AZ Blamemorial likely to be changed

I wasnt able to make it to the meeting, so I went searching this morning for reports on the 9/11 memorial meeting, and this is what I found at AzCentral.com

Changes likely for 9/11 Memorial
Sometimes-emotional hearing draws 100 residents

Matthew Benson
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 16, 2006 12:00 AM


Changes are probably coming to Arizona's contentious 9/11 Memorial.

But what degree of revision, by whom and when are questions that remain unanswered after a five-hour public hearing Friday to discuss the memorial.

Arizona's 9/11 Memorial Commission called the hearing, its first since the memorial came under fire soon after being dedicated on Sept. 11 - the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. On hand were roughly 100 residents who crammed into the basement of a state building near the Capitol, just a block from the memorial itself.

After more than two hours of testimony that was often emotional but generally respectful, commission members said they needed more time to review and consider information relating to the memorial and could issue a recommendation next month.

Commission Chairman Billy Shields called it "highly likely" that the concrete-and-steel memorial will be altered. The commission has vowed to reconsider some of the 54 inscriptions cut into its disc-like face, some of which critics have described as anti-American, partisan or simply irrelevant.

"I think we need a fitting monument that honors people without controversy, without partisanship," said Mike McAvoy, who was in Manhattan when the attacks occurred and lost a brother when the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

While the memorial may be changed, it's also possible it could be left as is, with a kiosk and informational pamphlets created to add context and better explain the memorial to visitors.

"If there is any inaccuracy or significant level of mistrust that results from this memorial, the commission should really take a look at that," said Donna Killoughey Bird, a commission member and widow of the only Arizona victim of the 9/11 attacks, Gary Bird.

Of particular interest is a statement etched into the memorial - "Erroneous U.S. air strike kills 46 Uruzgan civilians" - that commission members heard evidence may be inaccurate. Initial media reports indicated that an Afghani wedding party had been hit. But Robin Stoddard, now a member of the Air Force reserves, told commission members that he had been part of a 2002 military investigation that found that the pilots had acted appropriately after coming under enemy fire.

"If they're shooting at us," Stoddard said, "we get to shoot back."

While Stoddard asked that the airstrike inscription be removed, other members of the public warned against reopening the process to make changes. Not everyone will agree with every inscription, supporters argued, but the memorial in whole represents the mixed feelings of Arizonans relating to the terrorist attacks and the events that followed.

"This memorial is truly about humanity, not politics," said Matthew Salenger, a member of the memorial design team.

If nothing else, it has been a strange start for the memorial, which has been alternately assailed and praised in public rallies, was thrust into the recent race for governor and became the focus of national attention.

Conspicuous in his absence Friday was Len Munsil, the Republican candidate for governor who termed the memorial "anti-American" during his campaign and pledged to tear it down if elected. Munsil made opposition to the memorial one of the cornerstones of his criticism of Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat who initially praised the memorial and has remained supportive.

John Teefy, a Phoenix Fire Department captain, said he doesn't agree with everything written on the memorial, but he blasted Munsil and others for using the issue as a campaign ploy.

"Quite simply, this is political," Teefy said. "This has been stirred up by the right wing of my party by people who've never done a thing to help a firefighter or cop."

What happens to the memorial from here is unclear.

The state Department of Administration says it has not yet signed for control of the memorial, which could mean it remains in the hands of the 9/11 Commission. But the Legislative Governmental Mall Commission has oversight of the 9/11 Memorial and all others at Wesley Bolin Plaza.

The commission chairman, former state Sen. Tom Smith, testified Friday that he would like to heavily alter the memorial by removing some inscriptions and adding others to seven of its panels. And Shields said he expects the Legislature to wade into the issue when the session begins in early January.
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There are a few things I find interesting about this article....so let me break it down.

On hand were roughly 100 residents who crammed into the basement of a state building near the Capitol, just a block from the memorial itself.

Since I have never been there, I can not speak authoritavely on this statement..but suffice it to say, I get the picture of a small room in the basement of the Capitol building which had been chosen purposely to limit the number of people who testified. I look forward to hearing about how many were kept out due to no room.

While the memorial may be changed, it's also possible it could be left as is, with a kiosk and informational pamphlets created to add context and better explain the memorial to visitors.

I have no idea where this comes from, but its a stupid idea..why create something that is going to take more resources to keep it going? Who will be responsible for refilling the pamphlet display? What are you going to do about having that much paper in the memorial plaza? Its likely that the pamphlets will be dropped or improperly thrown away...and its something that has to be maintained forever. No..not a good idea at all

Of particular interest is a statement etched into the memorial - "Erroneous U.S. air strike kills 46 Uruzgan civilians" - that commission members heard evidence may be inaccurate. Initial media reports indicated that an Afghani wedding party had been hit. But Robin Stoddard, now a member of the Air Force reserves, told commission members that he had been part of a 2002 military investigation that found that the pilots had acted appropriately after coming under enemy fire.

What...you mean there is actually inaccurate information on the memorial? Pishaw and to hell you say! If one statement is inaccurate, it calls into question every statement and the intent of the memorial, and shows how the commission was never interested in truth but rather were driven by a political agenda.

"This memorial is truly about humanity, not politics," said Matthew Salenger, a member of the memorial design team.

Yeah, uh huh, sure Mr Salenger, we believe you...not

John Teefy, a Phoenix Fire Department captain, said he doesn't agree with everything written on the memorial, but he blasted Munsil and others for using the issue as a campaign ploy.

"Quite simply, this is political," Teefy said. "This has been stirred up by the right wing of my party by people who've never done a thing to help a firefighter or cop."

Apparently this guy missed the point of Fridays meeting, the fact that so many people showed up that the commission is actually considering changes shows this was never a political issue, and Munsil stepped in to help put media attention on it...that is what this guy hates..the fact that the hidden agenda of the commission was revealed to the public.

The commission chairman, former state Sen. Tom Smith, testified Friday that he would like to heavily alter the memorial by removing some inscriptions and adding others to seven of its panels. And Shields said he expects the Legislature to wade into the issue when the session begins in early January.

Better than heavily altering it Senator, how about we just tear it down and start over again, and get it right this time? How about we make this an actual memorial to the victims of 9/11 rather than a political sounding board?

BTW .. this monstrosity is still being referred to as a disc....its not, its a crescent moon with the tip pointed to mecca. Wonder why that little tidbit isnt mentioned?