I wrote this post last night for BIO. I think I’m going back to doing politics on BIO and not on Courting because I don’t enjoy Internet political debating. I miss arms waving, tongues stuck out, crouching behind somebody with two fingers above his head. That’s not how your family argued politics?
Courting isn’t a political blog, but politics are everywhere in life. As this is a personal blog, I don’t have to present a balanced view, nor would I in a political blog, come to think of it.
Tuesday or Wednesday I will be back with a post about a block party I went to today. It wasn’t just a block party, it was the mother of all Manhattan block parties, literally. I will even try to put in pictures that I took. I will be putting in posts from the archives often for the next several weeks as there’s titanium in the archives. Not as much as is in my mouth, but uh….6/19 when I will have my final dental procedures is fast approaching. My first appointment with these dentists was on 6/24/04 so it will literally be almost exactly two years. Went through the entire two years without being crazed. I am now. Wouldn’t let any friends or family come with me. Am making Rafe come then.
Next Monday Al Gore will be at my neighborhood B&N at noon. Am very excited about seeing the man who should have been president. Took me a long time to warm up to Bill, but Al ,I always loved. Did fall hard for Bill once I did warm up to him. If only Al had been as good in the regular election as he had been in the after election….
If you’re not interested in politics and haven’t read the snowflake two posts down, please do
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When the anti-terrorism cuts were announced, it was the cut in aid to New York that upset me. Then I thought, “no national parks? What about The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?” That’s when I became truly angry. When my great-grandparents and their children came to America, their first stop was Ellis Island where they were deloused, and inspected for every conceivable condition plus much more.
They didn’t care as they were in America where the streets were paved with gold. Though my family first lived in the Lower East Side, those streets were indeed paved with gold, the gold of freedom. For people who had never been allowed to be citizens before, own land, have a profession, let alone vote, this alone was a dream come true.
Somebody or agency forgot The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. That’s like forgetting Poland. Literally in my relatives case. My father explained that he was Russian when he wanted to make a good impression, and Polish when he wanted to tell jokes, but his children, were 100% American.
While my father was born on Madison Street in the Lower East Side, he never quite got over his luck at being an American. He did end up with an office in The Empire State Building, a forgotten icon that some consider to be “the eighth wonder of the world,” and I associate with work, family, tall ship viewing, and romance.
Nobody is exactly sure who forgot The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It could have been the panel who convened in March, The Department of Homeland Security or….well, I’m sure it was the faxed, not emailed application.
Think about it. They forgot the Park where, probably, more immigrants entered this country legally than other single place. Ellis Island is the symbol of legal immigration in this country, and the government forgot about it. Now while they’re building a wall to stem illegal immigration, they forgot to take into account the one museum that celebrates legal immigration.
There’s something very sad about that.
Before you go all superior on me and explain that Ellis Island is technically a foundation supported by individuals and private monies, both Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty are operated by the National Park Service.
At first I was confused by the furor over The Statue of Liberty as I have read enough Nevada Barr Anna Pigeon mysteries to know that the National Park Service has its own Park Rangers.
They work with local police who provide the majority of personnel. The waterways are controlled by The Port of New York and New Jersey. The ferries are run by such public companies as The Circle Line. Each group is dependent on each other and all need Homeland Security aid.
New York and New Jersey are continually fighting over who owns The Statue of Liberty. As they did on 9/11 when New Jersey so generously helped New York, they’ll put the fight aside if there is another attack. Northern New Jersey did receive an over 70% increase in aid this year. Somehow don’t think that it will be enough. Forgive me for not thinking of Hoboken as a prime terrorist target.
Also I have tried and tried to understand Assistant Secretary, Homeland Security, Tracy Henke‘s statement that by protecting
agriculture in the Midwest, New York is being protected. From what? Mad cow?
Aren’t the tourists who visit from Omaha and other cities at risk, if Manhattan, its waterways and landmarks or icons are under protected?
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to break free.
Emma Lazarus wrote some powerful words embedded on the Statue of Liberty, located in twelve acre Liberty Island. It’s constantly packed. I would go for the ferry ride but not to the Statue.
The two landmarks that celebrate and mean freedom to so many of us were overlooked by The Department of Homeland Security. Really there is a third, Castle Clinton at the tip of Battery Park. Castle Clinton was used for many different things before it became an immigrant landing depot from 1855 to 1894.
It’s a beautiful building where free concerts are performed in summer and people sit on the grass of the Park to listen. New York City is solely responsible for the park, and ferries to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island leave from there. Battery Park is close to both Wall Street and The Trade Center site. Battery Park is the birthplace of New York City, and Castle Clinton could be considered to be the parks icon.
Several people, who aren’t political at all and are from other parts of the country, have asked me if I think it was intentional since the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are symbolic of New York.
It almost seems too ironic. Yet what better way to show a continued disdain for the people of this country?
In blogs today I have seen: “What happened ‘to we are all New Yorkers?'” In the past nineteen months I have met people from all over the world, and continue to be amazed and moved by the average person’s love and/or admiration for this city.
It’s the Federal Government who has used 9/11 and its aftermath to further its own agenda. It’s the Federal Government who continually shows contempt for the citizens of many more places than New York.
They went too far this time. They forgot the places that symbolize hope and freedom to so many people. What better places for terrorists to attack?
If we weren’t in Iraq, we would have much money to spend on protecting our Home, it’s industries and landmarks or icons.
If we only had a government that gave a damn we would be fighting the war on terror together. None of us want another terrorist attack. If you think liberals condone terrorism think again.
Forgetting The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Castle Clinton is to forget our own history. That’s something we seem to excel at. We forget that most of us descend from immigrants. We can never forget that. Many of us were brought up to remember our ancestors dreams, and to live up to them and to surpass them if possible.
If the Bush Regime could forget about The Statue of Liberty, what else could they forget about?
Stop. You had me at blame and Bush.
I’ll miss the mix of postsbut do what you have to.
Nice post and good luck getting the two years worth of Dental work finished.
I think they have protected the midwest long enough. We have way too much corn and it is making us fat.
What, are they fucking nuts or something.
I’m in the middle of a six week sprint of seeing the dentist every week. My heart goes out to you!
“If the Bush Regime could forget about The Statue of Liberty, what else could they forget about?”
My thoughts exactly.
Um. The folks who were affected by Katrina?
Yes, I think blue turtle has a point – Katrina vitims. That is still such a mess. What I saw when I was down there will haunt me for the rest of my life. *shudder*
Only terrorists condone terrorism.
Will never forget Katrina, and will always be proud that I was one of the first bloggers to say that a person can cast blame and can help at the same time
Am possibly a bit too proud of that
So yes, they forgot about Katrina–both while it was happening and the aftermath
It is a shame that the Bush regime will have to live with their entire lives and after, maybe
I’d be happy if they’d just remember the oath of office.
You should be proud, pia. (You in the comments again? WOW!)
Doug, I agree. But they should not just remember it, but follow it. Big difference.
For a non-political blog, you sure do touch on a lot topics that are political. Considering that governments on all levels want to be in our bedrooms, our pockets and our minds I guess you can’t avoid politics.
I haven’t flown since 9/11 because I hate what Homeland Security has done to our country. There are not protecting us from terror, they are not protecting our ports, our cities, nothing. Instead they are taking our civil rights in the guise of “saving” us from the bad guys. The bad guys live in D.C.
Thanks for stopping by Pia, you’re the best. Diane is a great woman who shares my life. I love her very much.
I think the key word is “freedom;” we all know Bush and his cronies don’t give a flying f*** about anyone’s freedom but their own.