September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2023
A scene from Martin Scorsese's absolutely earth shattering movie Gangs of New York. In 1863, while the country was already in the throes of a horrific civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, New York City saw tensions between two of the dominant nativist Anglo-Protestant and Irish immigrant gangs on the Lower East Side explode into full scale warfare, and later culminating in the destruction of the Draft Riots which saw almost the entire Five Points and Wall Street area gutted by flames. Even though men like Priest Vallon, the members of the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, and gangsters like William "Boss" Tweed and John Morrissey had their own shortcomings and even questionable actions due to their involvement in the conflicts of their day, they were STILL Americans, believed in the ideals of the Republic, and tried to make an arduous life during a tumultuous time as bearable as possible for the groups who gravitated towards them.
And ultimately, they were responsible for making America, and New York City the way it is throughout the 20th century. A republic of innovation, blue collar stoic backbone, unwavering ideals, and a manufacturing and industrial supergiant standing firm against the tidal waves of two world wars.
No matter WHO YOU ARE, passing through and reading this: REMEMBER in what country you are standing in right now and what this country represents. Our history has been graced by figures from all over the human spectrum, from generals who continued to lead cavalry charges into solid walls of musketry and artillery with one leg blown off by a shell, to gangsters and racketeers like Boss Tweed. And NEVER ONCE had these figures ever thought of burning or otherwise committing acts of blasphemy upon the Flag of the Republic. Because they understood at the end of the day, who they were and what they represented, even in the midst of turmoil and conflict with other interest groups of the day.
GOD, GUNS, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY made America great and continues to keep it great.
“The people in the film were part of the creation of that skyline, not the destruction of it.”
- Director Martin Scorsese, on the production of "Gangs of New York". 2006
A scene from Martin Scorsese's absolutely earth shattering movie Gangs of New York. In 1863, while the country was already in the throes of a horrific civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, New York City saw tensions between two of the dominant nativist Anglo-Protestant and Irish immigrant gangs on the Lower East Side explode into full scale warfare, and later culminating in the destruction of the Draft Riots which saw almost the entire Five Points and Wall Street area gutted by flames. Even though men like Priest Vallon, the members of the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, and gangsters like William "Boss" Tweed and John Morrissey had their own shortcomings and even questionable actions due to their involvement in the conflicts of their day, they were STILL Americans, believed in the ideals of the Republic, and tried to make an arduous life during a tumultuous time as bearable as possible for the groups who gravitated towards them.
And ultimately, they were responsible for making America, and New York City the way it is throughout the 20th century. A republic of innovation, blue collar stoic backbone, unwavering ideals, and a manufacturing and industrial supergiant standing firm against the tidal waves of two world wars.
No matter WHO YOU ARE, passing through and reading this: REMEMBER in what country you are standing in right now and what this country represents. Our history has been graced by figures from all over the human spectrum, from generals who continued to lead cavalry charges into solid walls of musketry and artillery with one leg blown off by a shell, to gangsters and racketeers like Boss Tweed. And NEVER ONCE had these figures ever thought of burning or otherwise committing acts of blasphemy upon the Flag of the Republic. Because they understood at the end of the day, who they were and what they represented, even in the midst of turmoil and conflict with other interest groups of the day.
GOD, GUNS, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY made America great and continues to keep it great.
“The people in the film were part of the creation of that skyline, not the destruction of it.”
- Director Martin Scorsese, on the production of "Gangs of New York". 2006
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