My seventh grader daughter is freaking out over her homework.

[Kber]

The assignment was to find current events examples of violations of the 6th amendment - the right to a jury. She was having trouble and I suggested she google “ICE” and “US citizen”.

And now she’s freaked out that we are detaining US citizens without allowing them to prove their innocence to a Jury.

And that we are separating children from their parents seeking asylum.

This period in our history sucks.

[MineralMan]

1. Great suggestion!

Terrific example.

[Kber]

3. She's grown up with stories of her great grandmother

Being unlawfully detained by, but eventually escaping Nazis in Europe. She’s seeing the similarities, unprompted.

My daughter is 3 years younger than my grandmwas when the Nazis invaded her naitive Belgium.

[MineralMan]

5. A great lesson that I hope she shares in class.

[Squinch]

2. It's horrible and she's a little young, but it's good she's learning it.

[S.E. TN Liberal]

4. Hopefully, future generations of Americans wake up and see the shame of letting...

...conservatives be the hateful bastards they always are when they get into power.

[byronius]

6. So very 'soft' democracy.

Like in Russia. Democracy with a czar. They're going for it.

But they won't reach it. Because we're not Russians.

We're Americans. And we're about to push back in a big way.

[RandomAccess]

7. I'm feaking out too.

But it's a shame your daughter has to -- but thank God she sees it and cares.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. Make sure she knows that under the Constitution a person doesn't have to prove they're innocent.

A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

It's important.

[Kber]

9. In theory yes.

She knows.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

32. I used to clerk for a trial judge.

During voir dire, where the attorneys ask prospective jurors questions to determine whether to strike them or seat them on the jury, one person gave all the right answers to the prosecutor's questions: people are innocent until found guilty, etc. Then the defense got up and asked one question: "If the police arrested him and now we're having a trial, he's actually guilty, isn't he?"

The person answered without hesitation, "Well, he must have done something wrong or he wouldn't be here..."

"Innocent until proven guilty" is nice as a theory, but in practice human nature will out.

[Igel]

10. Here's the paradox.

We like to say that immigration violations are "civil" violations, not criminal.

That's because they're handled by administrative courts. Administrative courts aren't covered by the trial-by-jury requirement.

We have a variety of administrative courts in this country. Many EPA violations are adjudicated by the agency. The IRS has an administrative court system. When you hear about fines and penalties levied, those are not usually imposed by a judge after a jury trial, and a jury trial cannot be requested. Those, of course, primarily affect US citizens. ICE picks up a relatively small percentage of US citizens.

The military is it's own thing.

[TNNurse]

11. So everyone who is rational has increased stress from this administration,

regardless of their age.

[ProudLib72]

12. Best parental nudge ever

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Let me guess: Public School, not charter, not home-school, not a DeVos "christo-academy"

(You said "homework", though I dare say you'd probably provide an excellent 7th grade home school if you set your mind to it.)

As an example, Marjory Stoneman Douglas is the only public school in Parkland, Florida.

It has turned out to be a shining example of civics education in the United States of America. The namesake is inspirational in her own right too.

[zentrum]

15. It sure has.

So impressed by the school and the way they teach their amazing young students. A model.

[Kber]

17. Public school

1st year social studies teacher.

He supported his students during the walk outs and fosters civil civic debates.

He also loo to be about 16 years old, but I’ll get over that.

[zentrum]

14. Good parent.

[Kber]

18. Thx. She Also has a good public school teacher.

[CrispyQ]

16. You've raised a wonderful young person with compassion & empathy.

I hope she has an opportunity to present orally, so she can educate her peers as to the atrocities going on, in the name of "national security."

[Insightus]

19. "May you live in interesting times"

Back in 1985 I had to do some serious soul-searching regarding whether it was a responsible thing to do to bring a child into this world.

Now that child is in the process of bringing a child into this world. And there's a part of me that's saying to him (in my head), "what on earth are you thinking, man?"

Still, it was the best decision I ever made, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I was a young man. But every time I see my grandkids I think about what a tough world they have ahead of them. And I'm conscious of how stupid-easy I had it: all I had to worry about, really, was nuclear annihilation and the Vietnam war.

[Initech]

20. We can thank that POS news network that Trump watches for this.

Fuck Trump, and fuck Fox News!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

21. Suggest that she google civil forfeiture

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/asset-forfeiture-abuse

[Kber]

22. That's a good suggestion!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

23. And that was an excellent use of your 5000th post

[Kber]

27. Hah. I didn't notice!

I’ve been around since 2004, but don’t post often. I read more.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

29. Cheers

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

24. BTW your daughter sounds like she should run for office

good work

[Kber]

35. Maybe someday

She’s watched me run (and lose) for local office as a Dem in a majority Red town and now I’m running again (because I am a glutton for punishment, I guess) but i want to show her that we need to speak up and be part of the solution, and fear should not stop us from doing what is right.

[Initech]

25. John Oliver did a great piece on this last year:

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

30. Thanks I'll check it out in the morning

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

33. "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."

"...(as long as you're a cop.)"

Civil forfeiture, there's nothing civil about it.

Life: Eric Garner
Liberty and pursuit of happiness: civil forfeiture

Seems like they got it all.

[dembotoz]

26. the moment you realize your nation is not the land of milk and honey. some learn early some never do

an important lesson

be available to discuss when the questions come

[oberliner]

28. What class was that for?

[Kber]

34. 7th Grade Social Studies

They are studying the US constitution, it’s content and evolution.

The teacher spent a fair amount of time on the 3/5ths compromise as it relates to current concepts of equal representation and gerrymandering.

[oberliner]

36. Pretty advanced stuff for 7th grade

Must be a great school!

[Amaryllis]

31. Difficult time to parent. How to be honest but still give them a sense of hope and security.

Certainly not the first time in history this has been the case. I think of Hitler's Germany.
I am friends with a Congolese family who spent 13 years in a refugee camp, and I often wonder how the parents coped with that. Or in war-torn countries like Syria.