A Symbol of America
Clip: Episode 5 | 47sVideo has Closed Captions
David Rubenstein asks Professor Ed Berenson why Lady Liberty is a symbol of America.
The statue's official name, "Liberty Enlightening the World," embodies the ideals of liberty, democracy, and enlightenment. It stands as a beacon of hope, welcoming immigrants and symbolizing the United States as a land of freedom and opportunity. In this clip, David Rubenstein asks Ed Berenson, Chair and Professor of History at New York University, why Lady Liberty is a symbol of America.
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Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein is a production of Show of Force, DMR Productions, and WETA Washington, D.C. David M. Rubenstein is the host and executive...
A Symbol of America
Clip: Episode 5 | 47sVideo has Closed Captions
The statue's official name, "Liberty Enlightening the World," embodies the ideals of liberty, democracy, and enlightenment. It stands as a beacon of hope, welcoming immigrants and symbolizing the United States as a land of freedom and opportunity. In this clip, David Rubenstein asks Ed Berenson, Chair and Professor of History at New York University, why Lady Liberty is a symbol of America.
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Our Symbols and Stories
David Rubenstein examines the history of America through some of its most iconic symbols, objects and places, in conversation with historical thinkers, community members and other experts. Together, they dive deep into each symbol’s history, using them as a gateway to understanding America’s past and present.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- Is the Statue of Liberty a symbol of the United States in your mind?
- Yes, absolutely.
Absolutely.
- Why?
- Because so many people around the world, and in this country see the United States, rightly/wrongly, as the central place of freedom, and so the Statue of Liberty stands for that.
I mean, it's just been so many things, and what you often see is symbols changing over time because each historical era puts its own stamp on a monument, or some symbol, and that's, I think, the way it should be.
A Catalyst for Reflection on Our Past Transgressions
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Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith reflects on Lady Liberty's potential as an agent of change. (1m 6s)
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America's greatest symbol has its roots in a small town in France, 300 miles from Paris. (3m 56s)
How the Statue of Liberty's Anti-Slavery Origins Evolved
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A look at how Lady Liberty's anti-slavery origins and design changed over time. (3m 41s)
A Poem for All Americans, About Immigration
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A look at how the poem, "The New Colossus" came to be engraved on the Statue of Liberty. (55s)
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It's hard to argue that there's a more iconic symbol of America than the Statue of Liberty (31s)
"Their Immigration Story Becomes the Story of Their Life"
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David Rubenstein visits Ellis Island with Atlantic writer Caitlin Dickerson. (2m 45s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein is a production of Show of Force, DMR Productions, and WETA Washington, D.C. David M. Rubenstein is the host and executive...