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A mighty woman with a torch


© Beth Skinner

Apr 6, 2000


"...Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." Emma Lazarus wrote the poem "The New Colassus" but never lived to see it engraved at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in 1901. Elian Gonzalez mother didn't live to see him reach the shores of America, where she hoped they could live a life of freedom.

Elian's mother lost her life to give her son the chance to live what I live everyday and what I am ashamed to say I rarely give a second thought. This freedom that I take for granted was so vital to Elian's mother she boarded a rickety boat and battled the ravages of nature seeking it. The thought is awe-inspiring and at the same time - humbling.

Some of the pundits have tried to shame those who support keeping the child here, on the premise that we think Disney World and shiny new toys are superior to paternal ties. Maureen Dowd wrote, "Elian vindicates our culture: celebrity status, play dates with Diane Sawyer and a free pass to Disney World outweigh blood ties." Yes that's it. We're so vain and materialistic we think that simply because we can give him Disney World he should stay. Those of us who hope he will be able to stay think he'd be better off because he can ride the flying elephants rather than live with his father.

That's like saying the 12 million immigrants who came through Ellis Island in the early 1900s did so just to get a peek at the Statue of Liberty. It's not the flying elephant ride at Disney, it's what it represents. It represents a country that is prosperous and free and I refuse to apologize for the fact this country recognizes and emphasizes that economic and political freedom are symbiotic. Like a pair of scissors - one side can't function properly without the other.

Is it that Dowd and others like her are embarrassed by this country's wealth? Why should we apologize for having so much when others have so little? Shouldn't we instead be grateful and work to assist others who want to obtain the wealth that we have? Instead we often try to take wealth away from those who have it - as if they should be ashamed for working hard. As the communists leaders (and others of socialist ilk) believe - you work hard, I sit around on my ass - you give me your money. What a bargain!

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
2.   Apr 10, 2000 1:57 PM
Not just libertarians, but Americans in general have this bizarre delusion that immigrants come to the USA because they so value the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, etc., but in reality on ...

-- posted by pseudoerasmus
1.   Apr 10, 2000 1:45 PM
It's very funny to hear the two-faced posturing of libertarians on issues
like these.

Elian's mother lost her life to give her son the chance to live what I live
everyday and what I am ashamed ...

-- posted by Prometheus



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