Wish Lady Liberty's Loving Arm Could Stretch all the Way to Myanmar

   Wish Lady Liberty would stretch her arm halfway around the world, to those who washed ashore in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand weeks ago. These are the homeless, the unwanted. These are those fleeing religious persecution. These are the Rohingyas. They have had trouble finding a home since landing, some countries not wanting them because of the financial costs. Those remaining behind in Myanmar, who didn't flee? They are at risk of becoming victims of a possible future genocide.
   Wish Lady Liberty's arm could gather them in, and swoosh them back to America. Wish Lady Liberty would sing as she worked. Let her sing:
          "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-tossed to me."
   Those are words that mean something to me. Wish we lived by them, more. Wish, when we saw the destitute, we reached out our arms to take them in, to help them, to care for them.
   Oh, forgive, for I know this won't happen. And, I know the reasons for not bringing them here. To begin with, there is much sentiment against bringing immigrants here. And, there is sentiment against Muslims. Then, there are the numbers. If we brought some of those who washed ashore short weeks ago, there would be others wanting to follow. With it said that 120,000 have fled in the past, how many would we need to care for? Lastly, and perhaps most critically, there is the issue of them not arriving here on their own, but us having to pay the bill to transport them here.
   I only say, we should do what we can. This week, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to take in about 7,000 at sea. Perhaps other countries could also be persuaded to help. Many hands make light work,it is said. Or, if there are none others to come, then let Indonesia and Malaysia cough up some of these refugees, and allow us to participate in the effort to help them.
   We once tagged a motto on a statue in New York Harbor, declaring ourselves the "Mother of Exiles," and extending a glowing "world-wide welcome."
   I wish we would see that as a pledge of honor. And, I wish we would make good on it.