On Saturday I took the ferry to Liberty Island in New York Harbor for the the first time to visit the statue which has become the most well-recognized symbol for America and liberty.
Did you know that the official name for this statue is not “The Statue of Liberty?” It was instead named “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
In 1883 Emma Lazarus penned the famous words, which are now engraved at the base of this statue: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”
Millions of people in the world today who are still victims of slavery, poverty, abandonment, disease, and repressive governments. I need to not sit idly in my land of liberty and forget the “tired…poor…huddled masses yearning to breathe free” just as my ancestors did. I am enjoying the gift of liberty because of my ancestors, and because I have been given the gift of liberty, I need to use that gift to help liberate others.
These famous words of Emma Lazarus are also just as appropriate to Americans today as they were to the immigrants from generations past who cheered as they entered New York Harbor and saw this statue welcoming them to America. These immigrants came to America seeking liberty. Today, the immigrants’ ancestors are also seeking liberty…liberty from many repressive elements of our generation, such as addiction, debt, sin and abuse.
May each of us shake off the shackles which bind us, seize hold of our amazing gift of liberty, and help others to do the same.
Posted on February 23rd, 2009 by Nathan Gwilliam
Filed under: Ending Poverty, Giving Back, Global Orphan Crisis, Life Lessons, Patriotism
Leave a Reply