Getting It Right at Ground Zero

[NewYorkDragons80]

Getting It Right at Ground Zero
By RUDOLPH GIULIANI

Twelve months have passed. The debris is gone. The thousands who worked tirelessly to rescue and recover those who died no longer dig through the night. The twisted remains of New York's two biggest buildings no longer stand as reminders of the worst attack in American history.

But I haven't changed. When I go to ground zero now, I feel as shocked, angry and resolute as I did a year ago. On Sept. 14, 2001, I flew over the site in a helicopter with President George W. Bush and Governor George Pataki. I had been there many times during the three days after the attack, but that was the first time I had seen the smoking ruins from above. It was indescribably awful. A year has done nothing to erase these images from my mind.

What happened at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and outside Shanksville, Pa., was not a natural disaster or some colossal accident. This was mass murder perpetrated by madmen bent on destroying not only American lives but also American values. These attacks were not just on the people who were killed and injured but also on the very things that define us as a society: religious freedom, equality, economic opportunity and political choice. I learned as a prosecutor that intent matters. When a loved one dies in an accident, of course it's painful. But knowing that your husband or wife or mother or son is gone because of an intentional act cuts much more deeply.

One way of dealing with this lasting pain is to talk about it. I frequently discuss Sept. 11, often with those who have been most affected by the attacks. I try to confront what was done to us and the importance of being resolute. I've also attended many memorials and funerals, which reinforced a lesson my father taught me long ago about being there for people when they need you most. It's a two-way street. People absorb strength from you, and you get it back from them.

Back at ground zero-16 barren acres, including the footprints of the towers-the debate continues about how best to commemorate the loss. There are many competing pressures and different viewpoints. I am convinced that ground zero must first and foremost be a memorial. All other decisions should flow from that goal. If anything else is added to the site, it should complement and not overshadow the memorial. People a hundred years from now should be able to grasp the enormity of this attack by visiting this sacred ground. Ground zero is a cemetery. It is the last resting place for loved ones whose bodies were not recovered and whose remains are still within that hallowed ground. We must respect the role these events play in our history.

It is the place where the President came and told the exhausted rescue workers, "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." President Bush has been determined to keep his commitment to eliminate global terrorism. An appropriately large and enduring tribute at the site will remind future generations of that commitment. Recalling these attacks and their aftermath will remind people today that we need to be unyielding in completing the war on terror. And it will remind people tomorrow that we must never let something like this happen again.

If it were up to me, I'd devote the entire 16 acres to the memorial. A soaring structure should dominate the site, taking its place along New York City's wonderful skyline. It should be visible for miles to demonstrate the spirit of those who gave their lives to defend freedom. There should be a museum and a library. Those who visit should be able to relive the experience in a way that does justice to the enormity of the events. The memorial should echo the goals of the city's Museum of Jewish Heritage, which sits a stone's throw away. The purpose of that museum is to demonstrate the horror of the Holocaust as well as celebrate the survival and strength of the Jewish people. Done correctly, the memorial at ground zero will commemorate the horror and the

[ChrisTheCop]

Thanks NYDragons for posting that. Before Sepember 11th 2001, I never thought I'd say this, but...I couldnt agree more with Mayor Giuliani.

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[TheMojoPin]

I think I'm one of the few that DOESN'T want a giant memorial. Rebuild the space, put up a wall with the names, and that's it. Big memorials tend to get people thinking, "well, THAT'S taken care of"...

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"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[sunndoggy8]

For the well being of the city as a whole, I don't think it can just be a huge memorial that's built there. For the future of the city economically, there has to be office space there, and a large amount of it.

There are those that want just a memorial, and there are those that want lots of office space and a smaller memorial...and most of us want something in the middle.

I'm sure the final decision will be the right one. From what I last heard, nothing definite will be decided for quite awhile yet, but I have some sort of hope that it will be something that it pleasing to the majority of people who live in NYC.

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[DC Reed]

I wouldnt mind seeing the towers rebuilt. Infact, whenever I visit new york, since the 11th, the sky has seemed very empty. I bought a nice panaramic poster of NY when i was up there with my Drama Dept. I just put it up in my basement as a memorial to the towers, and the people inside them. Its an extremly beutiful photo at dusk, of the city.

