Ground Zero New York, Fifty Years Later©
by Austin Repath
After the horrifying events of 9/11 there were years of considerable fear and
apprehension.
Fortunately, the war between Muslims and Seculars never materialized. In fact as the debate went on rather than polarizing the two extremes,
people became more aware of the grievances and misunderstandings on both
sides, as well as the many areas of common interest.
Fortuitously or miraculously depending on your viewpoint a series of happenstance
events were instrumental in creating out of the ruins of the World Trade
Center a space for people to come together, share their grief and
express their hope for a better world.
It all started with a search for ideas as to what to do with the World
Trade Center property. There were many people who wanted to rebuild the
towers saying that this would prove to the world that terrorism could not
destroy our way of life. Others wanted the site to become a memorial for the victims who had died in
the collapse of the towers.
As the debate went on, more and more people started coming to New York
not out of curiosity so much as out of respect and a need to
somehow participate in the reclaiming of this special place.
It soon became apparent that people had a need to stand in Ground Zero,
to somehow take in the horror and the tragedy that had occurred
within these few blocks of downtown Manhattan, and even more important
to stand in silent witness to that day that had closed the twentieth century. But they also to begin
to think about laying the ground work for a new millennium that would be more compassionate.
In response to the numbers of people wishing to visit the site, the City
of New York put up a temporary walkway encircling the perimeter,
to help people see for themselves the devastation, and pay their homage to this
place which had been sanctified by the death of so many people.
Over time, a simple ritual evolved. People would circle the site,
watching intently as crews continued the clean-up and began preparations
for what was to rise out of the ashes. One day a television crew filmed
the people in the circle, most of them complete strangers, holding
hands.
When this first happened no one knew for sure, but after that television
clip, the hand-holding became an traditional part of the visit. Then
a television network decided to dedicate a station to Ground Zero.
Camcorders located around the perimeter focused in on the center of the site. The feed was world-wide, 24 hours
a day.
At first it had seemed like a gimmick, something viewers would quickly
tire of, but it caught on. Some people admitted using the channel
as a focus for their prayers.
Then a group of concerned New Yorkers came forward with a radical use for Ground Zero.
They suggested that the site be slowly recreated
into "a world commons", a place that would offer remembrance, a global safe haven,
and a platform for those who needed to speak their minds.
The platform idea proved to be more divisive than all the others put together. No one wanted to give a public forum to any extremist.
This part of the plan was almost scrapped, until one day, some fanatic
did get into the center of the site. He stood there in front of the
cameras addressing the people of the
world with his message of anarchy and hate. There not being any sound system at that point,
he simply lifted aloft a series of large posters for the world to see.
The response to his message made history. Around the perimeter walkway
stood the ring of people from all parts of the world who were
making their pilgrimage to Ground Zero. They watched helpless and
horrified.
No one remembered who started it, but gradually a refrain went around
the circle. "Rebel, heretic, a thing to flout, you draw a circle to keep
us out. But love and I have the wit to win. We make a circle and take you in."
Over and over again these simple words, shaped from some half remembered
bit of high school poetry, were repeated until they rose
like an anthem of acceptance. A local newspaper the following morning
had suggested that in a country built on freedom of speech, this was as good as any way to meet the dissenting
voice.
Out of this event came the public will and courage to try a speaker's forum,
an open mike to the world. Anyone, regardless of belief
or principle, could speak his or her mind on any subject without fear.
The one caveat was that there had to be the witnesses. The circle
had to be complete with the joining of hands before the podium
was opened. And always came some version of the chant at the end of any diatribe.
“Love and I have the wit to win. We make a circle and take you in"
People around the world watched on television sets, to listen and to marvel
at such a display of freedom and acceptance that was able
to embrace even the vilest of words, and it needs to be said, just as often to be moved
to tears by words of wisdom and moments of heart-felt honesty and truth.
All of Ground Zero has changed. Now, over 50 years after September 11,
it is something akin to sacred space. Responding to
an international competition, an architectural company from, of all places, a small nation
in the Middle East, won the design contest, and built an exquisite park with fountain,
garden and remembrance wall where people could honour the victims of the tragedy
and seek new ways to come together.
More recently Common Ground, as it has been renamed, is a place that
fully honours the democratic tradition of free speech, bears witness to
a way of containing the outpouring of mind with what has become known as
the refrain of the open heart.
Yearly on the vigil of September 11th, the names of those who died in the
name of freedom and liberty are read aloud.
Maintained by the United States of America, as a gift to the people of
the world regardless of race or creed, this sacred grove offers a meeting
place for all. Over the years it has taken its place along with Rome, Jerusalem and
Mecca as a place of pilgrimage.
by Austin Repath
Posted with permission
March 2002
http://www.austinrepath.com |