Andry Hernandez Romero tells his story

I listened to Tim Miller's interview with Andry Hernandez Romero this morning, and read this account on The Bulwark. The actual interview is linked in the article, and is worth listening to. It is in Spanish, but it is translated and subtitled, so you don't need to speak Spanish to tune in to it.

I expected to be angry and beyond disappointed in the actions of our government to this man, and so many others, and I was.  But I was also inspired and humbled by what Andry said.  Read on for the link to the interview EXCLUSIVE: Andry Hernández Romero Tells His Story and excerpts from the article: 

"What happens to a man after he’s been resurrected from hell?When I talked to Andry Hernández Romero earlier this week, he tried to answer this question. Andry explained why he wanted to come to America. How he was treated in our hands. The disgusting and unconscionable abuse that he was subjected to an infamous Salvadoran prison. His hopes for freedom and so much more."

"The entire discussion was remarkable because he is remarkable. Not just his sense of humor and unshakable faith in God in light of all that has happened. But, most of all, his empathy and mercy for those who were responsible for his persecution.It’s hard not to contrast Andry’s mercy and forbearance with the small, sad grievances that dominate America’s political life today."

"...Meanwhile, the guy who came to America looking to make a life for himself is locked away in a foreign dungeon because he had the wrong tattoos. He was tortured, raped, and left for dead. He wasn’t even allowed the dignity of a call to his mother."

"This avalanche of trauma was piled onto him because the luckiest people in the history of the world were convinced that the immigrant down the street might eat their cat. And how does Andry react to his mistreatment?" Here’s what he told me:

"And what I can say to the people, to President Trump, and to everyone watching this podcast is, let’s be more empathetic, let’s be more, more humane, knowing that we can’t make firewood from a fallen tree. . . . Let’s be more empathetic and not destroy others, because no one likes to be talked down to, let’s not kick a dead horse, because, it’s easy to speak badly of someone, but we don’t like people talking badly about them. So, as a relative told me, everyone is going to throw stones at the tree that bears fruit."

"What a remarkable sense of grace. It’s unimaginable, really, to have been treated like a feral hog by the most powerful man in the world and still manage to summon this generosity and forbearance."

"The most moving part of our conversation was when Andry talked about the bonds he created with the other prisoners who were kidnapped with him. How he made plans to do the hair and makeup for the weddings of some of the men who were in cells at CECOT and are now planning their renewed life."