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A group of September 11 victims' family groups have officially asked for permission to have this year's September 11 ceremony at Ground Zero. Last month, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer sent a letter to families explaining that the ceremony would be moved to Zuccotti Park, because the World Trade Center site has a lot of construction. But families have been skeptical that the park will be able to hold enough people and call the space "sacred."
This week, Mayor Bloomberg held firm that families will have limited access to the site, saying, "Family members will be able to go there. What they just can't do is go down into the area. It's just not safe. Listen we have had enough tragedy down on that site and our first priority is to make sure that everybody is safe." Still, families want to get closer. Diane Horning, a representative one of the groups, told the AP, "This is the place we have. A precedent has been set in letting us touch ground zero." Bill Doyle, whose son died during the attack, told the Post, "They want to downsize 9/11."
Former mayor Rudy Giuliani added his 2 cents: "I feel very bad that it's going to be moved. I have a great emotional attachment to where it's taken place for the last five years. I can't go there without thinking about what happened on Sept. 11. I have real emotional attachment to its being there, and I wish the city would have it there." While that may be, Giuliani doesn't seem to have commented about rebuilding. We'll see where Giuliani winds up for the 9/11 anniversary, at the official event or at an alternative protest event by upset family members.
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I am very tired of the "9/11 families" dictating what should happen at the World Trade Center and the remembrance ceremonies. Does anyone else feel this way?
The ceremony should be moved to on top of Guiliani's fat head.
i'm getting a little 9/11 family-ed out too.
I always thought Guiliani's head was more tall, like Conan O'Brien's, than fat, personally.
Anyway I sort of understand where the 9/11 families are coming from -- a random park isn't of much significance compared to the site of the tragedy. At the same time ... it's a friggin construction zone right now. It's dangerous for anyone to be wandering around, let alone have a massive crowd descend upon scene.
I think Bloomberg is probably making the right decision but I don't see how he can win the PR battle.
the park is across the damn street
9/11 families, STFU already, the world is tired of your crap
I think this is more 9-11 damage control from Rudy.
"I can't go there without thinking about what happened on Sept. 11." -Giuliani
Now there's an intelligent and moving statement. What in ingenuous fool. He sounds like an awe-struck tourist. I was here too, and I'll never get that shit out of my head no matter where I am.
As far as the families are concerned - I am sincerely sorry for their loss - but this sacred ground bit is little much for me, considering the soldiers and civilians being killed in Iraq every minute of the day. They don't have much to say about that. Why don't they organize a vigil for them and show the strength of real dignity.
Yeah you are right...Muslims fly airplanes into buildings causing office workers to jump 100 stories to their deaths..how dare the families...I mean, how dare they?
"I have a great emotional attachment to where it's taken place" Yeah... it's where a much disliked, divisive, lisping, crossdressing, serial adulterous mayor who was using taxpayers money to provide round the clock police detectives to chauffer his mistress and carry her shopping bags suddenly was transformed by a stupid and gullible public into AMERICA'S MAYOR... simply by doing his job (for the first time in 7 2/3 years).
@Rolltide23
I don't get it. How dare they what? And does what you describe as "muslims fly airplanes..." etc. justify our military actions in Iraq? Is that the issue? Are you really more patriotic than I? My soul collapsed as I watched those towers come down, and I will never be the same. But war and more war is not the answer my brother. Life is sacred, not more and bigger cemeteries.
"I can't go there without thinking about what happened on Sept. 11."
Really? Because I go there and think long and hard about last night's Mets game. Jesus Christ. Like he would give a statement at all if he weren't running, it's so transparently politically motivated that it's ridiculous.
It sounds like they're doing everything they can do for the families, but like everyone's said, IT'S A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. Let's let hundreds of people come on down, there's probably scrap metal and broken cement all over the place, but hey. I understand they're upset, but Mike's right, it's not safe. How did it become more about the physical location than it did about remembering your loved ones?
I won't start by saying "get over it".
Of course, if it were my family or friend, it would be hard.
BUT, you are not the only peolple and issue in this city.
Focus on the lives and legacies of those who were lost, not the physical and location.
Should we just close down the entire island as "hallowed ground"?
