"Hey World!"

[achebeautiful]

"Freedom Tower, World Trade Center"


After months of disputes over the future of ground zero, state and city officials finally brought in the heavy equipment and began construction Thursday on the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower that will rise at the World Trade Center site.

"It is going to be a symbol of our freedom and independence," Gov. George Pataki said after three yellow construction trucks - driven by workers wearing hard hats emblazoned with the American flag and the words "Freedom Tower, World Trade Center" - rolled down a ramp to applause from politicians. [...]

The Freedom Tower is scheduled to open in 2011, and officials said Wednesday's deal means all five towers could be built by 2012. Construction has also begun on the memorial...The Freedom Tower will be as high as the 110-story World Trade Center towers. But an illuminated spire will stretch the building to the symbolic 1,776 feet envisioned in the original Freedom Tower design. That would be taller than any building in existence...

[achebeautiful]

These comments came from a poster at another forum:

One of the positives of the new Feedom Tower is that it corrects the design flaws and sins of the Twin Towers. I saw a documentary on the design of this building, and I think it will be one of the safest 1,776-foot-tall structures in the world.

The show I saw (it may have been on the Discovery Channel - it was around the 9/11 anniversary), they showed how the structure of the building will be constructed - much in the way the new 7 World Trade has been built. There is so much concrete and reinforced steel it's amazing. Certainly not the spray-on asbestos and meltable truss-rod construction of the old WTC.

At one point, the reporter/host asked one of the designers what would happen if (God forbid) a plane hit the new building. The man deadpanned back, "I'd feel bad for the aeroplane".

[ocelot]

It's good they are constructing a well-built building, but really why does New York need to be the centre of the world (I'm sorry but that's just my impression of the city and it really turns me off). It really saddens me when the world came together after 9/11 but when disaster hit in the Pakistan/Kashmir region there was next to nothing done in North America. And now they have this modern tower that they are building that's super strong that they are spending tons of money on when there are people dying because they never got the aid that they needed to survive.

[achebeautiful]

Leona, thank you for sharing your opinion about this. I am not interested in changing your mind about any of it, but only want to respond to your question in which you ask:

"why does New York need to be the centre of the world (I'm sorry but that's just my impression of the city and it really turns me off)."

Let me give you five reasons why I believe NYC is what you call the centre of the world.

#1. The Statue Of Liberty ~ There are places in this world where children and adults alike hold tiny replicas of her in the palms of their hands. Lady Liberty did not hand them out to them and make them carry it. They clutch it in their hands because she symbolizes a better way of life than the one they are now living in.

#2. Ellis Island ~ Immigrants have come here seeking opportunity, freedom, and hope for their families. They are not being forced to come here, but are doing so out of desire!

#3. Freedom ~ The name of the buildings that are going up will be called "Freedom Towers." Freedom. Think about that word and everything it means. Think about how important that must be to those who do not have it.

#4. "1776" ~ The Freedom Towers will reach into the sky at 1776 feet. That is America's birthdate. Whether you love or hate this country, and for whatever reasons, it must be hard to read The Declaration Of Independence without the thought that it is one of the most remarkable and inspired documents ever penned by man.

#5. Capitalism ~ $$$$$! In Mexico, Vicente Fox says that we here in the USA are stupid because we give our poor opportunities to get out of their poverty. In order for his government to thrive there, he must keep his people poor (which explains why they are splitting their guts open to get over here.) The strength of the US dollar is such that when countries market their product, it is here that they do so. Two reasons why: because the people who live here can afford to buy it, and because in many cases the people in their own countries cannot. It must be difficult for the Chinese people to buy stuff when they work fifteen hour days to make in a month what you and I make in a day! The best selling guitar on the market right now is made by a Chinese maker. Where is he selling most of those guitars? In the USA.

[ocelot]

As far as New York City goes, the attitude bothers me more than the fact that they have so much stuff there. I think it's great they have so much stuff there as far as tourist attractions and business but why the attitude that makes me feel like they think they are better than the rest of the world because they have that stuff. This is what turns alot of people away from liking Americans. There are so many great Americans that are super caring and thoughtful but the impression people get from the outside is arrogance and self-righteous and it's terrible that people get that impression because I think that attitude is only magnified in certain parts of the country. (Mark, I don't think you have any of that in you) I think it's great that the Freedom towers is going to have sentimental value to it.

[achebeautiful]

One good example of what you are saying about American attitude that people in the rest of the world do not appreciate is some of the athletes in the past few Olympics. How embarrassing to see the total disrespect for other nation's flags and anthems as American athletes would chuckle and talk through them. I appreciate your commentary about this and agree with what you are saying here. There are many, many Americans such as I who feel exactly the same way you do about this.