Cuccinelli reacted by implying that the poem's welcome is limited to those "who can stand on their own two feet." Later, he clarified that the poem only pertains to "those from Europe, where they had class-based systems."
This interpretation has been criticized for excluding people from other parts of the world who would also like to be able to walk into a country and expect to find work and a place to live. While many countries have immigration policies that exclude certain classes of people, few if any have open borders policy.
Furthermore, many people from Europe cannot currently be found in Cuccinelli's restricted definition of "welcome". The statue itself was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and cast in France before being shipped to New York Harbor where it was mounted on its base. Although the majority of workers involved were American, a large number were French.
In conclusion, the Statue of Liberty welcomes all kinds of people from everywhere who can make their own way in life.
Give me your weary, impoverished, huddled masses longing for freedom. " These iconic lyrics from "The New Colossus," an 1883 poem penned by American Emma Lazarus and carved in bronze and set on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, have once again sparked a passionate political debate on immigration. The statue, which was created by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and inaugurated in 1886, faces out toward America's west coast.
Lazarus's son changed the lyric's meaning when he submitted it for approval to the poet Emma DeWitt Smith. He wanted it to more accurately reflect the purpose of the statue, which was being called into service as a refugee camp during World War II. Instead of saying "Send these poor souls back where they came from," it now reads "Send these heroes home to their loved ones."
Lazarus died in 1887 at age 37 after an illness caused by stress related to his efforts to raise money for the refugees. She is now considered one of the nation's founding mothers because of her involvement with the Immigration Movement.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush signed legislation to designate April 23 as a national day of remembrance for immigrants. In 1990, Congress passed another law establishing August 14 as National Immigration Day.
The inauguration of the Ellis Island immigration processing facility in 1892 under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, as well as the later popularity of Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus," encouraged an immigrant connection. This connection continues today with many immigrants choosing to call America their new home because of the Statue of Liberty and its role in welcoming those seeking a better life.
Ellis Island opened its doors to applicants for the first time on Wednesday, February 5, 1892. The island at that time was a federal military reservation near Lower Manhattan owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After more than 70 years of service, the last inspection tour of Ellis Island concluded on November 3, 1924. President Calvin Coolidge signed a joint resolution on January 8, 1925, that terminated the lease between the United States and France and transferred responsibility for the site to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. On February 10, 1925, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover announced that the government would build a new immigration station on the site to replace Ellis Island.
Statue of Liberty National Monument was established by Congress on August 2, 1936. The monument includes all of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island as well as some surrounding land.
Immigration has been a key factor in establishing the history of America and this famous statue plays an important role in promoting understanding of American identity.
According to the Liberty Ellis Foundation (here), the Statue of Liberty "grew as an inspiration to immigrants who sailed past her on their journey to America," especially with the inscription of Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus" (here) on the pedestal plaque in 1903.
In addition to this explanation, some scholars believe that the image of the statue has also influenced modern artists and sculptors.
For example, Paul Manship created a sculpture entitled "Mother America Sitting with Her Children Around the Fire" in 1930. This piece was inspired by the image of the statue.
Another artist who worked on several paintings about the figure is John Fluevog. He based his work on news articles about the restoration of the statue in 1986-87. His series includes images from around the world with children playing near the fire inside the statue's head.
John Fluevog also created another famous painting called "A Woman With Balance Sheet Asher Lev". This picture is part of a series that explores the relationship between money and power. It shows a woman standing next to two large piles of cash. One pile is larger than the other, indicating that she has more money than the one who will be serving her later in the scene.
Asher Lev was a Jewish boy who was taken in by Lady Liberty when his parents were killed by the Nazis.