Immigration

As I thought about the wall that Republicans wish to build in Texas to keep the Hispanic American-opportunity-seekers out, my mind wandered twice.

One. I hope they mean to build it on Texas' northern border.

Two. Maybe we should close Ellis Island and the statue of liberty.

At the base of the statue are these words:

The New Colossus

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-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

Perhaps we should have those words scrubbed off if we build that wall, or change them to:

The Post-911 Colossus

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 Hope imprisoned, and her name
Mother of Empire.

From her fiery-hand glows world-wide contempt;
her wild eyes survey the ground-zero harbor that twin towers framed,

"Keep, ancient lands, your gloried poor!" cries she
through pursed lips.

"Keep your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

Keep the wretched refuse on your teeming shore,

Keep these, the homeless, tempest-tossed from me.
The way is blocked through the golden door.

Ugly Moe 2006