The Triangle Shirt Fire, The Draft Riots, the Brooklyn Theater Fire, the General Slocum, The Battle of Brooklyn, the Prison ships of the Revolution. Hell, Washington Square Park has THOUSANDS of people beneath it.
NYC has been here a few hundred years. We live upon the reains of thousands, if not millions.
It's been quite a few years now, and the CITY needs to move ahead.
Remember the dead and their lives, and pay attention to your own lives.
Let the construction begin (even though I think the design and concept sucks).
Dadoc
Sorry, that was obviously meant to read:
"remains".
Dadoc
I don't get it. How dare they what? And does what you describe as "muslims fly airplanes..." etc. justify our military actions in Iraq? Is that the issue? Are you really more patriotic than I? My soul collapsed as I watched those towers come down, and I will never be the same. But war and more war is not the answer my brother. Life is sacred, not more and bigger cemeteries.
What the fuck? Non sequitor of the day award.
yes #1 and #3, i am with you. Six years of protests about memorials is more than enough already. None of us are ever going to forget those who perished on 9/11, with or without ceremonies. I wouldn't underestimate the number of people in the city who feel similarly, but from fear of admonishment from these families and their supporters, don't voice it.
Other surviving family members have gone on to do work that helps us all move forward (including two widows who work with widows from Afghanistan). The protesters can also channel their energy into something more constructive (no pun intended).
To me the "families" seem to be greedy about 9/11. I've been annoyed with them for years, but kept my mouth shut.
Although I had no immediate friends or family who were killed that day, 9/11 is my tragedy too. And I can grieve for the loss of the office workers, rescue workers, innocent bystanders, the part of my children's (and their friends) innocence that was lost that day and my friends who moved out of NYC afterwards anywhere. I avoid the site.
I have to say though, I once took the PATH train from New Jersey into Lower Manhattan and had no idea that the train drove into the pit. It was overwhelming and kind of beautiful. The feeling was very strong.
My apartment overlooks the Trade Center site, and from that vantage point it really doesn't look like there's a flat, safe space anywhere there that's even as big as Zucotti Park--across the street.
The families feel entitled to special treatment. They don't want to be outside the fence like all the tourists. Maybe I'd feel the same way..
That said, the park is ACROSS THE STREET. You can see the site from there. It's across the street.
The subtext is that construction will go on that day regardless.
Maybe they should be shut down on September 11 out of respect.
#19 is right.
all the people here complaining about the 9/11 families should put down ann coulter's book & remind themselves not only of any personal loss they've experienced but of the accomplishments that the 9/11 families have achieved because of their efforts.
it's like being told upon your arrival that that the cemetery is closed, but the park across the street is open, so go mourn over there, it's just across the street.
ARe these people fuckin serious!??
It is a construction site, it's unsafe.
You can have the memorial across the street, what the fuck is your selfish little problem?
People die all the time, just because your friend or family died there doesn't mean you're God.
It is an unsafe construction site, that is why you cannot go there.
"the accomplishments that the 9/11 families have achieved because of their efforts."
like making sure nothing ever gets built there?
"it's like being told upon your arrival that that the cemetery is closed, but the park across the street is open, so go mourn over there, it's just across the street."
Actually it's not like that. This is not a designated cemetery, and the mourners are not being first notified of this on Sept. 11, 2007.
the families of 9/11 victims still mourn and rightly so as any family that loses their loved ones should. 9/11 was a tragedy. But when I listen on the TV, the families want the world to continue mourning as they do and we cant. they seem to feel everyone should be at the site crying every year and we cant.
Just as we cant keep mourning for a family that lost a loved one in a plane crash or the tsunami. Death is personal and while we were all impacted by the horror of 9/11, the world as a whole has moved beyond the daily grief that families feel and there is no reason they should not. At the same time we should not require them to do so.
When the WTC site has been finished, ceremonies can be there. and much to the families sadness, the world will not want to watch three hours of ceremonies or reading names, telling stories about their loved ones. this is no callousness, but reality. New agencies (such as a current MY station that got pushed into showing the whole ceremony) will some day just show snippets, like they do for the Pearl Harbor ceremonies.
But to watch a woman who lost her son get mad at someone because they do not feel the same is wrong.