What is the Statue of Liberty like?

Years ago while living in Greece an interesting thing happened to me. It has always helped me understand the uniqueness of this great nation. This special event happened in a small sheepherder's village north of Athens during a wedding feast in the village square. While sitting at a table with my friend Johnny (Yanni in Greek) sipping Retsina, the peasant's national wine, he asked me a profound question. It rings in my ears today.

  With a very earnest look on his face Yanni asked, "Denny (yes they use to call me Denny) what is the Statue of Liberty like? Is she as beautiful as everyone says?"

  I had seen the statue many times and thought it quite beautiful and special. But his question and the expression on his face made me realize it was more beautiful and special than I had ever realized. In fact the same could have been said about this free nation.

  There are times when a different perspective can give a new meaning to something we take for granted. The Statue of Liberty is our nation's primary symbol of what we believe is the spirit of America. The statue arrived at what was known as Bedloe's Island in New york Harbor in 1885.

  This "beautiful lady" as Yannis called her, was a gift from France. She was built across the Atlantic, disassembled, transported here, and reassembled as a noble symbol of freedom. It was a gift to us because of the way other people thought of us and not of our own self image.

  Interestingly she, the lady of freedom and inspiration to all is an immigrant. Immigrants she beckons to come, bringing their poor, their tired and their hungary. That "beautiful lady" was quite a sight and when I sailed into New York Harbor a year later I was able to see how really beautiful she is and how proud I was of the message she sends to people like Yanni. She was the image we want them to see.

  Is that still true today?  Has her image abroad changed over the last few years?  Does it now say don't bother me if you are poor? This is a land of opportunity for only those, who got in before we slammed the gate. Does it project the notion that religious freedom, means only Christians, especially the religious right? Jews, Islam, Buddhist, Hindus and others find your own New Jerusalem (New Foundation for Peace). Is our lady turning her back on people, who may have been created different then us? Is that the image she now has abroad?

  Of course these questions could be asked of our own local neighborhoods. What is our image in the eyes of our neighbors? Is this a place where the poor can come and find new opportunity? Is my community a place that tolerates other religious beliefs? Do we welcome those who are different than us? Do we have freedom of thought and speech?

  How shall we know the answers to these and other similar questions? Ask our neighbors from afar. What image do they have of us? Do they see a homogenized island or a melting pot of opportunity? Does that lady in New York Harbor extend her invitation to all in behalf of our own local community?

  According to the principles of our founding documents for freedom, every community across this great land endorses her invitation. The ones, who don't become a cancer toward the existence of freedom as understood by the rest of the world, when they think of the "beautiful lady."

  This also can be applied to your own home, business and church.  It also applies to those who immigrate to this great land. Does the Statue of Liberty symbolize the spirit of you? America is a land of individuals, who are free and brave. America is a nation of communities. America is these United States, united in freedom as symbolized by the "beautiful lady."

  Yes, Yanni everyone in America believes the lady is beautiful. I am right about this aren't I? Or must I brace myself for the bigotry and censorship I found in our neighbor's countries? Have the new immigrant brought their bigotries with them or have they also become admirers of the “beautiful lady”? Let’s hope not! Why? She keeps her beauty through our nation’s inner beauty.  Let’s keep her beautiful to the world! Insist that every citizen living here and any person who crosses our borders pledge allegiance to what the “beautiful lady” stands for!