What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
James Poulos, Ed. ·
Jul 24, 2010 at 5:45pm
If you had told me on 9/11 that almost a decade later there would still be a pit at Ground Zero, I would have laughed...then cried...then hurled. But here we are. Forget about whatever's going up at that sorrowful spot, or when. What I want to know is what we should have put there already.
My atavistic suggestion, aired in the Ground Zero Strip Club conversation below:
a huge golden obelisk [...] topped with a Screaming Eagle or a Gleaming Eye[.]
Bonus points, possibly in the form of pelted rotten vegetables, if you convincingly argue for exactly what it is we're doing now.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
Oh so long ago I heard a comedian suggest five tall buildings, the center one substantially taller than the other four.
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
My idea of judicious restraint: the Screaming Eagle is not raising a middle talon. No I will not say 'flipping the bird.'
Jun '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
Some of the existing ideas:
http://abelgalois.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/world-trade-center-siglo-xxi/
Jun '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
I'll take a wild stab at this one. A total guess. I base my opinion on nothing.
Pssst: I bet all the delays are based on decisions by city, county, state and national governments. Just a hunch. :<P
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
What should be there? The towers, rebuilt and from the outside exactly the same. As a demonstration of our utter and complete contempt for the barbarians who could neither create the towers or the planes that brought them down.
Jul '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
How about a huge, 14 story woman's centre, there to protect women from domestic violence? It should house an active 'outreach' program to the Islamic women's community in NYC and the NE United States. Also, large wall sized videos on the outside (like what I see on TV, in downtown NY) urging freedom, and what it means for women and children. It could have all sorts of community services, too, with speeches, and etc. and thus provide a tangible base from which muslim women can avoid the 'downside' of Mohammed's edicts.
Overlooking the top floor of the religion of peace mosque should be splendid HUGE symbols of the world's religions, specifically, a Cross ( a Roman and an Eastern Orthodox version); a Star of David; and (OK, I'm vague here), Shiva, etc something for Shinto, etc etc... It's really important that these symbols LOOK DOWN ON the Mosque. Very important.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
I don't know, but wouldn't incorporating a mosque be kind of an insurance policy? [He ducks]
Jul '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
sure, there could be a Crescent up there among the other symbols. Excellent. Exclusion, diversity, kumbaya.
Jul '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
In fact, this 14 plus story building should provide areas in which people of various religions can pray/attend services of their choice. And that would include those of the Islamic persuasion. With maybe a round communal area in which there could be discussion groupings, etc. And CSpan could record these meetings so people who don't live in NYC can follow the warmth thus generated.
Jul '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
I was down there today, and the tower is now about 25-30 stories high and...I've never been a fan of the site design but it was inspiring, and I know when I can look down Sixth Avenue and see it starting to climb above everything else, it'll be even more inspiring. I can't really argue for what we're doing down there but after nine years, it's nice to see something at least. The hole just felt like a wound. And I think St. Paul's Chapel serves as the only necessary religious center near the site, there's something encouragingly enduring about the place that speaks louder than anything new we could build. But I don't think the mosque will be insurance in any way, because while radical Islamists might not blow it up...a whackjob from somewhere in this country will, and that's always been one of my arguments against it. It's a target for domestic terrorism, many innocent people could die during such an attack and all of us would be put in the awkward position of agreeing with the terrorist's views while condemning his actions.
Jul '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
I suggest whatever is built at Ground Zero be ringed by a tasteful selection of culturally diverse anti-aircraft guns.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
Now that is great to hear; a little chill-inducing, in fact.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
No buildings, please, it's a graveyard, a memorial. To turn it into a commercial building would be a caricature of Americanism.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
Sorry, one more thing: If other NY'ers share Jonathan's feeling--and I bet they do--then the only must-have is height. All the rest is details.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
I agree with Kozak. What should be at Ground Zero? The Twin Towers exactly as they were.
At their base, I would place a modest statue of one American offering a hand to help another to his or her feet; a gracious smile on each face. Beside the statue would be a plaque briefly describing how on September 11th, 2001 Americans came swiftly to the aid of their neighbors. It would describe the charity and patriotism that followed the attack, rather than the attack itself.
The message might even end with the words of a President:
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
It was a commercial building to begin with and it should remain a commercial building. There is, to my thinking, a vast difference between remembering the dead respectfully and fetishizing their deaths.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
4 towers. Double the height of the old ones. Built speedily (Empire State Building was built in a little bit more than a year!). And the anti-aircraft guns was a great idea from Wylee Coyote.
May '10
Re: What SHOULD Be at Ground Zero?
Perhaps, but that's also an argument for having no cemeteries at all, isn't it? But if NYC needs to "fetishize" erecting something of great length, so be it.
Jimmie Bise Jr
It was a commercial building to begin with and it should remain a commercial building. There is, to my thinking, a vast difference between remembering the dead respectfully and fetishizing their deaths. · Jul 25 at 12:26pm