Lady Liberty Symbolizes All That’s Right about the United States in a Uniquely Powerful Way This year, in the weeks before 9/11, I started to think about what I believe is the most powerful symbol of all that is right about the United States, not just for Americans but for people around the world. also began to think that the only thing worse than losing the Twin Towers in 2001 would have been losing the Statue of Liberty, too. This may be more about loving the Statue of Liberty than about marketing. So I might be slightly off-topic.

1776     Continental Congress changed the name from the United Colonies to the United States. 1850     California was admitted to the US as the 31st state. 2001     September 11th, 2001 changed from a mere date on the calendar … to become 9/11 in our collective national memory.  1565     North America saw its first permanent European settlement:  St. Augustine, Florida.

0160; Opening with a greeting of peace, assalaamu alaykum , President Obama told the assembled Cairo audience that he had come to seek a new beginning: I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. 0160; Obama stated the problem in honest and forthright terms: We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world - tension rooted in historical