http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Thu, 2 Mar 2006 19:36:03 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/01/022131.php#comment-328865 Thanks for the comments. I think more than anything we who knew and loved victims of the 9/11 attacks want a respectful and dignified memorial. I am open to anything that promotes and honors the memory of those lost, but there are too many people who are unhappy. The problem with Arad's design is exactly what Rich says: it was picked by the LMDC panel, NOT by the victims' families. They were ignored in the process and have been for a long time. 328865@blogcritics.org Thu, 2 Mar 2006 19:36:03 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/01/022131.php#comment-328732 The designer Michael Arad submitted his design and went through the review process.and his design was selected by the LMDC panel of judges. Everyone else had a chance to submit their design too but those did not win. The judges saw something about Mr. Arad's design they liked better than the hundreds of others that were submitted. I say great, move forward. Some don't like it, some do. However you feel about Mr. Arad's design is the one that is going to be built whether there are protestors standing around singing Kumbaya or not. So get used to this design. Lots of people hated the Vietnam Memorial before it was built saying the color black was bad but now it's revered as one of the best memorials around. I'll bet once it is built this new memorial will also be a beacon of hope and healing. Give it a chance. I believe in progress and moving forward instead of letting Ground Zero remain a granite pit. Why become an obstacle to that progress. Help move the site forward not keep it mired in controversy. 328732@blogcritics.org Thu, 2 Mar 2006 14:37:59 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/01/022131.php#comment-328246 I see the point but I don't necessarily agree. I'm in D.C., and it's important to remember that in spite of all the above ground monuments here and the one that soars into the sky, the most visited one in the city is the Vietnam memorial. A memorial that is carved out of the ground itself, rather than stretching up into the sky. And if you've ever seen the kind of healing that goes on with the ex-GIs who visit there, you know that there is no more fitting tribute. It sounds to me like this WTC memorial is specifically trying to emulate the effect of the Vietnam Memorial. And I'm not so sure that's a bad thing. 328246@blogcritics.org Wed, 1 Mar 2006 14:20:17 EST