Comments on: Ancient History http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/ America's favorite blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:26:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: jr http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-310 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-310 I'm guessing the real motivation came from the sponsor, Hot Wheels (who I understand will be releasing the model just in time for the Holiday shopping season). Personally, I think the design is rather fitting, considering it was modeled after Superman's Fortress of Solitude. I’m guessing the real motivation came from the sponsor, Hot Wheels (who I understand will be releasing the model just in time for the Holiday shopping season).

Personally, I think the design is rather fitting, considering it was modeled after Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.

]]> by: Chicory http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-311 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-311 I think it's a really nice model. I'll bet most New Yorkers will enjoy sitting outside, sipping a latte and looking over at it. What? You mean, they actually plan on building two really big towers? I think I'm going stay here in the Midwest. I think it’s a really nice model. I’ll bet most New Yorkers will enjoy sitting outside, sipping a latte and looking over at it.

What? You mean, they actually plan on building two really big towers? I think I’m going stay here in the Midwest.

]]> by: Max http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-312 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-312 Sandburg said it best: Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me work--- I am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at Gettysburg And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun. Shovel them under and let me work. Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor: What place is this? Where are we now? I am the grass. Let me work. Sandburg said it best:

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work—
I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:
What place is this?
Where are we now?

I am the grass.
Let me work.

]]> by: Elayne Riggs http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-313 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-313 But-- but-- 1776 feet! So if you object you're obviously unpatriotic and unAmerican! Nobody seems to recall how many people objected to the WTC when it was first being built, on the grounds that it stuck out like two sore thumbs in an otherwise lovely downtown skyline. It's probably blasphemy to say it, but I never thought the WTC fit properly, even though it's entered everyone's consciousness to the point where the skyline doesn't look "proper" without it. But geez, god forbid they actually ask the people living in the area what they want; most of them just want a memorial, there are so many empty office buildings in Manhattan that there's no friggin' NEED for any more to be built. Why don't we try instead to better maintain all the ones we already have? But– but– 1776 feet! So if you object you’re obviously unpatriotic and unAmerican!

Nobody seems to recall how many people objected to the WTC when it was first being built, on the grounds that it stuck out like two sore thumbs in an otherwise lovely downtown skyline. It’s probably blasphemy to say it, but I never thought the WTC fit properly, even though it’s entered everyone’s consciousness to the point where the skyline doesn’t look “proper” without it. But geez, god forbid they actually ask the people living in the area what they want; most of them just want a memorial, there are so many empty office buildings in Manhattan that there’s no friggin’ NEED for any more to be built. Why don’t we try instead to better maintain all the ones we already have?

]]> by: Anonymous http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-314 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-314 Love this site - come here everyday now to get my real news :-). I just wanted to offer a different perspective on this topic, because I initially felt very much like you do- I also live near ground zero and I have been very apathetic about all the designs that have been offered up and debated over the past few months. So I was surprised that when I looked more closely at the 'winning' design this morning I actually found that I liked it very much. I also had the chance to hear the architect himself speak about the design on WNYC this morning, and he really seemed to put a tremendous amount of time and heart into this. The symbology and light that he designed into the buildings, and the way he is leaving ground zero untouched as hallowed ground all just seemed very nicely done to me. (I think it would have been a *big* mistake not to leave some part of the ground as a memorial, as many of the other designs proposed). It made me glad that in the midst of all the commercialism and ridiculousness that's behind this, there was someone who really seemed to put some care into this design, and seemed to understand some of the graver aspects of what was involved, more so than maybe Mr. Mayor and the venture capitalists. Or maybe he just sold me, I don't know. :-) I do think that if it's going to be done anyway that (by some miracle) they picked the right design and the right designer. Love this site - come here everyday now to get my real news :-) . I just wanted to offer a different perspective on this topic, because I initially felt very much like you do- I also live near ground zero and I have been very apathetic about all the designs that have been offered up and debated over the past few months. So I was surprised that when I looked more closely at the ‘winning’ design this morning I actually found that I liked it very much. I also had the chance to hear the architect himself speak about the design on WNYC this morning, and he really seemed to put a tremendous amount of time and heart into this. The symbology and light that he designed into the buildings, and the way he is leaving ground zero untouched as hallowed ground all just seemed very nicely done to me. (I think it would have been a *big* mistake not to leave some part of the ground as a memorial, as many of the other designs proposed). It made me glad that in the midst of all the commercialism and ridiculousness that’s behind this, there was someone who really seemed to put some care into this design, and seemed to understand some of the graver aspects of what was involved, more so than maybe Mr. Mayor and the venture capitalists.

Or maybe he just sold me, I don’t know. :-) I do think that if it’s going to be done anyway that (by some miracle) they picked the right design and the right designer.

