Beat ‘Em While They’re Down

 

New Yorkers have possibly suffered more pain and loss than any city in the country with the crisis of COVID-19. Although the situation has improved, the remaining fears and questions perpetuate the emotional impact of the virus. But there are those who choose to make sure that New Yorkers and Americans are beaten down even more before they can begin their recovery.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum has decided to cancel the “Tribute in Lights” conducted to remember and honor those who died on 9/11 in the Twin Towers, their families, and those who were present that day. Their excuse was that they had health and safety concerns:

Due to impacts of COVID-19, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Michael Ahern Production Services (MAPS) made the very difficult decision to not move forward with Tribute in Light this year. This year’s cancellation stems from health and safety concerns and underscores the far-reaching consequences of the global health crisis. As the pandemic continues to surge throughout the country, it was necessary to consider the health and safety of the nearly 40 stagehands who work in close proximity to produce Tribute in Light. For multiple weeks in August and September, crew members work hours-long shifts at Battery Parking Garage to prepare for the production on the night of September 11. The facilities and the complex installation which requires stagehands to work closely together do not align with recommended COVID-19 health and safety precautions.

Governor Cuomo has even announced that New York conditions have improved sufficiently to allow many facilities to re-open on a limited basis.

I simply don’t believe the excuse the Memorial board has given. First, I question the number of people needed for weeks on end to set up the spotlights; I suspect this process is overburdened by union and other excessive requirements. Second, I think there are some who want to intensify the suffering of the people of New York as a way to create even more emotional debilitation; it will add to the depression and hopelessness that is already at a record high.

But I think there are political motives involved as well. There are those on the Left who want to create the perception that the country is in a disastrous state: they know that the lights will not only lift spirits, but they will inspire a patriotic energy that will bring people together. They also don’t want to do anything that might generate anti-Muslim feelings.

Whatever the cost, I hope that the 9/11 Memorial and Museum transcends its destructive decision and helps New Yorkers continue their healing process.

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  1. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

     Macy’s, cancel that parade.  Christmas tree lighting–canceled.  Don’t even think about having New Year’s Eve.  Canceled.  Canceled!  CANCELED!!

    62 new cases in Manhattan yesterday.   I guess the Big Apple is now the Big Panic.

    • #1
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Your birthday? Cancelled. 

    • #2
  3. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Punishment will continue until the people submit.

    • #3
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Percival (View Comment):

    Your birthday? Cancelled.

    Not mine! No way!

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I don’t know about other people, but even though I won’t see the spotlights in person, they are a powerful symbol for me–that Americans can triumph over adversity; that we are effectively a light to the entire world; that we are resilient. No one will take that away from me. No one.

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Your birthday? Cancelled.

    Not mine! No way!

    Seeing as how burning candles contribute to global warming, they’re definitely cancelling mine.

    • #6
  7. Limestone Cowboy Coolidge
    Limestone Cowboy
    @LimestoneCowboy

    Percival (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Your birthday? Cancelled.

    Not mine! No way!

    Seeing as how burning candles contribute to global warming, they’re definitely cancelling mine.

    That’s because you need so many damn candles!

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Limestone Cowboy (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Your birthday? Cancelled.

    Not mine! No way!

    Seeing as how burning candles contribute to global warming, they’re definitely cancelling mine.

    That’s because you need so many damn candles!

    Why do you think I didn’t respond to his comment, @limestonecowboy –it would look like a forest fire!

    • #8
  9. DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Communicator Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Communicator
    @DrewInWisconsin

    They already cancelled the 2021 Rose Parade.

    Cancel culture has taken on new meaning.

    • #9
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    They already cancelled the 2021 Rose Parade.

    Cancel culture has taken on new meaning.

    Oh no! That’s ridiculous, Drew! That’s more than a year from no–oh, I get it . . . CA is at it again. Good grief. I think you’re right about cancel culture. You should write that post about the New Cancel Culture!

    • #10
  11. DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Communicator Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Communicator
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    They already cancelled the 2021 Rose Parade.

    Cancel culture has taken on new meaning.

    Oh no! That’s ridiculous, Drew! That’s more than a year from no–oh, I get it . . . CA is at it again.

