Next week sees the 120th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York. This has not been a vintage year for Miss Liberty.
She has been witness to the continuing tragedy that is Iraq.
She has seen then enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 which legitimises torture and suspends (or eliminates) habeas corpus.
She has seen forty five executions in her homeland.
Perhaps most ironically she has seen a bid to build a wall across the US Mexican border progress in the Congress.
I will leave Emma Lazarus to speak for her.
She has been witness to the continuing tragedy that is Iraq.
She has seen then enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 which legitimises torture and suspends (or eliminates) habeas corpus.
She has seen forty five executions in her homeland.
Perhaps most ironically she has seen a bid to build a wall across the US Mexican border progress in the Congress.
I will leave Emma Lazarus to speak for her.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
with conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
a mighty woman with a torch
whose flame is imprisoned lightning,
and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand glows
world-wide welcome;
her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor
that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands your storied pomp!"
cries she with silent lips.
"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-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
I think next Saturday at noon I shall observe two minutes of silence in her honour. Feel free to join me. It is, I hope, not too late.
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