Itâs caused labor shortages in multiple locations, increases in costs, and of course the protests/riots.
I was reminded recently in a private conversation about a song our group performed in 2017, after about the same amount of time into the first Trump administration. We have a large number of international students in the group, and facing them while singing this was heartbreaking thenâŠI can only imagine it would destroy me to try now.
But this is the type of song we need to remember, and share, and embody:
Lady of the Harbor, by Joe Jencks
From far away, and distant lands The tempest tossed with hopeful hearts and calloused hands Reach for the light, the torch held high And cast their gaze upon the Lady of the Harbor And she welcomes them with open arms she says let my children in Shine on, Shine on Oh you Lady of the Harbor And so it was, with my own kin They sailed from Sweden and from France, and Ireland Their earthly cares, packed in their bags They cast their gaze upon the Lady of the Harbor And she welcomes them with open arms she says let my children in Shine on, Shine on Oh you Lady of the Harbor Now weâre locking down the borders and weâre filling up the jails And we say they donât belong How conveniently do we forget That weâve all come to sing the same sweet song Will the dream, survive the strain Will huddled masses have a chance to learn its sweet refrain Or will we fall, into our fears And turn our backs against the Lady of the Harbor. And she welcomes them with open arms she says let my children in Shine on, Shine on Oh you Lady of the Harbor
I should add that when Jencksâ ancestors came to Ellis Island, they wouldnât have had papers either, nor would they have to fill out official forms to apply for the right to enter or to stay. Many immigrants did, over time, but back then many immigrants lived and died having never officially become citizens. It didnât used to matter.