| "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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