When I was a student at East Tennessee State University, the professor of American History said that he was a believer of the “open gate theory.” He said that “When the gate of a nation is open, do the people run into the country or do they run out?” “This,” he said, “is the measure of the greatness of a nation.”
Back then, there were plenty of examples of people trying to flee their countries. People were landing on the shores of Miami by the boatload. No one, it seemed, wanted to stay in Cuba. In East Germany, people who tried to flee to West Germany were being gunned down. The citizens of North Korea were headed south at great risk of their lives. Many people were running out of the open gate. After I graduated from ETSU, people from South Vietnam flocked to the West Coast.
People have always flooded to America. Even when our gates are closed, people find a way around them, under them, over them, or through them. Some come legally and many more come illegally. But come they do. If my history professor is still alive, I have no doubt what his interpretation would be — people are coming to America because it is a great country.
Once in a great while, some public figure — usually a ticked off entertainer — will threaten to leave the United States over some issue. But they never do. Even though the gate swings both ways, they stay in America.
On the other hand, estimates are that some 11 million to 14 million people are in this country illegally. A few are criminals, drug dealers, and thugs. The vast majority have come to America because they still believe that it is the Land of Opportunity. They believe in the greatness of America even when many of our own citizens no longer do.
Most of the politicians during this election cycle will spend a great deal of energy discussing what to do about dealing with these people. Maybe some thought ought to be given to harnessing the energy, optimism, and hope of these people who have come through the open gate.
In our own area, there are a fairly large number of Hispanic immigrants. Many, I suspect, are “undocumented.” Most of the folks lump them all together and refer to them as “Mexicans,” which plenty of them are not.
Nevertheless, the most common sentiment that I have heard expressed is how hard these people work. In fact, someone said recently of a person with a strong work ethic, “He works like a Mexican.” While some might interpret this as a slur, the individual meant it as a compliment. He, too, has noticed that the Hispanics among us, legal or not, work hard, work long, and complain little. Like us, they are trying to build a life, support a family, and secure a future.
It says something about this nation that, even with our multitude of problems, people are still flooding to America. In great numbers. In droves, even.
In 1980, Neil Diamond sang:
“On the boats and on the planes
“They’re coming to America
“Never looking back again,
“They’re coming to America
“Everywhere around the world
“They’re coming to America
“Ev’ry time that flag’s unfurled
“They’re coming to America
“Got a dream to take them there
“They’re coming to America
“Got a dream they’ve come to share
“They’re coming to America.”
Such is the greatness of a nation — even when she tries to shut the gates, even when she tells people they are not welcome, they still come. My professor would be proud.
[David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
