You know what’s Crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy.
STILL HASN’T MATERIALIZED!
Its history is “too sad to even really think about progress,” said the 48-year-old Austin, Texas, insurance worker. But “I am a little surprised — I thought there’d be something built there.”
When will there be? As the eighth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks approaches, there’s no firm due date for that office tower or two others supposed to help line the eastern side of the site; only one is under construction.
There are many reasons that Ground Zero is still a hole. Leases and money and design questions. It’s about politics and budget deficits and well…
Shut Up all ready!
Build something and build it now.
And here’s my idea. Something simple. Some subtle. Something that reminds us every day and every night what we lost and what we’re still fighting for.
A few years ago, they set up massive search lights where the towers use to be. The beams of ethereal light cut through the NYC skyline like angels flying to heaven. You could see the lights from all over the Tri-State area. You could see the symbolic beams from space. TV stations around the country cut to the powerful, quiet, image and made us remember. They didn’t have to say anything, the visual was that overwhelming. I am tingling just remembering it now.
Bring back the lights. The towers are gone, but the lights floating to heaven filled my heart with pride and determination. The lights reminded me that we need to carry on as a Nation and honor the memories of all those who lost their life that day.
So to those who want the memorial to have the tallest buildings, I say shut up. To those who want the memorial to have the most ornate sculptures, I say Sit down.
Keep it simple. Keep it powerful. Make a park where I can bring my family. Let me sit in the grass and have a picnic and remember the atrocity, but also let the sun shine upon me and my family knowing that we live in the Greatest Nation on Earth.
A big hole in the ground surrounded by a chain link fence with the words KEEP OUT just doesn’t have the emotional impact I’m looking for.
Put up a Vietnam like wall so we can read the names of the people we lost that day. A shimmering granite wall with names etched into it, so kids can stencil the letters and take them home and put them in a book and save them forever. Man that would be nice. Put in a fountain so I can stare at it and toss coins into it and pray for the families and dream of a better future for my children.
And above all else, RESTORE THE LIGHTS! Put them on every single night. Remind me of why I care. Bring a tear to my eye with something so silent and so powerful that all the world feels the power.
The light will shine into space every night, racing out of the solar system to world’s far away. The message and the symbolism will be carried on Angels wings every single night. But the light will also shine in Baghdad and around the globe letting all the would-be-terrorists know that we are Americans. We are strong and we are filled with resolve.
My park doesn’t have to wait ten more years to be built. It can be built in less than a year. Christ we put men on the moon half a dozen times. Surely we can build a park, a fountain, a wall and erect some lights.
My park is a park of love and spirit. It has nothing to do with office space and economic impact studies and political gain.
It’s about remembering history, so we don’t let history happen again.
We’re suppose to be the greatest nation in the world. Let’s start acing like it. .
According to the AP story: A poll last month found that more than half of New York City voters believe the rebuilding is going badly
Really? More than 1/2 of New Yorkers feel this way?
What do the other 1/2 think? Flying monkeys deliver the mail? Who could possibly think Ground Zero is going well?
It’s been 8 years, people. 8 long years. I’m tired of it all ready.
On this 8th anniversary with a hole in the ground and not much else to show for it, I say reevaluate. Stay strong America. Do the right thing.
Build the park and erect the lights. Save the money for something else.
Nothing you build 20 years from now is going to mean as much as something so simple you could turn on tonight.