    Well, half a year. Although they announced its cancellation in early July. I’m sure pulling it off is a long planning process. But the assumption in July that we’ll still be locking everyone down next January evokes a deep hopelessness.

    • #11
  12. EODmom Coolidge
    EODmom
    @EODmom

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    They already cancelled the 2021 Rose Parade.

    Cancel culture has taken on new meaning.

    Oh no! That’s ridiculous, Drew! That’s more than a year from no–oh, I get it . . . CA is at it again.

    Well, half a year. Although they announced its cancellation in early July. I’m sure pulling it off is a long planning process. But the assumption in July that we’ll still be locking everyone down next January evokes a deep hopelessness.

    The floats take months to make so yeah, lots of time to plan but I too believe it’s more to influence opinion than pay attention to the participants. I’ll bet they don’t want to pull out.

    • #12
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unhelpful Com… (View Comment):

    They already cancelled the 2021 Rose Parade.

    Cancel culture has taken on new meaning.

    Oh no! That’s ridiculous, Drew! That’s more than a year from no–oh, I get it . . . CA is at it again.

    Well, half a year. Although they announced its cancellation in early July. I’m sure pulling it off is a long planning process. But the assumption in July that we’ll still be locking everyone down next January evokes a deep hopelessness.

    Well, first, I forgot it would be “next year”–2021–in January. I agree with you. I think we have certain events that we look forward to, that are special times in our lives, that we even count on. They are highlights that add meaning and beauty. What about religious holidays? I was so hoping to go to Baltimore this year for one of the high holidays. It’s no one’s “fault,” but I can’t put my husband at risk if I do catch something. For those who find great reward in spending special religious holidays communally, it will be very sad.

    • #13
  14. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    After they put the lights in place, don’t they just turn them on? Is there really an ongoing production? It is pretty cool when they do it. On a clear night you can even see it from where I am, 30 miles away,

    • #14
  15. cirby Inactive
    cirby
    @cirby

    Tribute in Light is two sets of 44 lights, on top of a parking garage.

    They’re all very big (7000 watts each, 120 kilograms each), in rectangular frames, pointing straight up.

    The big challenge would be the power. They’d run it off generators. Two or three big ones would do.

    Other than that, I’ve set up larger and more complex installations in under two days with a much, much smaller crew.

    If they allowed the full two weeks, it’s literally a four man job, and most of the actual work time would be setting up the power distribution.

    I know people in the NYC lighting business – and yes, they’re union – who would happily do that job.

    Someone is lying, and lying badly.

    My best guess is that they can’t get the normal crew – an Italian company makes and operates those lights – to fly to the US for this.

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    cirby (View Comment):

    Tribute in Light is two sets of 44 lights, on top of a parking garage.

    They’re all very big (7000 watts each, 120 kilograms each), in rectangular frames, pointing straight up.

    The big challenge would be the power. They’d run it off generators. Two or three big ones would do.

    Other than that, I’ve set up larger and more complex installations in under two days with a much, much smaller crew.

    If they allowed the full two weeks, it’s literally a four man job, and most of the actual work time would be setting up the power distribution.

    I know people in the NYC lighting business – and yes, they’re union – who would happily do that job.

    Someone is lying, and lying badly.

    My best guess is that they can’t get the normal crew – an Italian company makes and operates those lights – to fly to the US for this.

    Fascinating, @cirby. It’s good to have more information about the process. If they can simplify it, they should. Thanks!

    • #16
  17. EODmom Coolidge
    EODmom
    @EODmom

    Then there’s this – https://thenationalpulse.com/news/de-blasios-new-york-refuses-to-host-9-11-towers-of-light-memorial-this-year/.  
    some others saying Not So Fast!  Although the article says it was 9/11/2011, and that’s  another story altogether,  I think Giuliani knows what the date is. 

    • #17
  18. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Just driving more people (and tourists) away.  It’s sad, but in a couple of years (sooner if Biden becomes the temporary President), New York City will become a larger version of East St. Louis . . .

    • #18
  19. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    • #19
  20. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    With NY politicians making decisions like that, could this be true?

    Probably not but . . .

