“Protect the children”

They say they want to protect the children by banning drag shows.

They say they want to protect the children by banning TikTok.

They say they want to protect the children by banning CRT.

They say they want to protect the children by banning books they deem offensive.

They say they want to protect the children by not saying “gay.”

They say they want to protect the children by not letting them learn about their own bodies.

They say they want to protect the children by not letting trans people use the bathroom.

They say they want to protect the children by not letting trans people exist at all.

They say they want to protect the children by denying their mothers proper medical care, even if it causes their mothers to die and leave them motherless.

They say they want to protect the children by forcing their mothers to give birth and not provide them the means to support those children or to provide safe and sufficient foster care if they can’t.

They say they want to protect the children by passing laws to allow child labor.

They say they want to protect the children by passing laws to allow child marriage.

They say they want to protect the children by looking the other way while they are sexually assaulted by clergy, coaches, parents, and other adults in authority.

They say they want to protect the children by offering “thoughts and prayers” after they’ve been slaughtered at school with firearms.

They say they want to protect the children.

I say to watch out for those who say they want to protect the children. They don’t.