In a recent post to start the new year, I shared some thoughts about what principles I believe these United States of America are founded and have endured for more than two hundred and fifty years: Equality, Freedom, Opportunity, Justice.

That said, I also know it’s a tall order and we’re not where we should be or can be as a society. This America was founded and endures through conflict and strife and debate to make the progress we’ve realized so far.

But there’s more to do.

Soon after the Statue of Liberty was unveiled at the end of the 19th Century, about this statue intended as a symbol of freedom and justice, it was written in an Ohio newspaper,

“Liberty enlightening the world,” indeed! The expression makes us sick. This government is a howling farce. It can not or rather does not protect its citizens within its own borders.

Shove the Bartholdi statue, torch and all, into the ocean until the “liberty” of this country is such as to make it possible for an inoffensive and industrious colored man to earn a respectable living for himself and family, without being ku-kluxed, perhaps murdered, his daughter and wife outraged, and his property destroyed. The idea of the “liberty” of this country “enlightening the world,” or even Patagonia, is ridiculous in the extreme.^”

Yes indeed, more than 100 years later, much more work to do in this America.