6/10/10: Anybody reading this blog is going to think I am a dumb old lady, but today when we went by the Statue of Liberty, the tears flowed and I just couldn’t help myself. I have always been patriotic, almost to a fault, and seeing that grand lady in the harbor just made my heart proud. I took so many pictures I’m sure my family will think I have gone overboard, but this was a sight I’ve always wanted to see. We were not able to go up inside the statue and I can honestly say I’m not terribly disappointed in that fact. Connie and I walked all the way around the statue, took in her grandeur, and read the placards placed around her. It was amazing to see how much work went into placing her in the harbor and how many dollars it took (all the money was raised from private donations) to get her put together. To think that France would give such a gift, and then to think how things have changed from then til now, is truly mind-boggling. I wish I could instill in my students a sense of the same patriotism that I have. It disturbs me that some students are “upset” or “impatient” when they have to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school each morning. They would have a different attitude if they really understood the price our forefathers paid for our freedom, and the price we are still paying today.
In my classes, I will be sure to show these pictures to each of my classes. I will ask them to reflect on how the statue got there, what it symbolizes to our country, and what their reaction would be if anything happened to that grand lady. I would ask them to reflect on their own patriotism and ask them to define it for me.
As far as Ellis Island goes, I can honestly say this place was very different from what I expected it to be. Our social studies text contains only a small section on immigration at this particular place, and I thought it painted a pretty clear picture of what went on there. Wow! After having the tour, I can see that there is so much more to offer my students in terms of information about immigrants and how they were processed into our country. For example, I had no idea that the biggest percentage of immigrants spent an average of 3.5 hours there. I thought they spent more like 3.5 days there! Seeing the rooms and the massive buildings that were on Ellis Island was an eye opener. I had seen pictures of the Great Hall before but had no idea of the many different things that went on there. I was glad to know that most immigrants were treated with dignity, and treated by the best doctors and nurses in the country. It was heartwrenching to stand in the large, sunny room with the beautiful view only to learn that this was the last stop for the immigrants who came to this room: most were terminally ill and would never leave this room. But, it was comforting to know their last days were spent in a room as pleasant as this one.
I wish every American would have the opportunity to come and visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I think it might raise the level of patriotism in our country and might change the attitudes of some who protest that we are fighting in foreign lands. I have a daughter in the U.S. Army. While she is not fighting on the front lines, I am very proud of her service to her country. America must keep fighting for freedom!
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You’re not a dumb a lady. Dumb old ladies are the people who drive around Pueblo slowing down to a complete stop to complete before making a right turn.
Donna your idea of using your pictures of the Statue of Liberty is a great Idea to provoke thought and what is patriotism. Using the pictures of immigrants from the flash drive is another way to start a conversation of why people sacrificed so much to come to this country. The reasons those people came is what makes this country so great.
I talk to my students about standing at full attention when saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning–I even walk around the room to make sure nobody has one knee on their chair, and I also tell them it’s not a race to see who can sit down fastest. And I tell them how important it is to all of us (I also make them take off their hats when they walk in a building, which is how I was raised).
At some point in a child’s education, there should be some mandatory discussion of FDR’s Four Freedoms speech. We have so much here and are so much safer than most of the rest of the world. I think if more people had an opportunity to leave the United States for a while they might realize what an amazing place this is to live in.