What have we become?

Back in 2000, Elian Gonzalez garnered *a lot* of attention. 

Quick recap, he was a young boy who was brought by his mother from Cuba to the US. They stayed with relatives in Miami and his father - still in Cuba - waged a legal battle to have him returned to him. 

People around the country took sides in the issue. It was a flashpoint. I’d invite you to Google the details if you don’t remember them. 

After some time, attorney general Janet Reno sent in a group of heavily armed agents to remove him from the home he was living in, and this picture summed up the experience (and won a Pulitzer).

People were outraged at the action.  While surely there were a few people who defended this course of action, sending armed soldiers to take a boy by force, in what amounted to an international custody dispute, caused quite the uproar. Over reach! Over reaction! Why were they armed? And since he was likely to be taken back to Cuba (funny, the word "deported" wasn't associated with this activity), that's outrageous!

Before she died, Janet Reno said that decision affected her deeply.

Ultimately, Elian was returned to his father in Cuba, and he now holds an office in the country. 

Compare and contrast. 

This week, we heard about a five year old boy being taken by armed ICE agents at school.  While we don't have the luxury of a picture of the moment (at least as far as I know), I have to imagine that he had a similar look of fear. 

In a way, what's the difference? Armed agents forcibly removed the boy - Liam (Ramos) Ornasser - in order to lure his parents out.  And surely he will be deported along with this parents. 

And in this case, our government is simply defending this. But what’s strange is that the outrage is muted.  And that’s because… the AG, the director of homeland security, and the criminal in the Oval Office are gaslighting us, talking about how it was necessary to make us safer. 

And I have no doubt that all of them have no trouble sleeping at night - and it is unlikely to affect them in any way at all. 

Damn.  A quarter century really has changed us.