OPINION:
Just beyond the steel and concrete canyons of downtown Manhattan sits Ellis Island. Its Great Hall is silent now, but nearly seventy years after it closed its doors, it still speaks of the millions of immigrants who anxiously came through this portal seeking entry to a nation of freedom and opportunity.
At a time of national debate and no small rancor over America’s current immigrant policies, it is fitting and appropriate to reflect on Ellis Island and its legacy of lawful and orderly entry that is part of the history of nearly half of all American families.
Every year on Mother’s Day weekend, the Ellis Island Honors Society pays tribute to educators, healers, scientists, artists, authors, and leaders of industry. Within the halls of Ellis Island, we honor their ancestors from all over the world. Some are newly arrived; others have roots that go back generations. But they all have one thing in common: they are all Americans. We honor them not only for where they came from but also for what they bring to America. Each of them represents a thread from which the fabric of this great nation is woven, a fabric rich in color and diversity, never to be torn apart. It is a lesson that still speaks to us from this island that stands vigil in New York Harbor.
At this ceremony, the honorees are recognized for adding to our nation’s legacy of greatness and how their energy, intellect and integrity moved our country forward during times of extraordinary and historic challenges.
They are part of a legacy of innovation and achievement by immigrants that goes back to our nation’s founding and our forefathers’ belief in honoring God and recognizing that all men and women are created equal. The newcomers to these shores have made democracy the most trustworthy form of government and have elevated freedom and opportunity as essential to achieving America’s goals. Today, liberty and the dignity of the individual are more possible here in the United States than in any nation on earth – at any time in history.
Ellis Island is also a reminder that America is a nation of minorities. Our strength has always originated in our diversity. Whether we are American Jews, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, African Americans, Caribbean Americans, Middle East Americans, or Irish, Italian, and European Americans, we are all part of a nation whose fundamental ideal is to welcome people of all races, ethnicities, and choices. If we lose this core principle, we lose the legacy of Ellis Island that speaks to us all.
Millions of immigrants came to America over the last 250 years to pursue a life of freedom and tolerance. Millions of others were brought to America enslaved, or are Indigenous people who were already here, who lost their land and lives to greed and racism. But all these people and their children shared the common goal of being free and living with dignity and opportunity. As their descendants, we have a responsibility to prevent hate and division from becoming the new normal.
Together with its harbor mate, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island stands as a powerful reminder that those who seek to engage in destroying the legacy of these icons through acts of bigotry challenge the very soul of this nation. Our proud history of standing up to hatred reminds us that we, as Americans, are strong and committed to our ideals. As we reflect upon the meaning of Ellis Island, let us hear and heed the hopes and dreams of immigrants that still speak to us today and in the future.
- Nasser Kazeminy is Chairman of the Ellis Island Honors Society
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