The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a familiar symbol of independence,
freedom, and justice in America. Originally called the State House Bell, it was
commissioned in 1751 by colonial representatives. The bell has been tolled on important
days from the colonial era to modern times. After enduring cracks, repairs, and an
exciting hideout from the British, the bell is now on display. It is rung every Fourth of
July.
In 1751, three men representing the Pennsylvania Assembly wrote a letter to their
colonial agent in London. On the fiftieth anniversary of William Penns Charter of
Privileges, they requested a bell for Philadelphias State House steeple. The agent
arranged for casting at Londons Whitechapel foundry, and the bell was delivered in
1752.
The bell was met with much excitement. First of all, it weighed an impressive 2,080
pounds! More importantly, it was a solid, solemn symbol of what the Pennsylvania
Assembly hoped to uphold. William Penn had been especially progressive with religious
freedom, Native American rights, and democracy overall. The bell was inscribed with a
Biblical passage to capture this spirit: Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all
the inhabitants thereof.
However, early on the bell cracked! Historians disagree about the source of the fissure. In
any case, the London foundry set about casting another bell. Meanwhile, two
Philadelphia men (John Pass and John Stow) attempted to repair the one that had cracked.
They figured that the alloy had been too brittle, so they added more copper. This healed
the wound, but people disliked the bells new tone. (They were aiming for a pleasant E
note.) The men tried again, and their second attempt was hung in the State House in
1753. When the re-ordered British bell arrived, it was placed elsewhere in the State
House to sound the hours. Today, the State House is known as Independence Hall.
The State House bell was rung on many famous occasions in US history. It called the
Assembly together and summoned townspeople for special announcements. It tolled
when Benjamin Franklin headed for England to address colonists grievances; it tolled for
discussion of the Sugar Act in 1764 and again for the Stamp Act in 1765; and it rang
again for the First Continental Congress in 1774. The bell continued to signal important
events, and many events were deemed important during the Revolution. A group of
citizens who lived near the bell actually petitioned for less tolling, stating that they were
inconvenienced and stressed!
Suddenly, in 1777, the citys bells were all removed. The British would soon be
occupying Philadelphia, and surely theyd melt the bells for cannon fodder. The State
House bell and more than a dozen others were moved to Zions Reformed Church in
Allentown, Pennsylvania for safekeeping. They remained hidden beneath church
floorboards until after the occupation in 1778. After its reemergence, the bell continued
to sound for important events such as elections and the Fourth of July.
It was referred to as the Independence Bell or the Old Yankees Bell until 1837 when
abolitionists noted its relevance to slavery and freedom. The bells Leviticus inscription
can be interpreted as a call to end enslavement. For example, the entire passage from
Leviticus 25:10 includes, And ye shall proclaim liberty throughout the land and ye
shall return every man unto his family. Abolitionists adopted the bell as their symbol,
and since then its been known as the Liberty Bell.
By 1846, the Liberty Bell had developed a thin crack that was affecting its sound. It was
repaired in time for George Washingtons birthday that year, but when rung on his
birthday, it cracked severely. A replica Centennial Ball was given to the city in 1876.
The original bell is now on display in a new pavilion, the Liberty Bell Center. The
Centennial replica is hung in the steeple of Independence Hall, and a third bell the
Bicentennial Ball granted by Queen Elizabeth — hangs in a nearby tower. The original
bell is still rung, though gently, every July 4th. Young descendents of famous
revolutionaries are invited to tap the bell thirteen times in celebration of the original
thirteen states.
PPPPP
(word count 692)
Tag: Philadelphia
What You Need to Know About the Philadelphia International Airport
What You Need to Know About the Philadelphia International Airport
Are you a Philadelphia resident who is interested in vacationing in another area of the world? If so, it is likely that you will need to use the Philadelphia International Airport. The Philadelphia International Airport is so well known that it isnt just popular among Philadelphia residents. In fact, residents from all over the state of Pennsylvania, as well as other nearby states, make the trip to Philadelphia just for the Philadelphia International Airport.
The Philadelphia International Airport, like many other international airports, offers service to a number of other areas. Many of these areas are considered popular vacation destinations. You will find that flights leave the Philadelphia area for Canada, Paris, London, Toronto, Amsterdam, Manchester, Dublin, among other popular locations. Air France, US Airways, Delta, American Airlines, and British Airways, are just a few of the many airlines that service all of the previously mentioned areas.
