Originally published in the Spring 1988 edition of Life Times: Forum for the New World A Monumental Case by John D. MacArthur July 1986 – A Celebration LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD. Her statue is one hundred years old. Feeling "the spirit and enthusiasm of people across the country," Los Angeles Mayor Bradley says "the American Dream is alive." He calls for a symbolic monument to be built at America's western shore by 1992, the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyage. It will welcome the current wave of immigrants arriving in Los Angeles from the Pacific rim region. Good idea. As "Westward the Course of Empire" finds California at the center of the world, a little symbolic inspiration is in order. Disneyland and the Hollywood Sign are fine, but it's time to grow up. As a modern melting pot, greater Los Angeles is a microcosm of the emerging "world nation" that America is becoming. A monument here would serve as a signpost at our pacific gateway: a visible symbol of our nation. Situated on our beautiful shore, this structure would come to represent America to immigrants and citizens alike. Seen upon arrival, the monument will be a powerful symbol whose first impression expresses the essence of America in the late twentieth century. Like the statue of Liberty did for a century of immigrants, our new monument will express beyond words what America is and how we see ourselves. We get to choose this image. Quite a challenge: one that would invite suggestions from all over the world. After all, America seems to be on the mind of much of the world. Here is a place, a refuge, where a new beginning is always possible – where all you need is your self, your desire to succeed, and the willingness to work. Even if this idea of America is part dream, it is no less important. This hope is needed. America represents the unlimited possibilities of the human experience, especially in California, where anything can happen. Here a combination of climate and consciousness has created a cultural gene pool of tremendous diversity. Here has evolved a social survival of the fittest, where ideas, products, and techniques rapidly emerge to either flourish or flop. America belongs to the world. This international intimacy produces both love and hate. When we do good, humanity share our success. When we screw-up, there is a great disturbance in the Force, as violent protests erupt in places that we hardly know exist. Is it because they expect better from us? For if we blow it, we also destroy their possible future. There would then be no place left to start life over. Reflecting upon the ruins of the great pyramids, an Egyptologist observed: "There is no loneliness like the loneliness of a mighty place fallen out of its proper service to man." Similarly, there is no frustration like the anger and disappointment of a potentially great nation failing to live up to its promise. Good, we need the criticism. We need to get redirected toward the original dream. And a visible symbol of that vision will be immensely helpful. As the late Joseph Campbell believed, the next great step for the human family will be to recognize, in our daily lives, the unity that already exits. And a necessary step is the recognition of the common symbols of this unity. The desire for a monument has come at the right time. Observing the cycles of American history, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. foresees "a new mood of idealism and reform" in the 1990s, away from the selfish, shortsighted point of view that has stymied our nation's momentum. With a renewed "sense of our own best traditions," Mr. Schlesinger writes: "I suddenly got a much more vivid sense than I ever had before of the extraordinary intelligence and penetration of these fellows at the beginning of the republic. I suddenly realized how blessed we were to have such a superb founding generation." February 1988 – An Announcement WEST COST GATEWAY. The Mayor and his blue ribbon committee describe their plan for the monumental undertaking. They choose downtown Los Angeles for the site, where a new pedestrian network will link the major ethnic areas, identified by regional gateways located around the Central Gateway, which will rise above the Hollywood freeway. "The objective of the West Coast Gateway Project is to celebrate and give special recognition to the ethnic and cultural/economical/social/civic contributions made by emigrants to the United States. Furthermore, it will acknowledge the 'gateway role' that California and Los Angeles continue to maintain in welcoming new residents and visitors to America. The project will serve to create an educational and cultural symbol to honor those who have made these contributions in the past and will continue to make them in the future." (Project Purpose/Objectives) This project will be a fine addition to downtown Los Angeles. However, the overall sense one gets is that this proposal emphasizes the variety of our heritage – our diversity – although tying it together with a "welcome wagon" theme. Enough of this ethnic hangover. It's time to express the One. Remember our beleaguered Eagle? For two centuries, he has carried the message "E Pluribus Unum" urging: "Out of Many, One." The new Americans, regardless of their roots, are ready for recognition. Here in California – as elsewhere throughout this country and around the world – they are speaking out and living up to standards that reflect unity: by the way they relate to their health, their children, and the environment. There is a kind of people emerging who aspire toward a oneness, a unity of point-of-view that honors and celebrates the sacredness of life, our planet and its future. We want recognition. We want to express and share this consciousness. If there is to be a monument here to represent this nation, we want it to reflect this emerging American. Let the city developers do their best, but they cannot speak for us. They can have their downtowns; we prefer our monument to rise from the rolling, grassy hills between mountain and sea, amidst our most precious natural wonders. We want to see a monument that encourages the higher self, that reminds us of why we are here. We want to see something that is beautiful and inspiring, a timeless and timely masterpiece of our Age. It will be our message to a future, more enlightened civilization, but also a homage to ancient wisdom and to the founders of the United States who saw us in their Dream – and who gave us our freedom. We want to see the continuity between their efforts and the part we must play in America's story.

Image: "Liberty Enlightening the World" – 1920s sheet music cover

Part 2: A Monumental Construct

Liberty