Icons

I was thinking about Icons, how they come to represent a land or geographical area.

The Statue of Liberty fits the bill. Designed by Auguste Bertholi in a small town outside Paris, was a gift to America by France in admiration of the concept of liberty. Which was the promise of America. The inscription, “Give me your tired, etc” was penned by Emma Lazarus. And at the base Liberty’s feet break the chains of oppression. How beautiful is that!

The Eiffel Tower is an immediate symbol of Paris. I have a collection of miniature Eiffel Towers (and a satchel) given to me after my year in Paris. The elevator was being repaired when I visited. I climbed the stairs to the first level (great view), but not all the way to the top. I opted to picnic on the Champs de Mars, the park beneath it.

The Golden Gate Bridge has come to represent San Francisco and Northern California, in general. The image is concrete in the imagination. The bridge transformed local travel and is glorious in the sunset. I got stuck one 4th of July in the middle of the bridge (traffic stopped) and watched the fireworks from the most perfect angle.

Mt. Fuji for Japan. Big Ben for London. I’d like to know of more, out of curiosity.

In a different Icon category are celebrities. That’s moving away from the geographical.

Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton come to mind. People who are instant symbols. And indelible. Certainly that list would be extensive…