My friend Coach Walters says every child wants discipline. He means the firm hand of a trustworthy adult, someone telling them what is OK to do and what is not. Today the children of Latin families are learning instead the fear of masked men. Coach’s discipline is a feeling of safety, knowing the grownups you trust will bring you back in line if you drift too far.
Masked men cannot be trusted. Masked men grab the children’s moms and dads and take them away, after tying their hands together and making them cry. There is nothing left to trust after that.
Coach tells children they have potential, they can become whatever they work hard to be. He tells them, “Don’t let anyone make you feel less than.” The masked men make that hard to believe. They say you and your family are worthless. They say it with angry faces, pepper spray and guns and cruel words.
My friend Coach Walters is 97 now. He no longer drives the children to track meets. He cannot tell them on the road all about why they can be proud or remind them of what they have already accomplished. He cannot teach them how to create a beautiful future.
Who, now will teach the children who they are? The masked men with guns and camouflage uniforms are teaching all our children to be afraid. Are our children surrounded with enough coaches to drown out the masked men? Is our country up to the task?
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