Mother of exiles, my foot: RNC delegates’ white slip showing again

Mother of exiles, my foot

by digby

I know that bigotry exists in the hearts of humans, but I’m stil astonished that some of them are so willing to be public about it. Think Progress notes this entry in a public journal of one of the GOP delegates to the RNC this week:

The man was offended that a Mexican was working in the “American” section? My God, has this person ever been to America? I think the best part has to be that he told them he was “offended” about this. Civilly of course.

They have updated their post:

For those of you who have not taken the Epcot experience, it is a trip well worth taken. Epcot gives you a real world experience all in one day. The shops, the buildings, the shows, and the food is all inherent to where you are. Each staff member is identified by a name tag, referencing their country of origin. As noted, only in the country of the United States, within Epcot, was a staff member representing and working, who did not have a name tag representing that country. I would say being offended may been too harsh, disappointed or dismayed may have been a better choice of words.

Here’s a little tid-bit about America they have apparently forgotten:

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, 1883

There have always been nativists, so there’s nothing all that new in this. Still, if I might borrow a phrase from our fine RNC delegate friends, it’s disappointing and dismaying that they’re still spouting their nonsense after all this time. In fact, I might even call it offensive.