Acts of mercy

Posted August 29, 2025 9:03 am

I was disheartened to see the administration’s decision to halt special immigrant visas for injured children from Gaza receiving medical care in the U.S. These children — burned, maimed, traumatized — came here not as immigrants, but as temporary patients in desperate need.

To label them “invaders” is not only cruel, it’s a distortion of truth. America has long been a beacon of compassion. Turning our backs on wounded children undermines that legacy.

I urge our leaders and neighbors to reject fear-based rhetoric and restore the humanitarian medical visa program. Mercy is not weakness — it’s strength. Withholding acts of mercy is not a political statement — it is cruel. History will remember how we treated the most vulnerable.

Lawrence F. Buettner

Inverness

Article Comments

Article Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.