They’re not keeping “them” out. They’re keeping “us” out.

My relatives knew it would be okay to come to America because the Lady said so. She rose from pennies raised by French and American school children, and she holds a lamp against the darkness. She says welcome. She says that’s who we are.

Nobody had to march to admit our family when they were fleeing religious persecution and economic disaster in Ireland. Or in Scotland. Or in Germany. Or in Poland. My grandparents weren’t snatched off American streets by masked and hooded figures who refused to show warrants or identify themselves.

Statue of Liberty at night
[image credit: Guide TravelTourism]

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!

—Emma Lazarus, 1883

Are we really ready to turn off her lamp?

We’re told more than five million Americans marched last June. Millions more are planning peaceful protests on October 18. I’m not pretending there aren’t extreme voices on both sides encouraging violence or hatred. But I choose to believe they don’t represent me, or most Americans.

The official White House twitter post, 7:31 PM · Feb 19, 2025

The president and his supporters say they base their actions on the constitution. I hope that means they recognize these words from Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United States:

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States–Article I, Section 9′

And I hope they’ve noticed the 22nd Amendment limiting US Presidents to two terms.

But just in case, on October 18, they will be reminded.