JULY FOURTH 2020

July 4th, 2020

Welcome to my blog for July 4th, 2020!!  Independence Day!!  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes 

https://placesjournal.org/article/sentinel-the-statue-of-liberty/

America is 244 years old!!  Sometimes I wonder if we can survive, but I am a “Pollyanna” and I believe in LOVE!!!

First an excerpt from a famous poem - “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus in 1883

“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!"

The poem was placed on a monument called “Liberty Enlightening the World” (but, of course, very few know this monument by this name).  

The poem refers to the “Colossus of Rhodes” - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  

Wikipedia says this about the Colossus of Rhodes (abridged and edited):

“The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate its successful defense against Demetrius Poliorcetes, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy. According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 108 feet - the tallest statue of the ancient world”

(The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed in an earthquake in 226 BC.)

So, this “New Colossus” that Emma Lazarus is the Statue of Liberty in the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey.  It technically is in New Jersey.  

The Statue of Liberty is also about 108 feet in height as the Colossus of Rhodes and was formally dedicated on October 28, 1886.  Ellis Island, the main point of entry for many immigrants was completed about four years later in 1892. After that immigrants to the United States that entered through Ellis Island would see this monument.  

The Poem “The New Colossus” is written on the tablet that Lady Liberty carries in her left arm.  

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Let’s talk about the excerpt above:

“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!"

The United States has been a melting pot for immigrants. “Give me your tired, your poor”.  Many immigrants were tired and poor.  Yearning to be free.  

I think of Gottfried and Mary Quaas - my ancestors I know the most about.  Gottfried was born less than a month after Mary in 1823 - the fifth child of Christoph and Elizabeth (Gentsch) Quaas - out of eight children in rural Saxony providence Germany (not too far from what is now the Czech Republic). Seemingly a drought ravished the area where they farmed and the family moved to an industrial area - Chemnitz, Saxony.  

Germany was not a county as such but many city-states and other states.  But, there were movements to unify Germany - and the two biggest regions were Prussia and Austria - and were jockeying for leadership. In 1848, there were revolutions around Europe - and of course - in Germany.  Gottfried was being drafted into the army.  (My history doesn’t say which one, but i’m guessing the Austria army since Austria was closer to Saxony).  

There was very little for Gottfried in Saxony.  He was being drafted to fight in wars for unification against other Germany.  He wasn’t going to inherit any land, and he and Mary decided to emigrate to the United States with their two young children.  They took trains across Germany to Bremen and a sailing ship to America (steamboats were not developed).  I think of their journey - with what little money they had, saying goodbye to the family that they would never see again, and head out to the great unknown.  They were ‘tired and poor, and yearning to be free.  

While I don’t know the other stories as well as Gottfried and Mary Quaas, I also have English, Irish, Dutch, and Scottish ancestors.  

They ended in a new, wide-open land called America and made their way to Iowa.

Yes, I have a romantic view of these immigrants - but I also have a realistic view.  Gottfried almost died on the voyage but a German Physician in New York City nursed him back to health.  It wasn’t easy - little for roads, having to clear land, build houses to survive the Iowa winters, and raise a family - without much for ‘infrastructure’.  

Other immigrants came on slave ships.  Some people came earlier and were part of the 13 colonies.  Some have European backgrounds, some Chinese and Asian backgrounds, some came from Africa, others immigrated from the Middle East, and finally, others came from south of our border, Mexico, Central, and South America.  

But, recently, we have fought the ‘melting pot’ idea.  We have had “Black Lives Matter” - and they DO - because they are AMERICANS.  I have written that we all are made in the image and likeness of God - ALL!!!  Black Lives DO Matter!!!  They made the United States Great.  

We also have stopped “tired and poor, yearning to be free” on our border and built a wall to keep them out.  I’m glad the Native Americans (Indians) didn’t erect a wall to keep my ancestors out!!!  

On this fourth of July - do think of our many heritages, AND - LET’S GET ALONG!!!

Hugs!!

Karen

*****

Here is the New Colossus Poem - complete:

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 the 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!"