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Location: Watching half my country turn into Gilead
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In terms of popularity, the Statue of Liberty, easily. Right or wrong, NYC has far more exposure than Philadelphia, and this has translated into the battle of the Liberty symbols. How many movies can you name that feature the Liberty Bell/Independence Hall in some capacity? Off the top of my head, I can think of one (National Treasure). Now do the same for the Statue of Liberty--there's no comparison. And this goes across the board, not just in film but culture in general. The Statue of Liberty is far more famous than the Liberty Bell.
Now if you want to debate significance, that's a tricky thing to discuss. One symbolizes the birthplace of the nation; the other, it's promise of freedom to all. I'd still go with the Statue of Liberty, personally.
I voted the Statue of Liberty. The bell is a icon of the Revolution and the idea of what America should be. The statue is an icon of our massive growth and status as a world power.
Liberty Bell, in my opinion. While the Statue of Liberty is much more well known, I feel like, despite the name, it isn't symbolic of American Liberty or, if it is, that it is more symbolic of acceptance and the country's origins as a nation of immigrants.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of liberty that really transcends the US while still being deeply rooted the ethos of America. It's a symbol of freedom generally, whether imperfect or pure, the world over. It's kind of ironic that some commenters might suggest that the Statue of Liberty - a personification of Libertas, gift from France and also a world UNESCO site with numerous gifted scale and original replicas around the globe - is actually not as emphatically a symbol of American liberty or of American freedom. That may be true, only in the sense of its more universal significance. And even though we have heaped a lot of our own national politics, divisions and baggage on her, the statue remains a pretty resolute reminder of American aspirations both now and in the past. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are undeniably iconic American symbols, yet imho are more symbolic of America's founding and the liberty that comes chiefly from self-governance. I think they invite more of a conversation about when a people must 'fight' for liberty for its own sake.
After thinking about it a little more, I'd say it's the Statue of Liberty. Over time, the notion of American liberty has evolved and has come to include extension of that liberty beyond the geographic shores of America--"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free..." as the inscription on the statue states. I think the Liberty Bell/Independence Hall primarily represent a specific type of liberty: from the tyranny of England.
Good points all around. The Statue of Liberty in general holds more cultural prominence, though that doesn't necessarily make it more significant. I will say though that the Liberty Bell was a major symbol in the fight against slavery which is often not greatly noted.
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