Valdosta State University - Pinecone Yearbook (Valdosta, GA)

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Made In The Q S 0 A O ln one stunning image recognized around the world, the Statue of Liberty says America Conceived by Frenchman Edouard Rene Lefeure de Laboulaye as a monument to American independence, the Lady has become a symbol of freedom and pride that citizens have taken into their hearts. French sculptor, Frederick-August Bartholdi spent 15 years turning Laboulaye's idea into reality. ln 1886, after teasing Americans with glimpses of her arm and torch, Bartholdi unveiled the Statue of Liberty. One-hundred years later, after having a 31-million dollar face-lift, the Lady was unveiled once more. ln a time when Am- erica's pride was at it's highest, the celebration of Liberty's birth- day and relighting of her torch provided the final great gasp for a nation whose stature was being challenged elsewhere. Ameri- cans had become targets for terrorists abroad. The destruction of the Challenger space shuttle and fiery deaths of her 7 crew- members had grounded America's venture into space. Blue-col- lar workers watched helplessly as their livelihoods disappeared, and they faced changes that would leave them asking, Where do l fit in? In 1984, rock megastar Bruce Springsteen became the blue- collar troubadour with the release of his album Born In The U.S.A. His carefully written songs have been compared to letters from home, as he articulates the hopes and fears of an entire gen- eration and class of people. ln the case of the title cut Born In The U.S.A., Springsteen creates an anthem about a guy who gets drafted, sent to Vietnam, then to prison and various other raw deals, but still he remains a cool rockin' Daddy in the U.S.A. In response to the blue-collar workers' question of Where do l fit in? Frank Beaver, professor of communications at the University of Michigan, states We are moving into an uncertain zone, we just aren't quite sure where we are now. The patriotic symbols and the upbeat movies, they help us cope with the un- certainty. Q,fOpening A Sylvester Stallone, in his Rocky movie series gives us a hero in Rocky Balboa. In a time when we need heros, Rocky lets us know that despite seemingly insurmountable odds, there is still hope for victory. lt is possible for the underdog to come out on top. For over Q00 years the underdog has been winning in this country. As our American Constitution celeb- rates its bicentennial anniversary this year we are reminded how a small group of underdogs rose up against an oppressive English rule to become one of the mightiest nations in the world. So, with all of this in mind there is still the question of Where do I fit in? Ask yourself this question and then take a look at the people around you. What do you see? You see individuals from all walks of life. Some are rich, some are poor, but most live somewhere inbetween. In our American melting pot it is customary to shake hands when we meet people. Remember that the next time you meet someone for the first time. Remember, and be proud to be a cool rockin' Daddy in the U.S.A. F iff i 5, ., wi .Q - 4 -'Hi lw-It mi 1 -- , fggwns ' sq 0' . 24 -1 I ' '-. ft? 'cu..ntf is V 6 ' ' - ' i- A

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IiI.IlI5 LELL' ' gfcrwic .!4Hl0I l.C6lll6l Of the many types of leans sold on todays market, only one deserves to be called a classic. These leans are the oldest and the best selling They are the kind that shrink-to-fit, have a button fly and riveted pockets. They are, of course Levi's 501 Blues. The Levis legend begins in 1880, when a Bavarian immigrant named Levi Strauss created the world's first pair ofjeans'-almost by accident. lf things had gone as planned, Levi's would be tents and not leans. Like thousands of people during his time, Levi Strauss made his way west to the California coast. But, unlike most of these settlers, Levi intended to make his fortune, not by panning for gold, but by selling dry goods to the miners. Upon his arrival to the gold country Strauss was greeted with words that would shape history: 'Should have brought pants. Pants dont wear worth a hoot up in the diggin's. Strauss listened well, and took his rolls of brown tent can- vas, from amongst his wares, to a tailor who made them into pants. Strauss called these pants by their lot number, 501. The 501 's Cor as his customers preferred to call them Those pants of Levi's D were an instant hit with the miners because of their durability. When Strauss ran out of canvas, he switched to a tough cot- ton fabric loomed in Nimes, France. This new material was one of the strongest known, and was called serge de Nimes , which Americans soon shortened to denim . Back in the 1880's it was an innovative idea, making pants out of tent material. Levi Strauss rose to a challenge and carved a niche for himself in American culture. But even Strauss might be surprised to find that his newfangled idea is still alive and looking pretty much the same even after more than 195 years. ity-- ... -. .. is fain.