There
has been a lot of discussion lately about Emma Lazarus' poem "The New
Colossus" at the base of the Statue of Liberty and how it applies to the
new immigration policy.
And yet, reflects Chip Crain (writing from Tennessee), from what he has read and heard so far, it is hard to believe that
many people have read the
entire poem or understand what was being said in it preferring to quote
one part of one line "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses" while conveniently ignoring the rest of the sentence "yearning
to be free" or the rest of the poem itself.
The poem means the USA is willing to
open their shores to people yearning for freedom not simply avoiding
persecution, war or to attempt to bring about a political change via
terrorism or any other means. This is saying we don't welcome people to
establish colonies of their old world countries here on our shores. The
entirety of the poem is a rejection of the ways of their former
countries and a celebration of the new colossus that is the USA.
I'm not supporting Donald Trump's immigration restriction (which is
country based not religion based but clearly established a priority of
certain religions over others for admittance) but I do support limiting
immigration to those 'yearning to be free' over those yearning just to
get away. I am in favor of welcoming anyone who wants to exist in a
country of freedom, where individual effort is rewarded and nothing is
given or taken unfairly. A country that rewards individual effort and
turns their shoulder to giving people something for nothing.
Likewise, I am against allowing those who want to change our country.
I'm against those who are coming not with the intention of assimilating
into a free society but rather to establish a society like they left.
The poem doesn't protect those who are coming to our shores to recreate
the life they left. In fact it says the opposite.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp. Cries she with silent lips."
In other words, stay at home those who wish to bring your old ways
here. We aren't a society saying 'give us anyone.' We are opening our
shores to those who want to live in a free society that is different
from what you left.
Taking time to insure those coming want what
we are offering and not simply running away from what they have and
with no intention of participating or even changing what it means to be
American is not un-American. On the contrary it is exactly the sentiment
spoken of on the Statue of Liberty.
I don't know if Trump's ban
will accomplish what he wants but it isn't un-American on face value in
my humble opinion. It is humorous that the list of banned countries was
started by Obama and no one complained about it then.
