The decision to move this year's September 11 remembrance out of Ground Zero and across the street to Zuccotti Park (pictured) continues to be criticized, as former mayor Rudy Giuliani came out in support of the 9/11 families, and the Daily News has a good editorial this morning about keeping the remembrance on hollowed ground. It's definitely worth taking the time to read. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/08/01/2007-08-01_ground_zeros_last_rites.htmlWithout question, this will be the final time the families will get an opportunity on the anniversary of the attacks to pay respect to their loved ones by going down to bedrock. It's hollowed ground, and with the speed of the reconstruction going on, it will be impossible to do so in 2008. But there is still space to do it this year, and it means so much to the loved ones of the victims to let them do so. One final time.
The family groups are currently filing for a permit to have a gathering on September 11 inside Ground Zero. They are not planning a boycott of the ceremonies being planned for Zuccotti Park. The feeling is is that having the ceremonies there is a security risk, and with thousands and thousands of people planning to be at the ceremonies, and many others with no connection who will also be there, on a site that contains just three-quarters of an acre.
A recent Crain's poll had 72% of over 500 respondents felt that the ceremony should be held at Ground Zero one final time. And the fact that human remains are still being found on the site makes it all the more imperative that Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer reconsider the move across Church Street.
It will clearly be the final time ever that those who lost loved ones will get the chance to observe the day on the sacred bedrock that once stood the Twin Towers. As someone who has been down there at all five remembrances, I urge the city to do the right thing and not come off looking like a bunch of unfeeling dictators. It can be done one more time, and the families deserve one more opportunity to remember their lost loved ones, especially for those who never got anything back of the one they lost. They have no place else to grieve.
Stopping construction for one day won't hurt anyone.
Have a heart and do the proper, as well as the decent, thing for the families.
5 comments:
In Life, Balance is key. if this is one last time to be on that consecrated ground-make it so.
Remember why it happened, what happened and that maybe we can grow in our understanding. Understanding each other, our uniqueness, our purpose and what is truly important.
The Twin Towers and her people will never be brought back. But if we can pause and reflect on those pillars, even if for one moment-make it so.
Only Right to Do So on Ground Zero, to grieve there:
Unfortunately, the High-Mighty, come over like they want to beat it over everyone's head that They Love Lording it over everyone Else
Steel, well said. ML, you too. And Q, I know why your feelings are so profound. I have to admit this is the first I've heard of this. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Peter
It's HALLOWED ground. "Hollowed" ground is what you get when someone leaves a big hole in place of something that was once there. Granted, the WTC site is 'hollowed' in that way as well, but I don't think that's what you meant.
"Hallowed" means "sacred." Having lost a dear friend there, and nothing of her was ever found or recovered, it will forever have a lot of deep meaning for me, and those families who also lost someone and have no place else to grieve.
Hope you can at least understand that.
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