My theory is that if we can rebuild the Pentagons' side, why not Rebuild the Towers too. Only the floors that were hit directly by the planes, Should be memrials. The rest, buisness offices, just like the old ones.

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SINCE WHEN DID THE JAPANESE DRINK MILK!?

[Doogie]

Reading that with the Minstrel Boy playing in the background has caused me to rethink some of my ideas for rebuilding at ground zero...I am not saying I am totally in agreeance with the Mayor, yet he does bring up some incredibly storng points. But the key word that he says there is that so no one will forget. Well I hate to be the stickler here but the one thing that Americans have is a short memory. Ohhh sure there are a few here and there that remember an even or two (For example majority of people know what June 6 is the memorial for. D-Day. Yet majority of those same people dont know what June 4 is anniversary of...), yet the majority of Americans forget. Even if there is a beaming huge and monstrous monument (of which personally I am opposed to, a memorial yes, but the monument of the proportions he is talking, no), people will forget. It is part of our tradition to well...forget our traditon, and our history. Like I said though the mayor gave me new perspectives on the situation that I never thought of before. And that is part of the reason why I will always refer to him as "The Mayor" for as long as I see him...

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We came we saw we kicked his ass!!!

[philby]

If there is another attack in this country, will that ground then become a park? What about a third attack, or fourth? Every piece of land where something awful happens has to be a memorial?

If Europe didn't rebuild on every piece of land where someone died in an attack, it would be one giant park.

A small tasteful memorial is all that is needed. Is this country expected to never move on from this?

And no holiday, either. It's time to kill Bin Laden and his cronies. Let's get pissed and fight back.

And Guiliani should stop pontificating. The city is moving forward without him(whether he believes it or not).

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[NewYorkDragons80]

I don't want a huge memorial, but memorializing the site should definitely be the theme. What I most agree with is the fact that Rudy suggested at least 1 tower that will have good size compared to the rest of the skyline and people will see it for miles(preferably the world's tallest IMO). I was never the type of person that was gung-ho memorial, but the memorial should be an unavoidable part of your visit to the site. After that, we can worry about replacing 50,000 jobs.

"In war there is no substitute for victory."
-General Douglas MacArthur

"If gold should rust, what will iron do?"
-Geoffrey Chaucer

[Aggie]

I agree with him, those are some of the thougts I have had, just much better said.

People absorb strength from you, and you get it back from them.

That is so true.

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~I'm down for whatever....Ice Cube~

[ChrisTheCop]

First, Europe didnt rebuild Europe, WE DID. second, the majority of their dead were recovered and properly buried. At the WTC, the very dirt you walk on and the air you breath IS the dead. People disintegrated there, and will never be recovered. They will ALWAYS be there, If their actual body was still there, visible, would u still say "build right on top of that"? Of course not. Also, someone said only the floors hit by the planes should be memorialized...are u kidding me? Maybe you should watch a documentary again. Most of the deaths were caused not by the impact, but by the fall of the towers (i cant believe i actually just had to explain that.) The area where the WTC was built was man made. NYC is a big place, we can rebuild ELSEWHERE.

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This message was edited by ChrisTheCop on 9-7-02 @ 6:30 PM

[philby]

In a house near where I live, three people were murdered.
There are still faint bloodstains in the base ment.
Should this house be torn down and made into a memorial?
Even though people live there now?

On the corner by my house there have been three fatal traffic accidents since I've lived here.
Should this corner be shut down, never to be tread upon again, Chris?


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[ChickenHawk]

I agree with everything The
Mayor said. As far as a holiday
goes, I hope and pray that
September 11 NEVER becomes a
national holiday. It would truly
be sickening. Kids would look
forward to it, as it would be a
day off of school for them to go
out and have fun with their
friends. Adults would get off
work to go shopping for the
Macy's or JCPenny September
11th holiday sale. It would be
marketing off the deaths of
thousands and the day would
become horribly misenterpreted.
Maybe I sound crazy saying it
would be a Sale day at Sears and
a play day for kids, but stop and
realize this: It happened with
Memorial Day. How many people
sit at home all day on Memorial
Day mourning and remembering
those who were lost in battle?


