Liberty

"The New Colossus" By Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Green 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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

My understanding about this poem is that the United States is offering its hand to anybody that needs help to a better life. We are saying if you want to be free and have rights then come to the U.S., but on the contrary the United States does not follow through with what they say. What I mean by this is that instead of making it easier to get here they build a 2,000 mile long wall to try to keep our southern neighbors out. Also we make it so difficult to make a proper living here that you would have to have something so important you'd be willing to put up with it. I get so emotional when I think of this because the U.S. offers the opportunity for justice but doesn't really give it. I believe if the "American Dream" is so amazing then why not help everybody, no matter where they come from, achieve it.