Her Lamp is no less dim 139 years later

On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland. The teacher read L is for Liberty by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and Laura Freeman Hines. Next this image appeared on the board, and that inspirational Jewish Poet Emma Lazarus lived again in young hearts. 

Then her voice lived again as the teacher read her New Colossus Poem

                                        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!"

The children asked a million questions about the statue, about Emma, and understood her message loud and clear. The teacher did not address ICE in the streets. She did not mention your name, she understood that Emma Lazarus far outshines the hater in our White House. For your information Emma Lazarus still outshines you in the hearts of our children. While ICE Agents are shooting pastors directly in the face with pepper bullets, and tear casing the Halloween parades of young children and their families in this place your hate was crushed by the poem of a young Jewish poet some 139 years ago. For your information the lesson needed with Woody Guthrie's “This Land is your land, and we all sang along. 

Emma still inspires school children from 1886 to 2025. She is the real danger to a President without empathy, historical memory and humanity. 

Well, Mr. President, her words and that lamp lifted high still inspire children. Her light far outshines your king's dreams. 

TRUTH BE TOLD you can't touch her spirit, for she outshines Steven Miller's war on immigrants. 

Dr. Jesse P. Turner 

Professor Emeritus Literacy, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education.

 If you would like to hear what song inspires my morning walk today? 

It's the Avett Brother's cover of Woody Guthrie's "The land Is Your Land"

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z3efR2Fu18 <

1886 the lamp is first lifted in America