Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

[BartMack]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Great post Marion! After the fall of Sadam and after the Iraqis reissued the Dinar (without Sadam's face on the currency), three of us at work bought some of the new Iraqi Dinars. We did it mostly because the new Dinars really look cool, and because the war has made Iraq part our history. I gave some of the larger bills as Christmas presents to members of my family. I attached a note with a brief history of Iraq and the war, and told them that someday they could show their grandkids some real Iraqi Dinars. The Dinar is currently only worth something like .00007 cents per US dollar. Before the war, one Dinar was equal to as much as 3 US dollars. When we bought the brand new Dinars, it cost us around $25 per 50,000 Dinars. Like I said, we did this on a whim. Should the Iraqi economy really boom someday, we'll have a pretty nice nest egg, which is something we didn't even think about. If nothing else, we have a piece of history and should it ever be safe enough to visit Iraq, we've already got our vacation fund.

Where did you buy them?

[Sam]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

I can see it now.... See BEAUTIFUL downtown Bagdad!

[fxstsb]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Glad to hear Iraq is doing so well, you wouldn't know it from all the suicide attacks. If they're doing so well, then why are our people over there getting killed? Why don't they run their own damn country?

Saw pictures on the "Today" show this morning of Sadam Huessen in his drawers! They're going to make a BIG DEAL out of it!
Some poor American will probably be sent to prison for THAT, while they're filming Americans having their heads cut off!
What's wrong with us that we're mortified by photos of naked prisoners, or Saddam in his Jockeys, while we keep right on eating our dinner as we watch blood, and gore, from wounded American soldiers?
I just don't get it.

Kevin, I believe some people are impatient and want it right now. "The american buck will buy it". People are getting killed in the U.S. daily but it just doesn't get the same press. If it did, we would have to do something about it wouldn't we? Those people over there have been fighting and oppressed for years. It is not completely a war zone. Some people thrive on crime and killing. Don't think that those over there causing the insurrection would not prefer to do it here. Some of them have. What you see on the tube is what the media wants you to see and for their own reasons. I hope that you remember those Americans over there. Those people are helping the Iraqis to become peaceful. Imagine that. Now one last comment; You mentioned Saddam in his shorts... I think you were illuding to some disrespect. Imagine Saddam tying a woman up nude and covering her in honey and putting her outside to the elements. This man is brutal. All of those people in Iraq were owned by him. They were afraid to go against him. It could have been a grenade down that hole. Your comment played the picture that the media wanted. How the americans mistreated Saddam Hussein. Just my opinion.

[BartMack]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

bartmak

I agree that the two landmarks represent something completely different.

But, both are highly symbolic.

Those buildings were right outside my office window (from the Jersey side). I've been on the NY Harbor boat tours on a warm evening and stared at these two monoliths, all lit up, glowing brightly.

When I think of NY City, I think of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the WTC Towers. Everytime I see a TV shot of the NY skyline, whether it be on the nightly news or Law and Order, something is missing. When I see an old movie that has a shot of the Twin Towers, I get ticked off all over again. As I ride along the Hudson River to work, again, something's missing.

I don't have that feeling about a Home Depot or WalMart.

Not rebuilding them tells the world that we were afraid that the same thing might happen again.

Are we?

yes, I understand.

I guess what I'm thinking is that what is lost cannot be regained.... putting the towers back the way they were won't bring the people back the way they were.. so it doesn't feel right to me. I didn't lose anyone in the destruction, but if I had, I think it would seem empty or hollow to have them built back the way they were, almost like the deaths had been forgotten or written over.... (If the buildings had been totally empty at the time, I might not be thinking this way)

so I definitely think the site should be rebuilt, and I totally agree with the symbolism of leaving the original footprints untouched as memorials of what stood there and what was lost... which makes me conclude that something new, something forward-looking should rise there.

Whatever is built will be hugely famous and a big attention getter, so it should not be short non-descript buildings IMO.. let's show off a little bit! it should be spectacular, might as well be the tallest building until the next one comes along, and I don't mind it being a symbol of our freedom..

Could the Freedom Tower design look different and still be successful? yes, I think so... so I won't defend design details of it, but I think the concept is right on the mark..

[Sam]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Marion, you misunderstood my post.

Your comment played the picture that the media wanted. How the americans mistreated Saddam Hussein. Just my opinion.

