International students at Princeton do not exactly qualify as wretched refuse. Almost all are going to be paying full fees; they’re from rich families.
Do you think the truly destitute get better treatment at our hands?
Do you think those words are inscribed on the base of the statue of liberty as a warning to the wealthy? A "keep out!" sign for the hopeful and striving students of the world?
It's such weird revisionism to think that the US was ever really enthused about welcoming immigrants. That's the ideal, but the reality is that people are clannish and tend towards a "fuck you, got mine" attitude.
It's more like pledging a fraternity; pay the dues, get shit on, go through the hazing, and eventually you come out the other side assimilated and ready to haze the next incoming pledge class.
It's ideal but we shouldn't worry about being ideal because we weren't in the past, hmm? Well, I reject entirely the thesis that because humans "tend toward" tribalism or selfishness or any other flaw we must abandon ourselves to the worst excesses of those impulses.
We can, and should, be better. I think that starts with not giving up on our ideals so timidly.
