Willie Nelson on border children: 'Take care of those kids'





"I've been watching, and the only thing we can do is take care of those kids, whatever it takes," Nelson told Rolling Stone. "Take them in, give them some medical attention. I'm sure there are homes all over the country that would be glad to take care of one or two kids."



FILE - In this March 15, 2014 file photo, Willie Nelson performs at the iTunes Festival during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. University of Texas' Dolph Briscoe Center for American History on Thursday, May 8, 2014 announced that Nelson has donated many of his platinum records, manuscripts and creative documents to UT. The Willie Nelson Collection in Austin will be the focus of an upcoming exhibit. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File) Willie Nelson has a few thoughts about the flow of migrant children coming over the U.S.-Mexico border and how to deal with them."I've been watching, and the only thing we can do is take care of those kids, whatever it takes," Nelson told Rolling Stone. "Take them in, give them some medical attention. I'm sure there are homes all over the country that would be glad to take care of one or two kids."FILE - In this March 15, 2014 file photo, Willie Nelson performs at the iTunes Festival during the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. University of Texas' Dolph Briscoe Center for American History on Thursday, May 8, 2014 announced that Nelson has donated many of his platinum records, manuscripts and creative documents to UT. The Willie Nelson Collection in Austin will be the focus of an upcoming exhibit. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File) less



"I've been watching, and the only thing we can do is take care of those kids, Willie Nelson has a few thoughts about the flow of migrant children coming over the U.S.-Mexico border and how to deal with them."I've been watching, and the only thing we can do is take care of those kids, ... more Photo: Jack Plunkett, Invision/Associated Press Photo: Jack Plunkett, Invision/Associated Press Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Willie Nelson on border children: 'Take care of those kids' 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Willie Nelson has a few thoughts about the flow of migrant children coming over the U.S.-Mexico border and how to deal with them.

"I've been watching, and the only thing we can do is take care of those kids, whatever it takes," Nelson told Rolling Stone. "Take them in, give them some medical attention. I'm sure there are homes all over the country that would be glad to take care of one or two kids."

"They're scared," said Nelson, whose grandparents raised him after his parents left him when he was an infant. "They're being mistreated. And it's not a good way to start off your life. But it's a good opportunity for us to show a little bit of humanitarianism and take care of those kids. I know a lot of people want to send them back. I guess the closer you are to the situation, the more extreme emotions you have about it, but it seems to me the old golden rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' or 'treat other people like you want to be treated' ... Treat those kids like they were your kids."

Nelson also had some choice words for President Barack Obama, who opted not to visit the border during a July swing through Texas.

"I think he should have gone to the border," Nelson said. "To be that close and not go is kind of crazy, I think. But I'm sure he had all kinds of advisers, and he quit listening to me a long time ago."

In the article, Nelson also talked about his relationship with Gov. Rick Perry, who has spent time on Nelson's bus.

"Yeah, he and I are friends. We probably disagree on some things, but we probably agree on some also. He's a good guy."

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports