I’m glad we agree there is a humanitarian crisis. Although we may disagree on the causes or the solutions, if we didn’t have a common belief that there was a crisis, then there would be no point in arguing.

Some time ago, I researched nonconsensual experimentation and took a look at some of the writings of the Nazi doctors on their inhumane hypothermia experiments. Even with my almost non-existent German, I could tell that the tone was clinical, dispassionate, and objective, a standard scientific style — the same as if the doctors had been discussing how many aspirins to take for a headache.

I think this is in keeping with what Heather is saying here — the Nazi doctors weren’t savage monsters, at least on the outside. They were clinicians doing their job. I would guess that they were very nice to their own families.

I can understand the outrage of people who are horrified by conditions at the detention centers. I agree with them. I also understand the anger of the alt right who believe that immigrants are taking over their country (I most definitely disagree with them).

What I have difficulty with is the cold, bureaucratic responses of the Kierstjen Nielsens and the Lindsey Grahams. Their calmness (and snarkiness in the case of Graham) in the face of this humanitarian crisis, like the fact that they’re not driving their cars into crowds of protesters doesn’t mean they’re not monsters, as much as they might appear to be rational human beings on the surface.