A Nation Rising Against Terrorism (7): Ellis Island - 2002-09-03

Ellis Island, which we were supposed to visit today, reminds one of ancient and mysterious lands that can now only be found in movies. The palace-like immigration office on Ellis Island, with its three-arched entrance and semi-circular arches reflecting 18th and 19th-century French architecture, piques one's interest in its history. This island was, in fact, a gateway that welcomed over twenty-two million freedom-loving people between 1892 and 1924. These were individuals seeking freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and a better life in the United States; they headed to New York and created the story of an island that itself symbolizes freedom. In 1965, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument due to its unique historical significance. I tell myself that a country that recognizes and practices freedom undoubtedly respects its symbol of freedom enough to establish a national museum for it. The American Immigration House, at a cost of $162 million, opened to the public as a 'national museum' in 1990 after six years of restoration. It comes to mind that merely obtaining freedom is not enough; safeguarding and cherishing it is also of great value, which is why freedom in this land blossoms more each day, and new aspects of it can be seen in the lives of every single citizen of America. In New York City, on days when the weather was nice and clear, one could easily see the Twin Towers, which were reduced to rubble by regressive ideologies, from as far as twenty-three kilometers away; thus, not only the Statue of Liberty but also Ellis Island and its palace-like building, which was the entry point to New York Island, were easily visible. On the immigration island to freedom, a wall of honor has been erected in respect for the people who entered the United States through this port. This wall honors those who lost their lives in the pursuit of immigration to this land and in the effort to build the United States. Families and descendants, and perhaps even the unseen of the immigrants who stepped onto Ellis Island, can search for news of their ancestors and find them by referring to the list of passengers or those who became U.S. citizens, through the U.S. Census archives. Every search in this area has its own characteristics. The National Archives of the United States holds records of entries to the port of New York from 1892 to 1924; it is only necessary to know the individual's name, approximate age at the time of entry to New York, approximate date of entry, and the name of the port of origin. The foundation established as the 'Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation' easily provides records of transatlantic passengers to researchers. The ancestry of the passengers, their gender, and their marital status also play a role in the researchers' work. I do not stray from the thoughts of millions of people whose love for being free and speaking freely has brought them to an unfamiliar yet renowned land.