True Cross
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that it's unwise (if not ghoulish) to use steel from the destroyed World Trade Center to make things- commemorative or not?
There is a beam making its way to Shanksville Pa., that is to become part of a huge cross so we may remember the deaths of those on Flight 93. (Remember.....or seethe?) Do we really need salt poured into the wound by the constant reminder of twisted steel? The worst is a new U.S. warship named USS New York, whose hull is made entirely of WTC steel with the motto "Never Forget" painted on its side. To my mind, it's as emotionally manipulative as knights being sent off to the Crusades with pieces of the 'true cross' to fire them up. All of this smacks of "emotional patriotism"-- which is the most dangerous kind. It's what allowed us to invade Iraq. It's what's kept George Bush in office for 8 years.
It's a mixture of fear, fury and revenge- and it bothers me- a lot. I am sent emails fairly often with a 'support our troops' theme, and as lovely or heart-wrenching as the pictures are, I feel the manipulation behind it. I dislike ralliers; I mistrust things that are aimed at the tear ducts-- especially when they are wrapped in the flag.
What we need to combat terrorism is a cool, clear head. We need to use intelligence, and we need to move as silently as possible. The time has come to lay the anguish finally to rest, and pursue a safer world methodically and without propaganda (or props) of any kind.
Symbolism is too easily used to blind and to keep wounds open. A simple commemorative stone such as the Vietnam memorial in Washington DC would have been the most appropriate and dignifed way not to forget the names or the events: it fosters contemplation, not anger. It's a place to meditate and leave the wiser. It's sobering, but it does not give rise to vengeance. It's not made of shot-down helicopters or burned tanks.
It's a gravestone. A marker. A place to truly grieve- and go from there. I wish WTC memorials could have kept those things in mind, but then I remember that these are being constructed while still in the Bush era.....we're not out of the woods yet. We're still very much in the dark, and in many ways these WTC holy relics allow this Republican administration to feel justified in all the ways they've weakened this country. Too bad we can't see it. Yet.
Give history another 25 years. O Babylon, it will cry, we were so easily bent.
There is a beam making its way to Shanksville Pa., that is to become part of a huge cross so we may remember the deaths of those on Flight 93. (Remember.....or seethe?) Do we really need salt poured into the wound by the constant reminder of twisted steel? The worst is a new U.S. warship named USS New York, whose hull is made entirely of WTC steel with the motto "Never Forget" painted on its side. To my mind, it's as emotionally manipulative as knights being sent off to the Crusades with pieces of the 'true cross' to fire them up. All of this smacks of "emotional patriotism"-- which is the most dangerous kind. It's what allowed us to invade Iraq. It's what's kept George Bush in office for 8 years.
It's a mixture of fear, fury and revenge- and it bothers me- a lot. I am sent emails fairly often with a 'support our troops' theme, and as lovely or heart-wrenching as the pictures are, I feel the manipulation behind it. I dislike ralliers; I mistrust things that are aimed at the tear ducts-- especially when they are wrapped in the flag.
What we need to combat terrorism is a cool, clear head. We need to use intelligence, and we need to move as silently as possible. The time has come to lay the anguish finally to rest, and pursue a safer world methodically and without propaganda (or props) of any kind.
Symbolism is too easily used to blind and to keep wounds open. A simple commemorative stone such as the Vietnam memorial in Washington DC would have been the most appropriate and dignifed way not to forget the names or the events: it fosters contemplation, not anger. It's a place to meditate and leave the wiser. It's sobering, but it does not give rise to vengeance. It's not made of shot-down helicopters or burned tanks.
It's a gravestone. A marker. A place to truly grieve- and go from there. I wish WTC memorials could have kept those things in mind, but then I remember that these are being constructed while still in the Bush era.....we're not out of the woods yet. We're still very much in the dark, and in many ways these WTC holy relics allow this Republican administration to feel justified in all the ways they've weakened this country. Too bad we can't see it. Yet.
Give history another 25 years. O Babylon, it will cry, we were so easily bent.
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