Today's MOZEN: The American Way

Words and photo F LoBuono

For readers of this blog, it is no secret where my sentiments lie when it comes to the current situation at our Southern border. I see no crisis as described by the President. There is no mass hysteria created by hordes of violent criminals rushing the border to attack our women and children. In fact, most of the people at the border ARE women and children.

However, to think there are NO issues with immigration is simply naivete. There are tens of thousand of people, mostly from impoverished countries in Central America, seeking asylum, refuge, and opportunity in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. And, since I believe that, through inclusion, immigrants only make our Country stronger, I feel we need to have a comprehensive, effective immigration policy to accommodate them. Right now, the system, what little there actually is of it, is being overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.

And, that has led me to what I believe is a legitimate question that I think, frankly, most Progressives tend to ignore: How many immigrants can we actually include before we reach saturation? And, believe me, EVERYTHING in life has a limit. Everything - whether it's balancing your check book or finding seats at the dinning room table, all things have a ceiling: either you have the money or you don't. You either have room for the seats at the table or you don't. You can mix and match, transfer funds from one account to another, or add leafs to your table but, at some point, you simply run out of money and space. You've reached the so-called Tipping Point.

Now, I don't believe that we have necessarily reached THAT point. In my mind, there is still room at the table (pun intended). But, that can't last forever. We are rapidly approaching our maximum. At some point, the system will simply collapse under the weight of numbers. We cannot allow that to happen.

However, the solution can NEVER be high walls, barbed wire, police in riot gear, tear gas, and water cannons. That behavior is not consistent with what it means to be American. Or, at least it was before the Trump era.

How's this for an alternative; instead of spending billions on a structure that, from what I have read, most experts claim will be highly ineffective, let's put that money into creating a policy with corresponding infrastructure to handle the needs of those who are so desperately seeking a chance for a better life in what can still be the Greatest Country in the World. And, that label is still true - for now - THAT'S why they come by the thousands in the first place! We need to find a way - THE AMERICAN WAY. And, we need look no further for inspiration than the lady in NY harbor to understand EXACTLY what that means:

The New Colossus

BY EMMA LAZARUS

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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Let's find that way - the REAL American Way!!!