First off, for a little background info on how this all started, check out my previous
diary entry on Kos on this subject. This entry will serve as a bit of an update to that one.
Objections to the memorial have ranged from interpretations of the shape of it, to what's printed on it, to what's not printed on it, to the educational curriculum associated with it.
Somehow, all this potential outrage seemed to elude the relatively diverse members of the
AZ 9/11 Memorial Commission appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano. These members
unanomously approved the final design. Among them are representatives from local police and fire departments, various businesses and sports teams, and
family members of victims that died that day:
Tempe resident Donna Bird, whose husband Gary was killed in the attack, was among the 30-member Arizona 9/11 Memorial Commission created by former Gov. Jane Hull in 2002.
She said all the inscriptions were found factual by an Arizona State University history professor. She added that she wouldn't have helped design the memorial, which names her husband, if it were political.
Tom Smith, chairman of the Legislative Governmental Mall Commission, claims he didn't see the inscriptions that were to be on the memorial when he approved it's placement back in February. So, they had a meeting last Wednesday to hear some of the complaints. So far, the memorial stands unaltered.
Personally, I like what was done with this memorial (and I don't live in Arizona). The design is neat, as it's 'sundial' effect appears to lend itself well to the nature of the state. I think it is important to have a way of remembering not only the victims that died that day, but also the effect that the events had on Arizonans and the country as a whole. I don't see anything written on there to have a specific political overtone. Maybe the problem people have is that they don't want to think too hard about it.
If you live in Arizona (especially Phoenix), you may want to run down to the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza and check out the rally that is scheduled at noon , Saturday 10/28. You see, there are some real patriots out there who are calling for the memorial to be censored, altered, or just plain torn down.