What is the value of a family?
Is that different than having family values?
I was reflecting upon those questions as I put my sick 12-month-old son to bed the other night. I considered how much I love him and how deep our bond has become in a quick calendar year. I cannot shelter him from pain and suffering throughout his life. Part of the human experience is to freely make choices and ultimately suffer. A reasonable degree of suffering makes us appreciate health, makes us resilient with struggles and ultimately makes us stronger as individuals, families, teams, communities and countries.
I would do anything for my kids. I fight for their right to the human experience without unfair prejudice, injustice or the man-made maladies that afflict our society. In turn, my children give my life a foundation meaning and responsibility.
Most people understand and value the family unit. I think separating parents from children under the guise of “following the law” is a sin of Biblical proportion. The greatest country the world has ever known is operating without a moral compass and the slippery slope of condoning the unconventional behaviors of our commander in chief has literally allowed our society to slip backward in principle, integrity and global leadership.
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Money does not “trickle down,” but leadership certainly does. How we treat our fellow human being suffering the human condition while fleeing violence of oppression to seek a life well-lived for their children matters.
Zachary Baeseman, M.D., Waupaca, Wis.
