Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
This poem, 'The New Colossus', written by Emma Lazarus in 1883, is found inscribed on a plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
These powerful words and this beautiful sight have greeted, comforted and inspired many
generations of people from all over the world; people seeking nothing more than
a better life for themselves and their children.
Chances are, your family, like mine, was among them, and we have been blessed beyond measure because of the faith, courage and sacrifice our forebears expended to become Americans.
Most of our families were workers and farmers; simple laborers and craftsmen who, with an industrious and independent spirit, supported themselves and built their communities; the same communities we call home today.
While the value to our society of those who are well educated and
wealthy cannot be denied, they are not what has been, or what will be the
heart, soul and strength of our nation; that honor belongs exclusively to those
who work the hardest for an hourly wage, or a modest salary, to educate themselves, feed their
families and pay bills.
And when we, or our leaders, forget this truth and tell the world that ordinary folks, like us, are not welcome simply because they come from an impoverished country, we will have forsaken the Grace of our God and the achievements of our predecessors, and brought shame to the memory of their dreams, as well as our own legacy.
-PDS
12-Jan-2018
