“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!’” – Emma Lazarus’s sonnet on the plaque on the Statue of Liberty.

I am a 90-year-old lady. I have had a wonderful life. Because of these gifts of education and freedom, I have felt I should give back to all I could.

My father worked for the Panama Canal Company. He used to come back to the U.S. by ship. It would take five days, and at the end there would be the great Lady Liberty. She was an inspiration and always made me feel pride in our country.

Do you see her now? It appears her mild eyes are crying. Sorrow fills her land. It appears the plaque has been spray-painted “Keep Out.” How have we been filled with so much hate? How do people who call themselves Christians spread so much hate? Fear has been sold to you. Them vs. us.

This last presidential election made me look up and see her cry. Donald Trump has shown his hate for women, immigrants and people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. How can we mend our country and make Lady Liberty smile again?

Love, only love will heal us. We must stand firm against hatred with love. Refuse to listen to Trump when he spreads his hateful message. The Trump that spreads hate and divisiveness will never be my president. I stand on the side of compassion, empathy and love – even for those who apparently do not love even themselves.

Mary Ruth Bowman

Durango