| "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-tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" |
| - Emma Lazarus - The New Colossus |
| A growing controversy has developed over whether or not to restrict immigration into the United States since the September 11 terrorist attack on our nation. While some are neutral or supportive of immigration due to various reasons, there are those who oppose it and believe that it should be eliminated. But who is to say whether any human being should be permitted or abolished from any particular country? How can anyone declare that they have the right to freedom, all the while pushing away someone from a foreign country and denying them the fundamental independence that they, themselves, feel that they deserve? When people from different nations come to the United States seeking peace, freedom, and prosperity, they carry with them a trust toward the nation to confirm this is true. |
| The United States of America advertises its freedom through songs and poetry. In 1814 Francis Scott Key, an amateur poet, wrote a piece titled, "Defense of Fort McHenry," which later became our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Within this anthem is the proclamation that the flag waves over the 'land of the free.' In addition, shortly after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the comforting voice of Lee Greenwood filled the airwaves with "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free..." from his song "God Bless the USA." Consequently, if we deny immigrants the right to share this asserted freedom, aren't we guilty of deception and greed? |
| Many people seeking citizenship in the United States come from oppressive, sadistic nations where they are treated harshly and not given much more than the right to live. In some cases, even that right is taken away. According to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, in Nigeria on January 23, 2001, a seventeen-year-old girl was given 100 lashes with a cane for having premarital sex. The girl said that she was pressured by her father to have sex with three men.[1] There is also a culture that is located on a small island off the northern coast of Australia that "covers up" elderly women when their brothers and sons agree that they are no longer capable of taking care of themselves. What they do in this ritual is bury the aged woman in the ground feet down with her head left out. They leave her like that for a few days and then return to find her dead because she did not have the strength to dig her way out.[2] Such cruelties as these take place in many countries with cultures different from our own. If the citizens of America can turn their backs on people fleeing from such unhampered brutality, then they are no different than the ones "covering up" the feeble lady. |
| In addition, there are those reaching out to the United States to find much needed opportunities such as education and employment. In Argentina, one half of the thirty-seven million citizens fall beneath the poverty line. As a result, the jobless march through the streets demanding food from supermarkets in hope that their families will not go hungry on Christmas. A mother of four children whose husband had lost his job announced, "I love my country but the government is leaving its people to die of hunger."[3] This is just one small example of poverty in less fortunate countries. There are families in countries such as Bosnia who are dying from starvation. It is only fair that human beings from other nations be permitted to make a better, more feasible life for themselves and their families. |
| The people who have been born and raised in the United States of America under the U.S. Constitution cannot fathom the severe turmoil that many immigrants are fleeing from. America, the 'land of opportunity,' should be willing to reach out a helping hand to those seeking a serene and fruitful life. We should be proud to live in a pluralistic society where all humankind can live in harmony and share the wealth of life that we have been so blessed with |
| [1] Seattle Post-Intelligencer, article dated January 23, 2001 - 17-Year-Old Girl Gets 100 Lashes For Having Sex http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/wrld2317.shtml |
| [2] Essentials of Sociology, 4th Edition, Inequalities of Aging p.258 |
| [3] Seattle Post-Intelligencer, article dated December 4, 2002 - Jobless Argentines March Through Streets http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story |
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| Freedom for All |
| December 9, 2002 |
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