NYT: "Tribute in Light" aiming two beams skyward over ground zero site

[DeepModem Mom]

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times
The “Tribute in Light,” seen behind the ground zero construction area, aimed two beams skyward tonight.

[Drum]

1. IMO this was always

what I thought was the very best memorial of all. Beautiful and appropriate. No bricks, no museums, no walkways and viewing platforms, no shrines.
I can see it from here, and it's beautiful.
:shrug:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. I hope they keep the lights, and

build a park around them. somewhere pretty and peaceful for the cube rats who have to work in the city.

[Drum]

4. Me too.

We (NYC) don't owe the rest of the country some museum to gawk at and choke with their cameras for I-was-here-at-Ground-Zero pictures.

[speedoo]

8. But we all owe the 9/11 families.

After five years, the fact that so little has been done to create a proper memorial, meeting the needs of the families, is shameful.

[Drum]

10. I'm not saying exclusive of any memorial,

(though my blurted response did kinda sound that way.)

I mean that it can and should be a memorial to those people who perished there, all of 'em. I do not want that palce or that event to be a memorial to a Bush-related national fantasy of faux-patriotism.

Sorry to mislead in my haste.

[speedoo]

12. I agree with you.

Especially the part about "I do not want that palce or that event to be a memorial to a Bush-related national fantasy of faux-patriotism."

I don't there's much chance of that happening. Not in NYC and not with women like Kristin Breitweiser watching closely.

[sce56]

14. I would say the best memorial to the families would be to have there

questions answered to know the truth about how it all happened and who is to blame so as to prevent it from happening again.
http://www.911pressfortruth.com/

http://www.911pressfortruth.com/

The Story
“We felt the country was at risk from terrorists and from incompetence…and maybe worse.” —Lorie Van Auken, September 11th Widow

Following the attacks of September 11th, a small group of grieving families waged a tenacious battle against those who sought to bury the truth about the event—including, to their amazement, President Bush. In ‘9/11 PRESS FOR TRUTH’, six of them, including three of the famous “Jersey Girls”, tell for the first time the powerful story of how they took on the greatest powers in Washington—and won!—compelling an investigation, only to subsequently watch the 9/11 Commission fail in answering most of their questions.

Adapting Paul Thompson’s definitive Complete 9/11 Timeline (published by HarperCollins as ‘The Terror Timeline’), the filmmakers collaborate with documentary veterans Globalvision (‘WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception’, ‘Beyond JFK’) to stitch together rare overlooked news clips, buried stories, and government press conferences, revealing a pattern of official lies, deception and spin. As a result, a very different picture of 9/11 emerges, one that raises new and more pressing questions.

What actions were taken by top government officials who received dozens of specific warnings before the attack? Was Osama Bin Laden and his top al Qaeda leadership allowed to escape U.S. forces in Afghanistan? And what has been the reason for the deliberate obscuring of evidence for state sponsorship? Perhaps the most important one of all: Why, five years later, are so many of the families’ questions still unanswered?

[Missy Vixen]

19. The rest of the country isn't asking for that

>We (NYC) don't owe the rest of the country some museum to gawk at and choke with their cameras for I-was-here-at-Ground-Zero pictures.<

My husband recently went to Ground Zero when he was in NYC on business. He just wanted to see it. I know he didn't take photos. He said very little about his experience there, other than saying he couldn't describe it to anyone else.

I hope that the twin beams are comforting for the families. I agree with those who've already stated that it would also be nice to have a park there.

Julie

[speedoo]

3. I just stepped outside... it's a cool, clear night..

and I can see the beams from Brooklyn.

Makes one feel good, but still sad.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Me too. I can see it from my porch. I also agree that it would be the

perfect memorial...with a lovely park around it...and that would be enough.

[Drum]

6. I'm in Coney Island...same thing here.

There's something dual in it, and I think it's just right.
Couldn't really see 'em before from my old place, but I just moved, and the view of these beams makes me pause.

[Renew Deal]

11. I'm in Nassau

South Shore and I can see them well from here too. Nice night, but terribly mournful.

[DianeG5385]

7. The beams are perfect

Build a memorial at ground zero and the beams will be part of it. I don't know that the towers should be rebuilt now. In my opinion, we should have begun rebuilding the EXACT SAME TOWERS immediately after 911, but having taken 5 years, only the beatiful blue beams will now suiffice. No new building will ever be good enough.

[lumpy]

22. A tribute to capitalism.

IMHO rebuilding commercial towers would not fulfill the need for a memorial, I would consider it more of a memorial to capitalism. The twin beams with surounding park would be more appropriate.

[rocktivity]

9. That's not bad for airplanes?

:shrug:
rocknation

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. Manhattan

is a no fly zone for commerical jets.

Even before 9-11, they fly around it, not over.

[BattyDem]

13. I loved the lights the first time around ...

and I love them even more now. When I looked out the window and saw them tonight, it gave me such a good feeling ... a peaceful feeling. They should definitely be part of the memorial.

[aaronbees]

15. I've always liked them too

A fitting and powerful rememberance -- so powerful because it's so simple.

[phrenzy]

16. This should be done EVERY 9/11 at this location.

I was surprised when they never did this again, and glad to see that they saw fit to bring it back. This to me is the memorial that strikes the right tone on every level. The symbol of two towers of light reaching for the sky is universal and not caught up in any bush propaganda 'freedom tower' nonsense.

I've always been of the opinion to just say 'fuck the real estate' and create perfect footprints around the locations of the towers.

Either that or rebuild the twin towers with modern engineering to withstand the impact of the largest passenger jet x2.

Anything that is build tall at that site will be a target, so they may as well make it as a symbol of resolve and reverence for the originals.

[Ignacio Upton]

17. It is done every 9/11

n/t.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. They aren't on all the time?

[Drum]

24. No...

Though for a while at first, they were on nightly. Although it is very beautiful, I've read that the lightbeam set-up is quite costly to power/operate.
I happened to be by the (Hudson)river a couple of years ago on September 11th, and walked toward the beams until I reached the site. The lighting apparatus is really massive, and the light intensely powerful. They must take considerable power, and if I recall right, I'd read that the beams cost a surprisingly large $um to run.
:shrug:

[Tyrone Slothrop]

20. Beautiful

I could see them from my apartment in Brooklyn last night.

Certainly the best way to remember, as far as I'm concerned.

[closeupready]

21. I always felt that this would have made the best memorial.

the searchlights make it seem as though we are bringing the victims closer, it's like sending a message to heaven that we miss you and haven't forgotten you.