I don't understand why you need tickets to go into the memorial - can someone explain? Why isn't it freely open to the public?
I think it's also important to remember that the bodies of many who died there were never recovered. Their husbands, wives, parents, children never got to bury them and don't have a gravesite to visit. This is it for them. I can't imagine that anybody would want someone sitting on their mother or child's tombstone chowing down on a hot dog and spilling coffee.
It is essentially still a construction site. Because of the heightened security needed there during this time, only a certain number of people are allowed on the site at any given time.
Coming from the sister of a boy who, as a kid, knelt down to lap water out of the JFK Memorial Pool at Arlington out of desperation on a 100+ degree day in August, I'll say this: This too shall pass.
Wrong or not, I think over time this will likely become less of an offense. Not for right or wrong, but it will just happen. But I think the fact it's still there will still make the history of the event real for anyone who wants to know it.
The most powerful memorial I've been to Hiroshima. It was a mixed use park with the museum, statues, sculptures, oh and families picnicking, playing frisbee. I think the juxtaposition made it better.
Ditto about Hiroshima.
While visitors shouldn't be blatantly disrespectful, the reality is that it's an open space in the middle of a dense city. It will be used as a park.
It's also a cemetery, just like WTC. There are still people alive who remember witnessing it. I've met some of them.
Sure, Japanese culture is different, but with my American eyes it was beautiful that a city could rise again and families could picnic and play frisbee in sight of the a-bomb dome.
But, then, I'm one who thinks that a celebration of life is a proper way of mourning death.
But, then, I'm one who thinks that a celebration of life is a proper way of mourning death.
Can I be a geek right now and say one of my favorite Star Trek: TNG episodes was when one of the characters died and they threw a festive party for his funeral? (Obviously not that huge of a geek or I'd know which character, I think it's Jordi.)
Post by heightsyankee on Sept 4, 2012 22:34:48 GMT -5
I stopped reading about 1/2 way down page 2 (because my husband is going to throw my lap top out the window) but I thought there was an intent by the designers to have it be used as a park? I agree on not sitting on the wall, but I honestly thought that it was supposed to be otherwise "enjoyed" by the residents and visitors of NYC?
But, then, I'm one who thinks that a celebration of life is a proper way of mourning death.
Can I be a geek right now and say one of my favorite Star Trek: TNG episodes was when one of the characters died and they threw a festive party for his funeral? (Obviously not that huge of a geek or I'd know which character, I think it's Jordi.)
When H and I visited NYC in June we were surprised by the levity of people at the 9/11 memorial. Like pps mentioned, people were smiling and taking pics of themselves with the memorial which just felt wrong.
Just because something looks like a park (in that it has trees and benches) doesn't mean you should picnic and play hackey sack there. People know what the memorial is there for, they just choose to not take it seriously. You shouldn't have to make a memorial ugly/non-park like to have people respect it.
Can I be a geek right now and say one of my favorite Star Trek: TNG episodes was when one of the characters died and they threw a festive party for his funeral? (Obviously not that huge of a geek or I'd know which character, I think it's Jordi.)
Jordi died?
No, they just think he did for the episode (hangs head in shame for knowing this).
When H and I visited NYC in June we were surprised by the levity of people at the 9/11 memorial. Like pps mentioned, people were smiling and taking pics of themselves with the memorial which just felt wrong.
Just because something looks like a park (in that it has trees and benches) doesn't mean you should picnic and play hackey sack there. People know what the memorial is there for, they just choose to not take it seriously. You shouldn't have to make a memorial ugly/non-park like to have people respect it.
Wait, so... nobody should have picnics unless there is a specific sign indicating it's allowed? This baffles me.
And I'm really pissed off at your assertion that because someone has a picnic there, they're not taking it seriously. Again, I ask, if a victim's wife comes there to eat her lunch and be near where her husband died, is that "not taking it seriously"? What if she allows her child to play with a ball there while they both talk about his father? Is that disrespectful?
I find it interesting that you assume that there are a large number of people frolicking near the memorial who have loved ones that passed away there.
Someone used the Vietnam memorial as an example and it's a pretty good one. There are signs there to be reverent and not run, rollerblade, or bring food/drinks into a certain area. The area surrounding the memorial is a park. People generally aren't jerks about it.
IMO, it's one of those things where you know something is distasteful when you see it. And frankly, there are a number of parks fairly close by to the 9/11 memorial for people to get their picnic on.