Liberty Lost

Lady Liberty

As everyone in the world knows, Lady Liberty stands on Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbor. It is a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet.

This statue is not only an icon of the United States it is an icon of freedom. Lady Liberty still personifies freedom from despotism: She still stands for political independence, autonomy, self-determination, self-government, and self-rule; but the freedoms she respresents are being threatened.

Freedom from arbitrary, unjust, or despotic government or control.
Freedom from external or foreign rule.
Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, etc.
Freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint.
Freedom or right to frequent or use a place.
Freedom of choice; such as liberty of opinion and liberty of worship.
Freedom to deliberately deviate from normally applicable rules or practices.
Freedom to act or judge on one's own.
Freedom to act, believe, or express oneself without externally imposed restraints.
Freedom from servitude, confinement, or oppression.
Freedom to engage in certain actions without control or interference: Specifically the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.

"When liberty becomes license dictatorship is near." [Will Durant]

"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" [Patrick Henry]

"Liberty is liberty, not equality or fairness or justice or human happiness or a quiet conscience." [Isaiah Berlin]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." [Thomas Jefferson]

"Liberty is precious; so precious that it must be rationed." [Lenin]