We have forgotten the example of Lady Liberty

On a visit to Ellis Island a little over a year ago, I took a moment to stand and stare over the New York Bay. From a distance, a tall and proud Lady Liberty stands with a definite and welcoming demeanor. In one hand she holds a torch above her head. On the other, a tablet with July 4, 1776 inscribed in Roman numerals. At her feet lie broken chains.

At every turn, I could see the enormity and splendor that is America. The skyline of the greatest city in the world and the working people of the coast. Things big and small all moving together to keep this grand experiment of democracy alive.

And then I thought of the 12 million immigrants that made their way through this tiny piece of land called Ellis. They were soon to be strangers in a strange land. They came because they heard that America was a place like no other. There they could find the freedom and welcoming light of a lady named Liberty.

So the immigrants traveled from faraway places. Some were Jews, others were Poles, Hungarians, Greeks, Syrians, and Armenians. And others were from other places. On January 1, 1892, Ellis opened with a celebration and the very first immigrant was a teenage girl from Ireland who arrived with two younger brothers. Her purpose; to meet her parents who already lived in New York City.

On that New Year’s…