Behind the paranoia about the southern border and the humanitarian crisis that President Donald Trump manufactures with his incompetent and inhumane policies — like cruel separation of children and parents — there are, among others, three contributing factors.

First, there is lack of understanding, respect, appreciation and compassion for individuals and groups simply because they are different, this reflecting ignorance and prejudice, including racism and xenophobia.

Second, there is the demographic shift of recent decades in which white Christians are no longer the dominant majority in America. Apparently many fear that they are becoming a minority, and that they will be treated the same way that many of them have historically treated minorities: with discrimination, oppression, exploitation and violence.

Third, minorities tend to vote Democratic, a growing threat to the future of the Republican Party given these demographic trends.

Border paranoia is far more than any supposed national security issue.

Leslie E. Sponsel

Hawaii Kai

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