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Gov. George Pataki, bowing to a growing campaign by furious Sept. 11 families, ousted a proposed freedom museum from its space at ground zero Wednesday, declaring that the International Freedom Center has generated "too much opposition, too much controversy" to remain.The day prior:
The decision follows months of acrimony over the Freedom Center, with angry families and politicians saying that the museum would dishonor the memory of the 2,749 people who died at the World Trade Center."Freedom should unify us. This center has not," Pataki said. "Today there remains too much opposition, too much controversy over the programming of the IFC and we must move forward with our first priority, the creation of an inspiring memorial to pay tribute to our lost loved ones and tell their stories to the world."
<...>
"Goodbye and good riddance," said Rep. Vito Fossella, one of three congressmen who had threatened hearings on federal funding if the museum stayed where it was. "The IFC will not stand on the hallowed grounds of the World Trade Center site."
September 27, 2005 -- Hillary Clinton. Three New York congressmen. Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro. Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, who may challenge Clinton. Ed Cox, another likely Clinton rival.Make no mistake about it - the internet played the key role in making this happen. Outside of New York City this story garnered very little media attention - and in New York City the NY Times was strongly in support of the IFC, with frequent editorials dismissing the "handful" of "vocal 9/11 families".The firefighters' union. The police union. Fifteen independent organizations representing 9/11 families.
Some 47,000 petition-signers.
And now ? America's mayor: Rudy Giuliani.
"They should change the whole concept and scrap [the] plans and focus it on 9/11," Giuliani said Sunday. "I think it's a mistake . . . "
Giuliani was referring to the International Freedom Center's intention to host debates and "educational" programs that invite criticism of the nation and its historical record.
Which may be a worthy goal ? but is highly inappropriate at the site where America suffered it worst domestic attack (for reasons that have nothing to do with its historical record).
Governor Pataki made the right decision - the memorial will be just that - a memorial to the fallen, free from politics or other distractors. That is as it should be.
But this is also a victory made possible by new media - internet sites helping form a coalition and "getting the word out" - and breaking an old media stranglehold on the shaping of events.
Reaction from others who've been on this story:
Jarvis offers a great quote on the IFC's planers claiming there's no other location for their Center: at a cynical act. If they truly believed in their freedom center, they would have built it anywhere. But, in the end, its? clear that they believed only in bringing their agenda to the World Trade Center memorial."
Time will tell. Meanwhile, (and I'm not joking) Kabul,Afghanistan would be one location to consider. Baghdad another.
Update (Looking back at Mrs Greyhawk's original entry on this topic here on 9 June):
Michelle Malkin highlights in Debra Burlingame's article, " the culprits behind this sacrilege at Ground Zero" and in answer to Debra's question "How do we get it back?" Michelle suggests contacting NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Gov. George Pataki and even the President. I agree they need to be bombarded with complaints however I think there's only one who can rally New York and the country into putting a stop to this insult ...yes, the one and only, "Person of the Year 2001", Rudy Giuliani.Heh.
Previous entries on this topic:
911... Never Forget...it's all America's fault