"I have to return some
videotapes..." -Patrick Bateman

[ChrisTheCop]

This may be a first. I'm quoting myself for philby's benefit. Please read it this time. , the majority of their dead were recovered and properly buried. At the WTC, the very dirt you walk on and the air you breath IS the dead. People disintegrated there, and will never be recovered. They will ALWAYS be there, If their actual body was still there, visible, would u still say "build right on top of that"? Of course not


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[philby]

That dust covered everything around it for miles. It is still being found in NYPD/FD vehicles.
According to your logic, everything touched by this dust is in contact with the dead. Therefore, why did I see every building in that area cleaned from the inside out? Shouldn't they have been torn down and memorialized?
What about the vehicles? Bury them in a tomb?

Why dont we all just put on hooded robes and wander around with candles nodding at each other in remembrance for the rest of our lives.

IT'S TIME TO FIGHT BACK!

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[ChrisTheCop]

Why dont we all just put on hooded robes and wander around with candles nodding at each other in remembrance for the rest of our lives.


Not a bad idea, but my idea (and the mayor's) is more practical. Now..according to YOUR logic, we should dismantle the Pearl Harbor memorial so that kids can go swimming. Listen, I'm not saying that its gonna happen. All i'm saying is that in a perfect world (where of course we wouldnt even have to deal with this, but nonetheless) it is in essence, a cemetery. Hallowed ground. Why are u opposed to building elsewhere? Also, as far as your ending statement (its time to fight back). I dont disagree with you there. But lets stay on the subject.

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This message was edited by ChrisTheCop on 9-7-02 @ 7:46 PM

[TheMojoPin]

But both World Wars were fought in Europe, and hundreds of thousands of people there were completely atomized. So in one regard, Philby is right...but on the other hand, NOTHING like this has ever happened on American soil, and as such, it eneds to be acknowledged. Who's to say what's right? As long as people can still find work there and the memorial doesn't have blinking lights, I'm fine.

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"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[NewYorkDragons80]

we should dismantle the Pearl Harbor memorial so that kids can go swimming
Pearl Harbor is a perfect example of what should happen at Ground Zero. Even though it was nearly annihilated in a surprise attack, it was rebuilt and still served its function as a military installation through WWII, the Cold War, and remains an important strategic location today. At the same time there is a memorial dedicated to those who perished during the attack.

The same should happen at Ground Zero. We must find a tasteful memorial, but replace all the jobs lost. The World Trade Center must continue to serve our economy as Pearl Harbor continues to serve our military. We will not forget, but we must move on.

"In war there is no substitute for victory."
-General Douglas MacArthur

"If gold should rust, what will iron do?"
-Geoffrey Chaucer

[philby]

Two comments out of Israel regarding our situation:

While the U.S.is planning for and building memorials, the enemy is planning for and building bombs.

In America it's 9/11. In Israel it's 24/7.

Don't let it happen again!

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[Doogie]

Pearl Harbor is a perfect example of what should happen at Ground Zero. Even though it was nearly annihilated in a surprise attack, it was rebuilt and still served its function as a military installation through WWII, the Cold War, and remains an important strategic location today. At the same time there is a memorial dedicated to those who perished during the attack


Excellent point NY Dragons...and that is one of the things that I have been arguing about in rebuilding WTC, there are a lot of people that lost everything that day, yet it is still an important location in terms of financial district and what not. Build a memorial and NEVER forget what that memorial is about, yet rebuild area...

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We came we saw we kicked his ass!!!

[DC Reed]

The 11th was a buisness day, not a holiday, but just a buisness day. Then the planes struck and the rest of our lives changed.

Why not take this awful day, and turn it around. Why not celebrate what America is about, why not celebrate that fact that I can goto school for free. Why not celebrate that fact there are jobs and we have the privalege to do what we like. Why not celebrate the fact that we helped removed a Facist Totalitarianism ruler from a ruined country.

We shouldnt have the 11th off, we should just remeber the fallen, and be gratefull we dont live in places like Cuba or China.

The only thing i would ask is that every year on the 11th the president talks about how the nation is doing nearly halfway through the year and give an update on threats and american involvment over seas.

Lets not depress ourselves, lets just be grateful we still held strong as a nation and can still enjoy our lives after the attacks.





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