Discussions on "Sunday Morning" (6th of July) this week

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York Harbor, initially met with a mix of skepticism and reluctance from Americans. Fundraising efforts had been slow, and it took 15 years for the statue to be fully completed and accepted by the public[1].

Originally, the statue's symbolism was closely tied to themes of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Commissioned by French abolitionist Édouard René de Laboulaye, the statue was intended to symbolize liberty, freedom from oppression, and the end of slavery[2][3].

However, the association with immigration grew gradually, especially in the early to mid-20th century. This shift was largely due to the massive influx of immigrants arriving in the U.S. through Ellis Island, which lies near Liberty Island[2][3].

The poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, with its welcoming vision of "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," was written to support fundraising for the statue and later became synonymous with the statue’s image as a beacon to immigrants. The poem was placed on a plaque on the statue’s pedestal, helping cement its identity as a symbol of hope for immigrants[4].

Today, the Statue of Liberty stands as a powerful national symbol representing the United States as a nation of immigrants. It embodies the ideals of freedom, refuge, and opportunity for millions who entered America, particularly through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. The statue’s torch symbolizes enlightenment, while broken chains at its feet represent the end of oppression[1][2][3][4].

As America's self-image has evolved, so too has the understanding of the Statue of Liberty. From a symbol of the end of slavery and the Civil War to a beacon of hope for immigrants, the statue has come to represent the diverse and inclusive nation that America has become.

In other news, "Jaws" turns 50 this year and will be celebrated with 50th anniversary screenings beginning on August 29. For those who can't make it to the theatre, the film will be available on 4K and Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment.

Meanwhile, "Sunday Morning" on our News app streams at 11:00 a.m. ET, featuring correspondent Mo Rocca exploring how the opening of Ellis Island, the end of restrictive immigration quotas, and John F. Kennedy's evocation of the United States as "a nation of immigrants" transformed our country.

For bookworms, "Food Fights & Culture Wars: A Secret History of Taste" by Tom Nealon is available in Trade Paperback and eBook formats, as is "The Jaws Log: Expanded Edition" with shooting script. For those interested in Mark Twain, "Mark Twain" by Ron Chernow is available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio formats.

Lastly, the Twain on Main Festival takes place in Hannibal, Mo., while the Mark Twain House & Museum is located in Hartford, Conn. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum and the Mark Twain Riverboat are both located in Hannibal, Mo. The Mark Twain Papers & Project is based at the University of California, Berkeley Library.

[1] "Statue of Liberty: A Brief History." National Park Service. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 05 June 2023. [2] "The Statue of Liberty: A Symbol of Immigration." National Park Service. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 05 June 2023. [3] "The Statue of Liberty and the Abolition of Slavery." National Park Service. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 05 June 2023. [4] "The New Colossus." National Park Service. National Park Service, n.d. Web. 05 June 2023.

In the realm of entertainment, the 50th anniversary of the classic film "Jaws" is being celebrated with special screenings, and the movie will also be available for home viewing in 4K and Blu-ray formats.
On the news app, the popular segment "Sunday Morning" streams at 11:00 a.m. ET, where correspondent Mo Rocca discusses the impact of immigration on the United States, focusing on the opening of Ellis Island, the abolition of restrictive immigration quotas, and John F. Kennedy's declaration of America as a nation of immigrants.
For book enthusiasts, a variety of titles are available, including "Food Fights & Culture Wars: A Secret History of Taste", "The Jaws Log: Expanded Edition", and a biography on Mark Twain entitled "Mark Twain" by Ron Chernow, which can be found in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio formats.