October 15, 2005
9/11 Families Want Nothing
Families of 9/11 victims are at it again. Not content after getting rid of the the International Freedom Center they are now trying to halt construction of the one thing that actually seems to be moving along at Ground Zero: Santiago Calatrava's PATH station (a station the Post calls "controversial" to which our response is "don't you mean soaring? And controversial for what? The planned shopping area?"). Seems that they are upset over an extra platform that the station didn't have before 9/11, as the new platform would stretch into the footprint of the south tower.
There was a time when we felt great sympathy towards the 9/11 families. We understood that the circumstances under which they lost their family members were traumatic (they certainly were for us, so we could only imagine what it was like for them) and that in the name of common decency being as kind to these people as possible was a reasonable idea and possibly in everyones best interest. That time is quickly passing. The comments when we mentioned this before lead us to think we're not alone in our opinion.
In the meantime, the Times at least is reporting something akin to progress at Ground Zero. It seems that planners have finally settled on a height for the new Memorial Plaza (313 feet above the World Trade Center Downtwon Restoration Program Datum or 313 feet above 297.347 below sea level or 15.653 feet above sea level). Having settled this height apparently will make it easier to figure out the exact height of all of the other buildings that won't be built for another decade or three.
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It seems to me that if we fetishize the remnants of the destruction Al Qaeda wrought upon us, then we are building their monuments for them.
"..that won't be built for another decade or three."
Garth, that's likely the best analysis yet. Even after plans get settled, there will likely be lawsuits by affected parties that will drag out the restoration of the area.
At least 7 WTC is progressing, but I bet it's because it wasn't inside the actual WTC area.
I agreed with their feelings towards the 'Internation Freedom Center' but now enough is enough. The 'families of 9/11 victims' have simply gone to far and enough is enough.
They've gone waaaay past the point of sympathy and now to the point of pedantic and preachy and they are winning a losing battle as far as sympathy goes.
If I have to hear them constantly harping on the words 'sacred ground' one more time, I'll scream! It's simply a deceptive statement. Not to be gross but bodies and parts flew ALL over the places. Not just the 'footprints' of the WTC. And considering the fire lasted for months, one could argue that the areas that ashes fell were 'sacred ground' as well. Does that mean all of Brooklyn Heights is 'sacred ground' as well.
Saying they should 'get over it' is just too callous. They lost a lot and I can't imagine their feelings. But by simply being a bunch of whiny complainers they are doing nothing to elicit symapthy.
To imply the families of 9/11 victims "have gone too far" or " are asking for to much" reveals a certain degree of s sleaziness and depravity in action by the writers of this blog. To also imply "that they should be happy" after getting rid of the IFC, a hard left deranged bunch of barking moonbats, is an insult to the victims of 9/11 and their families. To insure that a site where 3000 Americans were murdered in cold blood at the hands of facist Islamonazis remains sacred, is not only their right but their obligation. A train station platform, no matter how "beautiful" or "soaring " does not take priority over a graveyard where the remains of 3000 men, women and children are buried. Shame on you, Gothamist.
I totally agree with that sentiment, "that time is quickly passing." I'm willing to consider reasonable accomodations for constructing a memorial and for choosing other facilities on the site in a sensitive manner. That said, it is obvious that many unreasonable demands are being allowed to muck up the process... and many of these demands are completely oblivious to the fact that what used to be on the site was largely NOT a memorial. We are not rebuilding, we are converting the site into a cemetery.
On top of this, these people who carry on these protests are basically helping pave the way for the one thing no one (save a few developers) wants on the site - a 100% safe, 100% tasteful, 100% useless corporate office park.
This is mostly Pataki's fault. He has given the relatives of the 9/11 victims (including anyone who died elsewhere) a large voice in the rebuilding of the WTC, and that is inappropriate and unproductive. In doing this, among other decisions (such as hiring a neutered Liebskind, ignoring the mayor and local community, and allowing commercial interests and state agencies to have their way with the site), he has passed off responsibility and leadership in arranging the right people to create something meaningful to replace the old WTC. He will have a very poor legacy because of this; I'd be surprised if he ever wins any kind of an election again.
But I'd hate to end this on a sour note; there are many community organizations and political groups who are fighting to make things right at Ground Zero (I'm not affiliated with any group in this process, fyi). You should lend them your voices and support if you want a better WTC for the future.
Manhattan is built on graveyards including graveyards of those who died in a conflict. Enjoy Wash Sq Park lately? Or go check next to the Municipal Building - there's a plaque to mark the site of a British prision where POWs during the Revolution suffered and died of maltreatment. Just a plaque.
The same should be done here - put up a plaque and move on. All the fountains, etc., in the world won't bring their family members back, and the money could be better spent on helping people who are alive.
The reality is, no matter what, humanity WILL move on... simply because that is what humanity does. Those who refuse to let go of the past and move forward are simply doomed to live in that past forever.
It's one thing to say "never forget" but as another poster pointed out, we walk over ancient burial grounds every day in this city. There are probably many that were never discovered and we built on top of them and no one is raising a ruckus.
It's one thing to say "never forget" and I hope the "9/11 families" make sure that never happens. But to completely stop life in that part of town is making sure that the terrorists accomplished exactly what they set out to do.
As for "shame on you," don't disgrace an entire religion by equating it with the Nazi party. Pot, meet kettle.
Apparently the wrong members of the "9/11 families" (i.e. the reasonable ones) were killed in the attacks, unfortunately. Boots to the head for all of them who most likely are living on 'sacred grounds' of some ilk or another in suburban NJ or CT or NY. And I'll hack up as much of the footprints as I can with a bow-bedecked shiny shovel to get the PATH station started. The 9/11 pity party is hereby declared OVER.
So Mayor Bloomberg wants a bigger role developing the WTC site in what could be his 2nd term. Can anyone tell me what, if anything, he has done in the last 4? He has not even pushed his endorsed friend Pataki for help or asked the feds for money for re-development. He is just looking for a legacy since the stadium died. I mean come on..
Which do you choose?
Celebrate death, live in the past and retard growth and progress.
OR
Celebrate life, live in the present and support growth and progress.
This lawsuit will never get anywhere. I don't think people need to be sensitive about how the underground portion of the site is used. They should back off and be happy that there's at least one building that most everyone has already embraced.
Congratulations to the lawyers and publicists sucking the settlement money out of these 9/11 families.
The mom of a friend of mine died on 9/11 -- of a heart attack. In a hospital. Before the first plane even hit. Is her death less important, less tragic, than those of the people who died in the towers? Does he get a bully pulpit because of it? The victim's families have taken a genuinely tragic event and turned it into a platform for "me, me, me."
Case in point: they are now demanding that a billion(!) dollars be spent to retrieve all human remains from Fresh Kills. Well, folks, there were plenty of human remains in there BEFORE 9/11, and I don't recall hearing a lot of noise about it then. That's money that could be better spent protecting the living, among a myriad other things, not to mention the effect it would have on the finally-recovering environment there.
We all suffered on September 11th, 2001.The decisions made regarding the WTC site will have effects that will echo decades, maybe centuries, from now. To allow a group whose only qualifications are that they have a relative who died on that day, and are willing to use that fact, to make these decisions is neither sensible or compassionate to everyone else who was affected, which is pretty much everybody.
I want to sex you fuckers up so good!! 9/11 times