceful way to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr than to even be discussing such a hate-filled marginalizing bill directed toward children the day after spending the day remembering what Dr. King stood for, non-violence, inclusion, diversity, tolerance and equality.  Using children as a pawn in what has become a political war against “illegal immigration” is despicable and disheartening.  What legislation like this does is devalues people, disrupts families and creates a rift between “us” and “them” that is getting harder and harder to bridge.  It is also exactly what Federal Politicians want.  Why should they push for reform when they can sit back, risk nothing and watch while every one else has to bare the burden of their impotence and cowardice to act.  Why should they have to do any real work when they can push their responsibilities off on the states who can push their responsibilities off on local communities, local law enforcement, local businesses and now local teachers, principals, schools and even children.  People like Will Kraus, Kobach, Nolte, Nieves and the like do not care that they are ruining families, communities, forcing kids out of schools.  They can put they are “tough on illegal immigration” and feel all self righteous in their efforts to combat this problem when the federal government won’t.  The problem is that now they are picking on children.  They want schools to report on the costs and effects having undocumented children in our classrooms has on education, but who is going to report on the societal costs of alienating children, degrading their self esteem and possibly scaring them away from attending school at all.  No one, and truly the do not care.  Do not let them lie to you they do not care about Missouri Children, our communities or you as a tax payer or voter.  If they propose and support short sighted legislation like this, meant to use children as a batting ram in their zeal to push their own agendas they  will turn on you and your cause next.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.- THomas Jefferson

I will be honoring Dr. King tomorrow as I travel to Jefferson City to speak out against this hateful bill.  If you would like to join me please mail me for more information.  It is at 3 pm.  If you cannot consider emailing the reps not he General Laws committees and your own state rep to voice your dissent.