[ohio]

This is a bit old, but I didn't see a thread on it. Governor Pataki scrapped the plans for the International Freedom Center (IFC) at the World Trade Center by executive order, but with the support of Hillary Clinton and and a few interest groups including firefighters and family of 9/11 victims. Their efforts were triggered by a June editorial written by a board member of the WTC Memorial Foundation (which is responsible for the memorial portion at the WTC site) and sister to the pilot of the plane that struck the pentagon, Debra Burlingame.

Link to her editorial and the counterpoint by the IFC president, Richard Tofel:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fwd/20050824/208/1527

I have my opinions about the situation, but I figured I would wait to share them. I'm curious what others think.

I believe the current situation is that there will be no IFC, and the memorial will occupy the entire area that was once to include the Drawing Center and the IFC. I don't know if any of the ground level space will be commercial space, but I think so...

 

[DRB]

Memorials should be just that memorials. I don't really agree with sticking a bunch of other stuff along with them. Her rationalization smacks too political for me, like she would put an I love GWB on the site if she had a chance. But that being said the backers of the IFC do as well.

 

[Westy]

I think they need to just let some time pass before they make any decisions about it. Things are way too emotional and political right now.

A lot more time has passed but it looks like some Civil War batlefields will be developed. Money talks bull**** walks.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0903_030903_chancellorsville.html

 

[ohio]

My take: her only legitimate criticism was that there were no conservative thinkers on the IFC council, a mistake that could and should have been easily rectified.

It would have been a awful if the IFC became a shrine to all of Americas mistakes, but I think it's nearly as bad to scrap a great concept that could have been a beautiful tribute and source of education because of a few chicken littles that think they should dictate to the country how to mourn and how to remember. As far as I could tell from reading up on it, her description of the IFC content was NOTHING like what was planned. What was planned was a dedication to the struggle for freedom throughout history, not a damning of American foreign policy. Based on that alone, I'd say her motivation was either to capture more space for HER memorial, or to make one more political statement about the (imaginary) anti-Americanism of the left.

 

[mack]

Rebuild them.

No one will remember 9/11 in 50 years. Just like the majority of kids today dont have any respect/understanding of pearl habor.