Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

DARYL LOTT
daryl’s deliberations
“Don’t!”
Have you ever visited the
Capitol of the United States? It’s
an impressive monument that
serves as a temple to democracy.
The rotunda of the great
complex is topped with a statue
named “Freedom.” It sits so
high that passersby can’t really
see its details. The construction
and extension of the building
was started in the 1850’s. There
was much controversy because
it would cost the taxpayers a
lot of money. In those days the
government didn’t spend money
it didn’t have.
But the building had
a champion who
would navigate
the troubled waters
and provide the
Union with a building
stately enough
to house the entire
Legislative Branch of
our government. The
statue, the rotunda,
the expansion to two
houses, the hallway
between the houses
all owe their existence
to their champion:
Senator Jefferson
Davis (D-Miss).
That’s another story
for another time.
The statue appears
as a three-dimensional
figure atop the
dome, but directly
under the dome are
paintings. The most famous one
is Washington appearing as a
divine figure. Nearby, however, is
our friend, “Freedom.” I took the
photo accompanying this essay
and I draw your attention to it.
The painting was done as the
Capitol was nearing completion
during the Civil War. Probably
much to Senator Jefferson
Davis’s chagrin, “Freedom” is
on the move. She has no olive
branches or doves in her arsenal.
People are in trouble. People are
dying. Liberty is on the march
DARYL LOTT
as the United States
Army frees more and
more of the enslaved.
“Freedom” is drawing
all those who wish
to be free under the
weapons she does not
bear in vain. The Eagle
soars with “Freedom”
clutching arrows to be
loosed in her name.
“Freedom” has cried,
“Havoc!” The dogs of
war have slipped their
chains.
I don’t think it’s often
that “Freedom” draws
her deadly arsenal
and threatens those
who would murder
and sow mayhem, but
now is one of those
times. As the U.S.S.
Gerald R Ford and her
lethal escorts provide
the cover Israel
110 The BLUES