Short Answer
The excerpt from “Children of the Drug Wars” highlights a humanitarian crisis involving refugee children, emphasizing the U.S. moral obligation to assist them. The author uses emotional language to underline the urgency of the situation, arguing that inaction could harm the U.S.’s international credibility.
Step 1: Recognize the Author’s Main Message
The excerpt from “Children of the Drug Wars” emphasizes a critical humanitarian crisis involving vulnerable refugee children. The author believes that the United States has a moral obligation to provide assistance. This core message is reinforced through the use of strong language and emotional appeals that highlight the severity of the situation these children face.
Step 2: Analyze the Language Used
The author employs phrases with strong negative connotations like “handing them a death sentence” to evoke an emotional response in the reader. Such language aims to draw attention to the shortcomings of U.S. immigration policies. The specific phrases point to the neglect of these vulnerable children, urging the audience to consider their humanitarian obligations.
Step 3: Understand the Urgency of Support
Through the excerpt, it becomes clear that inaction can lead to disastrous consequences both for the children and for the U.S. itself. The author’s argument implies that failure to assist these refugees could damage the United States’ credibility internationally. The call for compassion and action is directed at the reader, urging them to recognize the dire need for intervention and support for these children.