I don't care if they publish photos of him being gang raped! I can't STAND him!

What I meant was there going to make a BIG stupid deal about him in his underwear, his lawyers are talking about sueing "The Sun" the British paper that published them, AND the U.S. Military!
How stupid is that?
We have men, and women over there being wounded, and killed, and the media is making a fuss over him in his drawers!

(The same paper released photos a few years ago, of Prince Charles in, and OUT of his boxser shorts, "family jewels" and all, and you didn't hear much about it.)

As far as I'm concerned, they should re build the twin towers, put Osama on top of one, Huessen on top of the other, push them off, and see who hits the ground the fastest!<!-- / message -->

[R-04-Merlot]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Thunderbubba,

On a similar note - Don Henley 0 Dirty Laundry


I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
in her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do The Innuendo
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!

[jerrym3]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

This might be a screwy idea, but I was thinking while driving to work today, that if they did reconstruct the twin towers, I would not want them to cover the exact same footprints of the original strutures. Instead, I'd like to see the new structure overlap the old original footprints, while still noting the original footprints on the outside and also in the main lobbies of the new buildings.

The outside could be noted with a special walkway edged with flowers, shrubs, small trees, etc.

Within the main lobbies of both buildings, I'd have the original building's footprint noted by a different colored tile. Depending on how the new structure overlaps the old, the original footprint marking would also section off a museum-like "Area of Rememberance" with the names of the deceased (similar to the Viet Nam and Pearl Harbor Memorials), pictures of that terrible day, models of the original buildings, a piece of the original structures, and any other approporiate memorabelia.

This way, even in the bad winter days, a section of the original footprints would still be available for all to see. When the weather improves, the outside footprint would again become a place to remember the past.

Both high ceiling lobbies would be dedicated as memorial areas and nothing else.

Just my .02.

[ZOBCHEK]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Jerry,

Your idea has some appeal, but the families have already complained that the museum will be too close to the footprints. I doubt people will be allowed to walk directly on the footprints of the former buildings.

[jerrym3]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

I'm not trying to be a bad guy here. (I can only imagine what those families went through. I knew two of the unfortunate victims from my past jobs.)

However, those reconstructing the Pentagon didn't decide to leave the damaged area as a memorial. They rebuilt the building as it was, and that's what I would like to see done.

While I am in total favor of an appropriate area dedicated as a memorial, I still feel that something (Twin Towers, Freedom Tower, you name it) must be rebuilt from the ashes.

To me, rebuilding the Towers is a fitting memorial, one that can be seen from miles away, not just by those at the site. Everytime I look at whatever is constructed, I will remember.

I don't agree with Trump that the choice is between rebuilding the Twin Towers or a large memorial park. I can't see a memorial park from NJ. I will be able to see the structure that eventually is erected.

[Proboxfan]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Maybe instead of rebuilding any edifices, they should construct a amusement park alongside a memorial.

They could have a Osama Bin Laden lookalike dunk tank. A shooting gallery where instead of a row of ducks, little Osamas are shot. Any variation of carnival games where people can get a cathartic release aimed at the perpetrators of the WTC attacks.

Proceeds can go to families or those who were lost, and even to families of troops overseas.

[K.P.]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

..they could have camel rides...

[Sam]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Gary, and KarylP !
You both should be ashamed!

[fxstsb]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

..they could have camel rides...

I like this post!!!!!

[Sam]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?





Looks like this will be the revised design, and the one they're going to build.
Looks kind of pretty, no so bad, but it won't be finished until 2009?
I wish they'd get started already, we may rise like a Phoenix, but it will be a slow one!

[FlirTBird]

Re: Freedom Tower, or Twin Towers?

Looks like this will be the revised design, and the one they're going to build.
Looks kind of pretty, no so bad, but it won't be finished until 2009?
I wish they'd get started already, we may rise like a Phoenix, but it will be a slow one!

I don't much care for that design. I agree with those who favor rebuilding the original structures. I still remember when my favorite show at the time ("Sex and the City") changed their opening credits and removed the scenes that had the towers in them. That really annoyed me. What? If we don't show them, it didn't happen?

Wish we could add music to these threads. I think Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten" would perfect. (Yeah, yeah...me and my country music. At least it's not hip hop/rap.)