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STATUE OF LIBERTY
The Statue of Liberty was erected in 1886, when world
population was little more than one billion and the U.S. population was 60
million. Many do not realize that the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the
U.S. from France, with the title, "Liberty Enlightening the World". The
statue and its symbolism had nothing to do with immigration, but rather hope
that the rest of the world would adopt Democracy. The Emma Lazurus plaque
(it is not chiseled in the base), "send me your huddled masses" was added
ten years later during the immigration peak of that age.
The sonnet, "New Colossus", was written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 as part of a
literary campaign to raise funds for the completion of the Statue's
pedestal. Not much attention was paid to it until the tide of immigration
surged at the turn of the century. Proceeds that were raised from its
auction were used to complete the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. This
plaque memorialized the sonnet in 1903 and was placed on the inner wall of the Statue's pedestal. It currently is displayed inside the Statue of
Liberty museum.
Since then, U.S. population has expanded by 4 1/2 times. The U.S. is the
world's highest-consuming (and most wasteful) nation, and is no longer in
need of settlement.
Lady Liberty Not a Welcome Mat
Immigration Myths (contd.): The Statue of Immigration, or Liberty Inviting
the World
A Symbol Transformed -- The Statue of Liberty
Free Lady Liberty Petition
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