My Seventh Artifact-Big Ben

Who: The British

What: Big Ben

Where: Westminster, London

When: Cast on 10th April 1858.

Why: Center of British politics and culture. Epitome of our trip and my personal experiences.

Big Ben

“Look, a clock. We don’t have that in America.” ~ Ron Swanson

It is nothing short of a symbol of British might and greatness. It is one of the most recognizable manmade structures on Earth. It is connected to Parliament, and within Parliament’s walls, the British government carried out a myriad of tasks over the centuries that changed the course of history time and time again. The Gunpowder Plot, the colonial taxations, Allied planning during World War II. They were all carried out here. A marriage of the old and new. A forum for nobles and commoners to come together and make plans for the greater good of the Empire. It represents a good deal of what the British people are worth. Their Queen, their military, their ambitions, their history, their traditions. They are embellished in the walls of this behemoth. And as long as the clock tower keeps ticking, the echoes of the past will meld with those of the present, and carry themselves well into the distant future.

Above all else, the London Honors trip opened my eyes to the importance of other peoples’ traditions and values, alongside respecting those traditions and values. And furthermore, it taught me the importance of being friendly, independent, and hungry for greater knowledge. It was truly a priceless experience, and I am honored to have undertaken it.

Big Ben (and the surrounding buildings) is the essence of our trip. It is the essence of the British peoples.

Parliament

Parliament and the River Thames.

 Citation:

  • Fox, Gy. “BigBenFacts.” BigBenFacts. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.bigbenfacts.co.uk/facts/>.

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