Sacred Place

By me, Ground Zero is Holy Ground. It would have been folly to hope that buildings would never again occupy the real estate where the World Trade Center towers stood. It’s New York City, after all, and the land is valuable. But still, there is a part of me that will always feel that new buildings and the transaction of business at Ground Zero dishonors the memory of the 3000 men and women who died there. Never have I had that feeling more strongly than this morning when I heard that George W. Bush will be in New York City and will be at Ground Zero for the next two days. If ever, holy ground was desecrated it will be when George W. Bush sets his feet on the land where the World Trade Center was attacked and then spews his 9/11 garbage. Another site that Bush plans to visit and therefore will desecrate is the nearby Episcopal Church, Saint Paul’s Chapel, at Broadway and Wall Streets. Saint Paul’s served as a resting place for weary firemen after the attack. And who can forget the surrounding fence that was hung with thousands and thousands of pieces of memorabilia from mourning families and friends? Our wee president Bush--mental defective and draft-dodger--who sat mute and incapable of taking action for five minutes until he was told what to do when the World Trade Center was attacked, and who has done nothing since but tell lies and prove that he is a silly little man, has no right to come within a hundred miles of Ground Zero. And yet, there he will be, befouling the air on sacred ground. About that we can do nothing. But what we can do is remember what really happened on September 11, 2001. And we can refuse to be a part of all the other hype and nonsense.