TwilightCafé

Mother of Exiles

  "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

Famous lines, but do you know the rest of the poem that rests under the feet of one of the greatest symbols of freedom in the world?

                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 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 our teeming shore,
      Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
       I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

-Emma Lazarus, 1849-1887

Emma Lazarus originally wrote these lines for the Statue of Liberty for the Art Loan Fund Exhibition, a project by artists and writers to help raise money for the statue's pedestal. With a title that serves as a reference to the Colossus of Rhodes, considered one of the seven wonders of the world, this poem speaks more eloquently than I can on what makes this country great. I am moved by the calling of our beautiful Liberty the "Mother of Exiles". I don't think we often remember that this was one of our badges of honor, perhaps the highest of them all, that we were the haven for the people who had nowhere else to go. We were the land of dreams of freedom. We were the safe port in the storm.

Can we still say the same?

Happy Valentine's Day

It's been real busy around here between work and trying to fix up the house a bit. I am also still writing for the magazine and am working on getting into graduate school soon. STRESS! I haven't even gotten to read much lately, which is a crime in and of itself. :)

On the library track, I am looking into the possibility of specializing in sequential art cataloging and preservation. For the layman, it's a fancy way to say I'll collect comics. :) There are two universities with sequential art (comics) libraries, so there is precedent. Of course I probably won't get to exercise the specialty that much, but it's worth a shot. :)

what does it mean, really?

I worry sometimes that today has changed in meaning from when it was first created as a national holiday. How many people really take the time to go visit the graves of their family members that fell in battle? Or even tip the hat to those in other families who died for the safety of Americans they never met or even knew existed? What about the soldiers who vehemently disagree with my philosophy of life but still gave theirs for my right to believe what I want?

I worry that today is just another day people don't have to go to work so they can spend the weekend grilling burgers and watching parades that don't mean much any more. Or this is the weekend people take advantage of the sales.

Then I worry about the country being split over fundemental value systems, neither side seeing that we all really want the same thing, we just disagree on how best to accomplish that goal. I resent the silent implication that those who oppose GW's policies and the war also hate freedom and democracy and the troops and love the terrorists. I hate that everything has become black and white on both sides. This must be what some people felt like in the Civil war. How do we get back to being a nation united for just causes? How do I regain the feeling that my representatives actually speak for me and my best interests?

Aside from all that, I am thankful to all the veterans (and current troops) throughout the history of this country for helping create a place where I, as a female, can go to school, drive cars, work at a job I really enjoy with little fear of harassment and vote.

Happy Memorial Day

green and geeky

Not much to say today except Happy St. Paddy's Day. In lieu of coming up with something cool to say myself, I direct you to Michael Hanscom's blog, eclecticism, where he has an amazing pre-review and explanation of an up-and-coming Star Trek movie, Star Trek XI. Just below that entry is one about the next Star Wars movie and how the trailers lure us into a false sense of security that this time the movie will be better than the last ones and return to the glory that was episodes 4-6. I can't link to it, though, as I get an error page each time I try. So just go look for yourselves. :)

addendum: Michael sent this link along to the Star Wars entry. It worked for me and should work for you too.

n

Happy V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Greeting Card Made-Up Holiday AKA V-Day!  :)

Happy V-Day, and go see the Vagina Monologues if it is playing in your area. Support the fight against domestic violence. And remember, abuse isn't only physical, it is verbal, emotional as well.

social niceties

A very happy Fat Tuesday to you all! I hope you are all out having lots of fun! Not being Catholic, however, I will not be participating in Ash Wednesday or the accompanying period of Lent. Although I probably should. What to give up, though?

Here from Doc is the latest quiz. He got it from Pam.

Category I - The Hub
You're a 'people person'. Networking runs in your
blood. Consequently, you can move through most
social circles with ease.

What Type of Social Entity are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

shadows and tsunami benefits

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Candlemas! Punxatawny Pete saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter. Did you know there is another groundhog in Georgia? Gen. Beauregard Lee, who did not see his shadow this morning. Does this mean only the North has 6 more weeks of winter? Is this Gen. Lee an official Groundhog Day groundhog? :)

Seems like most of my time lately is being spent costuming and rehearsing for the next hafla, in which my troupe is performing. We have some new girls added and my instructor is dancing with us as well. It is a "spear" routine, although really it is more like a staff routine. I think it is amazing and will be really great to watch. For those of you in the DFW area, the performance will be March 5 at 8 pm at the Horizon Unitarian Church on Hebron in Carrollton.

Also on the bellydance forefront is a tsunami benefit dance and set of workshops on February 27th at the Victory Arts Center in Ft. Worth. Actually, bellydancers are getting together all across the nation to dance for the tsunami victims, and you can get that information here:  http://www.dancefromtheheart.org/. I urge you all to find the performance near you and participate, donate, enjoy the show. Volunteer your time if you like. Donations will go to Oxfam.

ring out the old, ring in the new

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2005 find you surrounded by people who love you, with enough to make ends meet and then some, in excellent health.

Merry Christmas

Happy Yule, Happy New Year everyone! I'm home again and exhausted from all the holiday cheer. I'm gonna drop in bed now, but I'll find something cool to post about this weekend. Meanwhile, eat up and drink up and go hit all the post-Xmas sales!

a little Christmas humor

I found this on the PUNS! tribe and had to share. :)

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What do they call Santa's helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

What do you call Santa Claus after he's fallen into a fireplace?
Krisp Kringle.

Which of Santa's reindeer needs to mind his manners the most?
"Rude"olph.

Where do Santa's reindeer like to stop for lunch?
Deery Queen.

What do you call the fear of getting stuck while sliding down a chimney?
Santa Claus-trophobia.

What nationality is Santa Claus?
North Polish.

What do you call a bunch of grandmasters of chess bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?
Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?
Fleece Navidad.

What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?
Ribbonhood.

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.