    • #20
  21. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    EODmom (View Comment):

    Then there’s this – https://thenationalpulse.com/news/de-blasios-new-york-refuses-to-host-9-11-towers-of-light-memorial-this-year/.
    some others saying Not So Fast! Although the article says it was 9/11/2011, and that’s another story altogether, I think Giuliani knows what the date is.

    Thanks so much @eodmom! Tunnels to Towers has done great work and I’m so glad to see them spearhead an effort to make a commemoration happen!

    • #21
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Barfly (View Comment):

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    Absolutely. We are probably already losing track of all their efforts to intimidate us and limit our freedom, @barfly. Is there any point where people will realize what is happening and speak up?

    • #22
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    With NY politicians making decisions like that, could this be true?

    Probably not but . . .

    . . . but who knows. In these times, nuttier things are happening, @vancerichards.

    • #23
  24. DrewInWisconsin, Doormat Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Doormat
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Barfly (View Comment):

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    Absolutely. We are probably already losing track of all their efforts to intimidate us and limit our freedom, @barfly. Is there any point where people will realize what is happening and speak up?

    Too many citizens are happy to comply — and shame their neighbors into doing the same.

    They are brainwashed by a fearmongering media. The only cure is drone strikes on all TV Newsrooms.

    • #24
  25. DrewInWisconsin, Doormat Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Doormat
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    With NY politicians making decisions like that, could this be true?

    Probably not but . . .

    I tend to think even California is in play.

    • #25
  26. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    They’re probably afraid Biden’s going to get videoed collapsing outside the 9/11 memorial service, like Hillary did four years ago.

    • #26
  27. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    DrewInWisconsin, Doormat (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Barfly (View Comment):

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    Absolutely. We are probably already losing track of all their efforts to intimidate us and limit our freedom, @barfly. Is there any point where people will realize what is happening and speak up?

    Too many citizens are happy to comply — and shame their neighbors into doing the same.

    They are brainwashed by a fearmongering media. The only cure is drone strikes on all TV Newsrooms.

    God help us when we get to printable nanodrones. At the right dimensions they could scavenge power from ambient RF. If their superstructure were to be made of some energetic nitrogen compound, that’d be something to fear. Losing the TV Newsrooms, not so much.

    • #27
  28. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Barfly (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Doormat (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Barfly (View Comment):

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    Absolutely. We are probably already losing track of all their efforts to intimidate us and limit our freedom, @barfly. Is there any point where people will realize what is happening and speak up?

    Too many citizens are happy to comply — and shame their neighbors into doing the same.

    They are brainwashed by a fearmongering media. The only cure is drone strikes on all TV Newsrooms.

    God help us when we get to printable nanodrones. At the right dimensions they could scavenge power from ambient RF. If their superstructure were to be made of some energetic nitrogen compound, that’d be something to fear. Losing the TV Newsrooms, not so much.

    I have no idea what those are, but I heartily support them. Somebody needs to get on making those, STAT! At least I think so.

    • #28
  29. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Barfly (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Doormat (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Barfly (View Comment):

    Anybody see a parallel with that Wisconsin edict about masks when conferencing online? Or any of a hundred other little cases of respeck-mah-authoritye?

    Absolutely. We are probably already losing track of all their efforts to intimidate us and limit our freedom, @barfly. Is there any point where people will realize what is happening and speak up?

    Too many citizens are happy to comply — and shame their neighbors into doing the same.

    They are brainwashed by a fearmongering media. The only cure is drone strikes on all TV Newsrooms.

    God help us when we get to printable nanodrones. At the right dimensions they could scavenge power from ambient RF. If their superstructure were to be made of some energetic nitrogen compound, that’d be something to fear. Losing the TV Newsrooms, not so much.

    I have no idea what those are, but I heartily support them. Somebody needs to get on making those, STAT! At least I think so.

    I would have to start a Patreon to get the printer. Then I’d have to invent a new technology. That’s all too much, so I’ll have to wait. Actually, I’m kind of hoping it doesn’t work.

    • #29
  30. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    They’re probably afraid Biden’s going to get videoed collapsing outside the 9/11 memorial service, like Hillary did four years ago.

    He’s going to have a total brain barf on multiple cameras, soon. When is the convention?

    • #30
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