After taking an online 9/11 survey (which can be viewed at www.takebackthememorial.org), I found the results rather unsurprising. The question posed is quite simple: “If given a choice between building a ‘cultural arts center’ or building the 9/11 Memorial and 9/11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center site, which would you choose?”
The results of the survey (at least as of the time I am writing this on 11/13/2005 at 7:17pm New York time) were as follows:
-4,105 or 99% for building the 9/11 Memorial and 9/11 Memorial Museum
- 27 or 1% for building the cultural arts center
Why do I find these results unsurprising? Because as most New Yorkers know, the last thing we need is a “cultural arts center” in lower Manhattan. When I think of all the “culture” that is available on the rest of this tiny island, (anyone the least bit familiar with my wonderful city knows that it is overflowing with museums, theatres, and galleries) it seems sadly out of touch with the needs of the victims’ families and all New Yorkers to press for such a venue in the sacred place known as Ground Zero.
The problem is that there is yet another battle to be fought. As noted by Robert Shurbet, founder of Take Back the Memorial, “This is a crucial time. It now appears that the desires of New York’s cultural elite may be competing head-to-head with the 9/11 Memorial & Memorial Museum for a very limited amount of funds.
“While the LMDC (Lower Manhattan development Corporation) has repeatedly said that the Memorial will take fund raising precedence, it is hard to believe that is what will happen when they are handing out $35 million federal dollars (your money) in the form of grants ‘to existing and new cultural institutions downtown.’”
Article comments
1 - RJ
Fine post, and I agree! :)
2 - Victor Lana
Thanks, RJ.
Survey update (as of 7:41pm on 11/14/05)
-4,768 for building the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- 38 for building the "cultural center"
3 - Victor Lana
Survey Update:
-4,988 for building the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- 44 for building the "cultural center"
as of 6:39 PM 11-15-05
4 - Victor Lana
Survey Update:
-5,167 for a 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- 51 for a "cultural center"
as of 6:39am 11-17-2005