Herbert A. Weiss Immigration Law Blog on Lawyers.com

We Americans are fortunate to live in a wonderful country, filled with freedom, liberty and the protection of human and civil rights, that few if any countries can match.  The United States is truly a grand experiment and an exceptional country.  As an immigration lawyer, these thoughts are always with me.  Nations and human beings are not angels, and never will be.  But I always remind myself that most people of the world run to America, not away from it.

These thoughts come to mind as I reflect on a recent trip that I made to Philadelphia, The City of Brotherly Love.  Philadelphia was a major metropolis during the colonial period, larger than Boston or New York in population.  It was the home of Benjamin Franklin, the site of the First Continental Congress, and served as our nation’s second capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, DC was being built. 

No trip to Philadelphia would be complete without visiting one of the great symbols of America, The Liberty Bell.  Commissioned in 1752, the Bell bears the biblical injunction:  “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

There is an apocryphal story that The Liberty Bell was rung on July 4, 1776, upon hearing of the of the Second Continental Congress’s vote for independence.   Historians were able to establish that this likely did not happen as there was no public announcement of the Declaration made that day.  But the myth has lived on, and really, what does it matter?  The Bell has become a symbol of something much greater and more lasting.  It is an icon of American independence, and a spirited proclamation of the liberty upon which our Republic is founded.   And for those who know the turbulent history of our American Revolution, it is a reminder of the perils we faced during that war, of the sacrifice of our patriots who pledged their lives and sacred honor to the cause, and our proud determination to seek our own way in the world because we were destined to become a great nation.  

One of the nice things I noticed on my visit was the diversity of the crowd that paraded by the Bell and who visited the other wonderful exhibits and buildings that line what is aptly named, Independence Mall.  All Americans, native or foreign-born, can marvel together at the sight of this American landmark.

Philadelphia is a lovely city with great museums and outstanding restaurants, and a colorful culture and history.  And it has The Liberty Bell.  So if you’ve never been, what are you waiting for?  Go!  Enjoy! And experience the wonderful sense of elation and pride that we Americans share in the presence of an American icon.