]]> by: t.a. http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-315 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-315 i'm not a new yorker, far from it here in orygun, but i agree with elayne: the skyline is a lot nicer without the humongous towers. but i do understand the important matter here: how can new york be considered the world's greatest city if it doesn't have the world's largest phallic symbol? how can we hope for a stock market recovery and vast wall street wealth if the nyc business community can't look out their windows and see a gleaming rod thrusting, straining, throbbing... um, sorry, i got distracted. anyway, small is beautiful. build a nice brewpub, a park, and leave it at that. i’m not a new yorker, far from it here in orygun, but i agree with elayne: the skyline is a lot nicer without the humongous towers. but i do understand the important matter here: how can new york be considered the world’s greatest city if it doesn’t have the world’s largest phallic symbol? how can we hope for a stock market recovery and vast wall street wealth if the nyc business community can’t look out their windows and see a gleaming rod thrusting, straining, throbbing…

um, sorry, i got distracted. anyway, small is beautiful. build a nice brewpub, a park, and leave it at that.

]]> by: BOB http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-316 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-316 Don't feel bad. No one gave my suggestion a second thought either... Don’t feel bad. No one gave my suggestion a second thought either…

]]> by: Matt Sandwich http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-317 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-317 Say there, Mr. Felber-guy, sir (who probably doesn't bother reading these posts since he's got a lot on his mind and all). With all this talk about attempts to float an, uhmmmm, NPR-takes-Rush-by-the-horns sort of radio show, what would you say to doing your part and contributing gems like this? You'd think this sort of issue would have conservatives flipping their whigs, except maybe in this age of robber barons returned from the dead to feast upon the living.... Say there, Mr. Felber-guy, sir (who probably doesn’t bother reading
these posts since he’s got a lot on his mind and all). With all this talk
about attempts to float an, uhmmmm, NPR-takes-Rush-by-the-horns
sort of radio show, what would you say to doing your part and
contributing gems like this? You’d think this sort of issue would have
conservatives flipping their whigs, except maybe in this age of
robber barons returned from the dead to feast upon the living….

]]> by: Elliott http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-318 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-318 Gosh, this is a sensitive subject, but let me say that I think that the only people who should have a say in the whole thing are those people this effected. Since this effected just about everyone out there, we should realize that memorials are what you make of them, just as god is what you decide god is. I watched the sun rise from between the towers that morning from Newark, I noticed the beauty of those ugly thumbs in the sky and was amazed by New York that morning. We cannot replace those towers, but what should we do? I wish that there was an easy answer, but to just leave a wound forever is not a way to heal. My sister was killed by a drunk driver and the first time I felt any sense of healing is when we planted a tree for her. A building can be a living memorial as long as there are people to remember the dead. Gosh, this is a sensitive subject, but let me say that I think that the only people who should have a say in the whole thing are those people this effected. Since this effected just about everyone out there, we should realize that memorials are what you make of them, just as god is what you decide god is. I watched the sun rise from between the towers that morning from Newark, I noticed the beauty of those ugly thumbs in the sky and was amazed by New York that morning. We cannot replace those towers, but what should we do? I wish that there was an easy answer, but to just leave a wound forever is not a way to heal. My sister was killed by a drunk driver and the first time I felt any sense of healing is when we planted a tree for her. A building can be a living memorial as long as there are people to remember the dead.

]]> by: Ibid http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-319 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2003/02/27/ancient-history/#comment-319 I'm a DC resident. I've never been to New York or seen the towers anywhere but on TV/in movies. I don't have the sensation of an altered skyline or know anyone who died in the towers. I don't own a construction company or plan to rent space in a new building on the site. In fact what they do to the site has absolutely no impact on me. So naturally my opinion is the most important and you should all take my advice. Whatever happens to the site will be a memorial. It may not even have a special 9-11 plaque, but it will be a memorial until the last of us becomes worm food. Considering the Bush Economic Sabotage Packages that he keeps bombarding us with I'd say that something needs to be built fairly soon just to put some people to work. Giant McDonald's arches? Sure. A 500 ft penis? Why not? A giant radio tower and wind turbine? Sounds nifty. No matter what is built or when someone is going to be pissed off. "It's too tall." "It's too short." "It's just the wrong shade of greenish purple." It's valuable property. Sell it to the highest bidder and let them figure it out. Use the money to buy Valium for anyone who takes issue with it. -Ibid I’m a DC resident. I’ve never been to New York or seen the towers anywhere but on TV/in movies. I don’t have the sensation of an altered skyline or know anyone who died in the towers. I don’t own a construction company or plan to rent space in a new building on the site. In fact what they do to the site has absolutely no impact on me. So naturally my opinion is the most important and you should all take my advice.
Whatever happens to the site will be a memorial. It may not even have a special 9-11 plaque, but it will be a memorial until the last of us becomes worm food.
Considering the Bush Economic Sabotage Packages that he keeps bombarding us with I’d say that something needs to be built fairly soon just to put some people to work.
Giant McDonald’s arches? Sure. A 500 ft penis? Why not? A giant radio tower and wind turbine? Sounds nifty.
No matter what is built or when someone is going to be pissed off. “It’s too tall.” “It’s too short.” “It’s just the wrong shade of greenish purple.”
It’s valuable property. Sell it to the highest bidder and let them figure it out. Use the money to buy Valium for anyone who takes issue with it.

-Ibid

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