Brown’s example

Twenty years is nothing, so goes a song. However, when it comes to immigration in California, it is as different as night and day. We have gone from voters approving the hateful Proposition 187 to our state welcoming more Central American minors who recently crossed the border.

Gov. Jerry Brown said he is ready for California to have more shelters for these children and youths. What a difference that makes, precisely because many people want to deprive these undocumented children of education and health care.

California is already one of four states receiving undocumented minors. This was possible because a majority of the electorate evolved. They went from fearing to trusting undocumented workers, from stereotyping to personally knowing these immigrants.

Brown’s statement during a visit to Mexico presents a contrast of both time and place. His position regarding the arrival of minors is as far from his predecessor’s, Pete Wilson, as from the current governor of Texas, Rick Perry.

Perry reacted to the children’s arrival by calling the National Guard for the express purpose of protecting the border from criminals. The Texas governor talked about national security in the face of a humanitarian crisis. His response had military overtones instead of being helpful. Perry is more interested in earning him brownie points with Republicans than in contributing to the well-being of children and youths.

Unfortunately, today there are too many politicians who think like Perry and like Wilson did back then. The passage of time, political maturity and demographic changes will help them see reality the way Californians do and act reasonably like Brown has.