Summer Blog Post #2

  In my summer holiday, I also visited New York City. The stark difference between the towns and cities of Alaska and downtown New York was the abundance of cultures found in the city. Even in the crowded streets surrounding Times Square, there were always restaurants, shops, advertisements, even artworks that had been inspired or taken from other countries or were inspired by the history of New York City.

  One such artwork was in Midtown, painted by Eduardo Kobra, a Brazilian artist. At first people were skeptical as this artwork did not seem like it was painted, but rather, an image printed onto the wall. But, upon closer inspection, the outline of the bricks could be seen with the rough and uneven surface of the building itself, adding to the idea that this painting, this part of New York’s history, truly was an integrated and real part of the city’s history, just as that building was a part of Midtown. It had the bright red and blue of the US flag with the firefighter, wearing a uniform in a kaleidoscope of colors, staring down on the very stars they’re kneeling on. It reminded me of how it was the duty of the fire department and law enforcement and healthcare system to protect the people of the US from harm and save them from disaster. So seeing that firefighter kneel on the stars, or rather, kneeling to the stars, or states, that they are sworn to protect was, to me, the very image that expresses how far these people would go to save others; even giving up their own lives, as had happened years ago.

Image Source: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-giant-mural-of-a-firefighter-was-unveiled-in-midtown-on-9-11

  To put perspective into this piece of artwork, this firefighter represents the many firefighters who lost their lives trying to save the victims of 9 / 11. The hatchet from the painting is a tool used by the fire department to try to break away debris to save victims trapped under the rubble of the buildings. Almost 3,000 people had lost their lives with 343 of them being the very same firefighters that died that day trying to save them. Now, 200 more have died throughout the years after the attack due to the illness or illnesses they received while trying to save victims of the attack.

  It is from this that I was able to see how New York values its history, even if the events are dark and sorrowful. New York City brings them to life with the many cultures the city inhabits, allowing the city to grow and to celebrate its uniqueness. Even at the memorial for the Twin Towers, I saw people of every culture, every race and every religion giving their respects and appreciating the history of the city, showing how rich the history and how diverse the communities of New York City are.