TEARS
Usually, men tend to avoid being seen crying in public.
It is considered to be a mark of manhood to forgo tears , a thing women and weakling men are expected to do , but not red-blooded American he-men. It simply is not done.
I remember one time, however, in which I witnessed a group of widely experienced, life-hardened men - all weeping.
I can recall only on occasion on which I saw this happen and I dare say it is a common sight at the same location just about any day.
It happened on the old Queen Mary when she was in use as a troop carrier during World War II. On deck, coming into the western end of Long Island Sound, there stood around me a rough, cross-section of the military might which had just crushed Hitler's reign in Germany. The hulk of an individual who stood next to me was clothed in torn, gray sweat shirt and fatigue trousers. He was joking loudly and conversing with others in typically, dirt-tainted, army cross-talk. He was loud and abusive reflecting the mood of a crowd of men forced together by circumstances and being returned to visit a home life they had missed - many of us for several years.
Suddenly he became quiet. I describe his actions among us to avoid telling you of my own reactions to the sight of the Statue of Liberty appearing out of a low haze ahead of us ...off to the left. It was new sight for most of us because most eastbound troopships had departed these shores under cover of protective darkness. The entire group was more or less silent as such as a group
of clumsy, ill-situated men can be. The sweat-scented body beside me had a half-said and admiration-tainted “Damn!” on his lips and generous tears trickled down his beard .Time froze for the moment I think. We were leaving the “Old Girl” astern before conversation returned. He mood was ended, but not really a thing of the past.
We , perhaps, do not appreciate what the Statue of Liberty means to so many thousands of people – citizens and non-citizens of this land of true freedom and opportunity. It has only recently been reopened to visitors after the security and financial closing of the historic site as a part of September 11th precautions. It has been included on Terrorist's lists calling for its destruction and we must do everything possible to prevent such a disaster. True, destruction of the Stature of Liberty might be less costly in human lives than any of the potential sites ...far few actual lives lost but many, many more souls of men and women who revere its presence among us as Frances' greatest gift to the western world.
I challenge anyone to take the Tears Test of watching the Statue of Liberty appear out of mists.
A.L.M. August 8, 2004 [c492wds]
