With that big chart in hand, I went down the list, tallying the data from Mexico and the seven Central American countries, and finally comparing it to the United States.

This is how it played out: 

Jokes aside, Central America doesn't screw around with these diseases like we do. They know from much more recent experience these are matters of life and death, not luxuries we can afford to forego based on either long-since debunked scientific studies or divine inspiration. Vaccinations are mandatory. None of those exceptions we love so much here. So, in short, if we were a Central American country, we'd have the second-worst measles vaccination rate. Not exactly a shining example of American exceptionalism. I guess if you're brown, it doesn't necessarily mean you're dirty. In fact, white's not as clean as it looks, either.

Here's the vaccine schedules for Panama and Costa Rica.

And trust me, after the last couple of weeks, I won't even flirt with the idea of suggesting employers cover something like this.

But it does break my heart that the message, inscribed on the Statute of Liberty, has fallen so far out of favor.

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-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

I just had no idea that it doesn't even apply to our own people anymore.

See also:

• Measles surges to worst year in decades
• Vaccinations prevented thousands of deaths
• Would you rather?