Good intentions and the kidnapping of Haitian Children!

Perhaps I am a bit too sensitive, being the father of three wonderful daughters, to opine about these issues regarding the possible kidnapping of Haitian children. While I may have more questions than commentary, let me begin by clearly stating one of my views concerning this story of 10 Baptist individuals from Idaho who allegedly attempted to smuggle thirty-three Haitian children out of Haiti. I do not accept the notion of the redemptive quality of “good intentions.”

As some have suggested, “the road to hell has been paved with good intentions.” I believe that the idea that these individuals were only intending to help these children should be taken right off the table if we truly critically analyze the crime these individuals committed. The apparent leader of this group is either delusional or hyper-arrogant in that she asked that the judge absolve them of their wrongdoing and allow them to continue to “help the children” of Haiti.

I use the term “crime” because, although I am not an attorney, I have never heard of good intentions absolving anyone of a crime committed. This idea of good intentions might help a judge’s discretion in determining the sentence one receives, but it does not provide a legal exemption from a crime committed. Can holding up a bank for the purposes of feeding these same children in Haiti, although perhaps well intended, be acceptable?

Certainly the value of these Haitian children far surpasses that of monies taken from a bank vault. This leads me to wonder: Assuming these individuals had the best of intentions for these children, why did they not seek to provide for them monetarily, educationally and spiritually in their own country?  Could the arrogance of being U.S. citizens have misguided their actions?  Did these “missionaries” display any respect for the Haitian government and its people despite the crisis in which the country finds itself? Could the conditions of poverty under which these children and their families live have influenced how these “missionaries” view their humanity?  For what reasons other than the devaluation of the life, culture and perhaps even religion of the people of Haiti would this group of “missionaries” take children from their homeland and from their families without going through the proper channels?

Their actions could only have occurred if these individuals believed that the excruciating pain that would be felt by their fellow Idahoan brother or sister  at the sudden disappearance of their child would not be similarly felt by a Haitian Mother or Father. Similarly, the longing felt by an Idahoan child for their parents would not be similarly felt by a Haitian child.

Again, I must admit that as a “dad” I cannot be totally open minded about this matter. I would, in my emotionally based analysis, call for the full extent of the law to be handed down to these “missionaries.”  I pray that the dehumanization of the other may no longer be couched in the name of faith or religion, but that we may begin to understand that the rights, dignity, and well-being of children, women and men should supersede any divine laws whether prescribed by the traditions of Christianity or, for that matter, Haitian Vodou.

This op-ed was printed in El Diario La Prensa