"LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR SOME"

NEW YORK

“LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR SOME”

A RETIRED ART HISTORY PROFESSOR FROM BUFFALO IS DEMANDING THE STATE OF NEW YORK FORMALLY ARBITRATE A DOMESTIC DISPUTE HE HAS BEEN HAVING WITH HIS WIFE SINCE MARCH, ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT DIRECTLY CONCERNS THE NEW YORK STATE COAT OF ARMS.

LEONARD KOWALSKI, 71, INSISTS THE TWO FEMALE FIGURES FLANKING THE SHIELD ON THE COAT OF ARMS ARE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. HIS WIFE, PAULETTE, 68, HAS MAINTAINED SINCE A VACATION TO ALBANY THAT THEY ARE, QUOTE, “TWO LADIES WHO LOOK LIKE THEY’RE ABOUT TO ASK TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER.”

LEONARD, WHO TAUGHT ART HISTORY FOR THIRTY-ONE YEARS, HAS PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION. PAULETTE SAYS HIS DOCUMENTATION IS, QUOTE, “VERY LONG AND ALSO BORING.”

THE FIGURE ON THE LEFT HOLDS A STAFF TOPPED WITH A PHRYGIAN CAP, THE ANCIENT ROMAN SYMBOL OF FREED SLAVES, AND HAS A CROWN AT HER FEET. LEONARD SAYS THIS IS CLEARLY LIBERTY REJECTING MONARCHY. PAULETTE SAYS SHE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WHO JUST GOT OFF A LONG FLIGHT AND LOST HER LUGGAGE.

THE FIGURE ON THE RIGHT HOLDS A SWORD AND SCALES. LEONARD SAYS THIS IS JUSTICE. PAULETTE SAYS THE SWORD SUGGESTS SOMEONE WHO HAS SIMPLY HAD ENOUGH.

LEONARD FILED A FORMAL LETTER WITH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE REQUESTING CLARIFICATION. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DID NOT RESPOND.

PAULETTE CONSIDERS THIS A WIN.

THE COAT OF ARMS REMAINS UNCHANGED. BOTH WOMEN ON IT APPEAR, TO VARYING INTERPRETATIONS, EXTREMELY DONE WITH EVERYTHING.