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NEWS > U.S.A. > WINDED VISITORS ANNOYED AS STATUE OF LIBERTY REOPENS
WINDED VISITORS ANNOYED AS STATUE OF LIBERTY REOPENS
July 4 2009
New York, NY – The Statue of Liberty has long stood for everything great about the United States. First presented to the country by France as a celebration of the first centennial, the statue later became a beacon of freedom for immigrants making their way to the shores of the country. Since its dedication in 1886 Lady Liberty has come
to define for many not only what is great about America but has become a spotlight illuminating the idea and vision of the country and serving as a source of identity for Americans across all cultural and racial backgrounds.
It has not been since the attacks against that American identity that the crown of the statue has been accessible to the public. Closed entirely after the 9/11 attacks Liberty Island was eventually reopened in 2004. It has been a long five wait but officials have now reopened the interior of the statue and allowed visitors to look out on the cityscape of New York from the crown of the Liberty. Not all are entirely happy with the prospect though after finding that the statue still utilized stairs to access to highest points of Liberty, leaving many breathlessly protesting the lack of elevator access.
“I’ve wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty my entire life but haven’t ever been able to
before. Once I learned that they were reopening the interior I thought it would be the
perfect opportunity to bring my kids to see her and experience something that is uniquely American. I didn’t know I’d have to do so much walking though,” said Mike Campbell of Pittsburgh. “You have to walk to the ferry then you have to walk to the statue. You wait forever going through security and then you get inside and there’s these huge stairs. I was expecting an elevator or at least an escalator. I really wasn’t happy at all. This is American, not Walkallovertheplaceistan.”
Because of the narrow interior and various obstacles meant to keep the statue structurally sound installing an escalator has been deemed impossible. Island officials reportedly had been very concerned about the complaints revolving around the long climb b
ut made the decision to reopen regardless of potential complaints.
“The cold hard reality is people have been cut off from access to the Statue for eight years. An entire generation has grown up without knowing what it means to climb a massive set of stairs inside a giant metal structure. They have been accustomed to a certain style of living and they want to maintain that. Add to the problem the fact that in the last decade Americans have generally become more and more obese and you compound the problem even more,” said Scrape TV American analyst Dave Davidson. “Keep in mind that this isn’t a one way trip. When you get to the top you have to come back down again and that is wreaking havoc on some of the more overweight and lazier patrons that want a chance to see the world from Liberty’s point of view.”
The majority of the complaints regarding the climb is coming from native born Americans. New arrivals and other immigrants, due in part to better eating habits, reportedly have much less trouble climbing the 354 steps to the top of the monument. 
“Because this is an American monument celebrating the essence of the country perhaps officials should look at a change to the structure. America has changed dramatically since the statue was first dedicated – from a compelling a growing colony to the most powerful country on the planet – and that should be reflected in the greatest monument in the country,” continued Davidson. “Outside the addition of an elevator they could also look at installing a burger stand in the crown. Perhaps add big screen televisions around the base and some nice comfy couches. That would go a long way to making people feel more comfortable with their favourite monument and make them feel like they are truly in the United States.”
Officials have reportedly ditched plans to expand the girth of the body in order to accommodate more visitors but are reconsidering those plans.
Mike Michaels, American Correspondent
NEWS > U.S.A. > WINDED VISITORS ANNOYED AS STATUE OF LIBERTY CROWN REOPENS
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