Being situated along the Eastern side of the United States works to the advantage of the Philadelphia International Airport. The location of this popular airport makes to possible to have direct flights, even to areas located overseas. This is important for many air travelers. The less stops your plane has to make, the quicker you will be able to arrive at your intended destination. However, before you can start thinking about your intended destination, you are urged to think more about the Philadelphia airport, namely their airport layout, the services offered to travelers, and the security screening procedures.
Perhaps, the most important thing that you need to be concerned with, when flying out of the Philadelphia International Airport, is airport security and air travel rules. The United States has a long list of items that are prohibited from being stored in your carryon luggage. These items include, but are not limited just to, liquids, sharp objects, flammable materials, and explosive materials. While it is important to keep the United States air travel rules in mind, it is also important to examine the air travel rules found in other areas of the world, namely the area that you will be traveling to. This will prevent unnecessary incidents from occurring in the air or in a foreign airport.
It is also advised that you familiarize yourself with the layout of the Philadelphia International Airport, especially if you have never been there before. Not only will you want to learn where you will board your plane or arrive to start the check-in process, you may also want to know where you will be when you return to the airport. Although you can easily receive airport maps as soon as you arrive at the Philadelphia International Airport, you are advised to plan ahead. By visiting www.phl.org, you should be able to find an interactive map of the airport. If you wish, you should also be able to print off that map for your records.
When it comes to parking, you will find that you have a number of different options. Those options, if you plan on leaving your vehicle at the airport while you travel overseas, include garage parking or economy parking. They are both considered long-term parking facilities. Although many travelers prefer to have their vehicles parked in a parking garage, it is normally more expensive. In fact, it is almost half as cheap if you leave your vehicle in the economy parking lots, which are outdoors. The overall cost of parking will be determined by the length of your international trip.
While waiting for you international flight or after you have returned, you may be interested in exploring what the airport has to offer. The Philadelphia International Airport, like many other large sized international airports, has a wide array of different eateries, shops, and much more. Whether you are looking to purchase a souvenir for your trip or just enjoy a nice meal, you should be able to find what you are looking for, without even having to leave the airport.
PPPPP
Word Count 656
TopWalking in New York
Business travel can be enjoyable and a productive activity. The steps you take to assure your meetings are a success are the same you will do back at your home office. But they are made more complex by the act of taking your show on the road. But sometimes the challenges of business travel involve how to handle your personal affairs efficiently and safely even as you focus on your business affairs.
Business travel can take you to many different destination environments. In the same business travel year, you could find yourself on the beaches of Miami, in the exotic cafs of San Francisco or in a heavy urban center such as Philadelphia or New York. As a business traveler, your goal is to make your stay as uneventful as possible.
But businesses travel can be dangerous. Just because you are on the corporate expense account, that doesnt mean that those who would victimize travelers will pass you over. So its important you have a plan to assure your safety on your travels. Probably one of the most vulnerable experiences you may have is finding yourself on foot in an urban setting. Whether you are just taking a walk or you find yourself on foot to return to your hotel, if that short walk occurs after dark or in a setting where you feel there might be a risk, it can be a very disconcerting feeling.
So its good to have some techniques to take yourself out of a risk category should you find yourself in that situation. In my travels, I found myself in New York quite often. New York is a town where walking from place to place is not that uncommon. So an experienced business traveler gave me some good advice on how to walk about in a town like New York and remove yourself from danger even before it befalls you. These tips can be useful in just about any urban city in the world. And when you have some good ideas about how to navigate such a situation, your confidence level goes up. Some of my friends tips included
*Dont stare up. Dont look like tourist by staring at the tall buildings. Walk like someone who has been here for years.
*Dont take out your wallet. Get to an indoor location to look at your wallet. Dont give anyone a signal of where your valuables are on your person.
*Walk with intention. Walk as if you are late for an appointment. Be in a hurry and impatient with others on the street. Look slightly irritated and in a hurry. Dont look like a victim.
*Dont make eye contact. In an urban setting, the others on the street are not people to you. Dont look at them or give them a chance to get your attention. Look bored.
*Keep an escape route. If you are walking on a sidewalk, you can walk very close to the street. Keep an eye on the street itself. If you sense the rush of an assailant, you can dash right into traffic and disrupt moving vehicles. It is guaranteed that no mugger wants to carry out his crime in that situation.
*Make a fuss. If you see a situation evolving that could be dangerous, create a stir on the street. Get in the middle of the biggest and noisiest situation you can find or create. Noise and crowds frighten off assailants every time.
These are simple rules but they can be used in almost any urban setting you may encounter. So keep these guidelines tucked away. The moment when become useful wont announce itself. So if you are ready to walk in New York, like a New Yorker, your ability to stay out of danger will pay off.
PPPPP 634
Top