Liberty Lost

Last week while in New York City I made my first visit to the Statue of Liberty. It was a perfect September day clear, sunny, warm, crisp. The ferry ride with views of lower Manhattan and New Jersey were spectacular. When did New Jersey get all those fancy buildings? Liberty Island is a beautiful place for a stroll. Green grass on one side NY Harbor on the other and towering above the awesome blue-green of Lady Liberty. Her sandals trampling the chains of bondage, her stately robes, her torch lifted far above in enlightenment. It truly is an awesome sight - even for an American. I don't mind a little security boarding the ferry the metal detector slows things down some but there was no line so the inconvenience was minimal. I can accept that no one wants a gun brought on a boat or on an island filled with tourists. But once you're on the island you're safe right? Everyone's already been scanned before boarding the ferry. And though there isn't an obvious military presence I bet it's pretty hard to land a non authorized boat on Liberty Island. So why then I ask is it so hard to let people into Lady Liberty's pedestal? My friend was made to get rid of her water bottle. We waited on line. Eventually party by party people were let into the security tent. Jackets, belts, watches all had to be removed as you waited to enter the puffer booth. A female voice instructing you to please step into the booth, please move forward. What would this be like on a crowded day? Not worth the hassle is what it would be. The exhibits inside the pedestal are good. The history of how the iconic statue was built and came to America is very interesting. The glimpse of the framework that holds the many sheets of copper together is a marvel of engineering. The view from the slightly higher vantage point of the pedestal is fantastic. Being so close to Lady Liberty's foot is truly inspiring.

But when you're made to feel like a potential mass murderer before being let inside makes one wonder. Has the war on terror already been lost? The Statue of Liberty represents an idea of freedom but how do you feel free when corralled by security devices and armed guards? Isn't the ideal of freedom more important than some dim hope of catching a theoretical terrorist intent on destroying a copper statue? And really if someone was planning on destroying the Statue of Liberty couldn't they just shoot a rocket at it? Shouldn't our most important representation of the American Dream say I welcome you even if you should destroy me because that's who I am. I am America.