Reblogged: Give me your ... huddled masses yearning to breathe free

[Practice Good Theory Blog]

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

- from the poem on a Statue of Liberty.

Sound altruistic? That is not the intent.
No, the message is not "America  wants to help the poor; so, immigrate here".
The message is: "America has freedom, so you can start poor and yet thrive here"

The poem is a challenge and a boast. In an earlier line, the poet addresses the old countries of the world saying: "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"

America does not need your aristocrats with their hereditary pomp. Though freedom, we can take your "refuse", your "homeless" and "tempest-tost" and let them thrive.

This was the original American dream.
May it come true somewhere, anywhere; some day, any day.

Link to Original