The Liberty Clock

July 8, 2008 – 9:40 pm

My conversation partner had been a professional woman in her own country. She was self-confident. Her English was very good. Last week she told me she was planning to go to Philadelphia.

“My husband and I hope to see the Liberty Clock when we go to Philadelphia,” she said.

“There’s no such thing as the Liberty Clock,” I said. “In Philadelphia, the big attraction is the Liberty Bell. It has a big crack in it.”

Yesterday was one week later, and my student was back from her trip to Philadelphia.

“Tell me all about your trip,” I said.

“We saw the Liberty Bell,” she said enthusiastically. Then she added, “There was also that clock.”

“What clock?” I asked.

“That big clock I was telling you about last week,” she answered confidently.

I felt irritated that she was bringing up this “Liberty Clock” again. The United States doesn’t have any such clock in its history. She seemed to be saying that she knew more than I knew about the history of my own country.

“Of course you saw a big clock,” I said patiently. “All American cities have big clocks.”

But my student had spoken with such absolute self-assurance that I began to doubt myself and think she might be right. So, when I got home, I asked my husband, “Did you ever hear of a Liberty Clock in Philadelphia?”

“There’s no such thing as the Liberty Clock,” asserted my husband vigorously.

But then he added: “That clock has a big crack in it.”

“What clock are you talking about?” I shouted.

He looked at me with a perplexed look on his face. “I didn’t mean to say clock,” he answered quickly. “I meant to say bell.”

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr,” I replied.

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Do you know people who speak first and think later?
2. Do you know people who think that they know everything and that you know nothing?
3. Have you ever taken an official tour in an unfamiliar city? Did you enjoy the guided tour?

Photo and Text Copyright © 2008 Barbara A. English. All rights reserved.