Friday Night Lights

By on September 8, 2012 12:01 am in Brooklyn Heights

Publisher’s note: The following article is the sole opinion of Chuck Taylor and not of the Brooklyn Heights Blog, its publisher or Brooklyn Bugle Media. To be completely transparent, this post is NOT a “BHB Editorial” and I was as shocked as you when I read Chuck’s post. Truth is I can’t be online 24/7 and some contributors are permitted to publish live without my or Claude’s approval. We have worked very hard to build this blog and your respect along with it for the last 6 years. This post is in no way indicative of a “new” editorial direction and we apologize for any offense taken. I have modified the headline of this post since its original publication.

Eleven years after the gruesome events that took place September 11, 2001, it appears we’re going to continue to acknowledge 9/11 until the day we all die. This is perhaps the one occasion where I’d love to read nothing but nonsense about Justin Bieber’s hair. Along with the perpetual peeling off of the scab from a terrible event more than a decade ago, the endless political grandstanding, and the fact that we have yet to see One World Trade near completion… September 11 is a day I dread.

I was surprised Friday night as I walked along the Promenade to find this year’s “tribute” already in place, with the “Twin Tower” beams of light (albeit beautiful) beckoning the hemisphere… again. What happened to NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s vow a year ago that after 10 years, it was time to let go of so many tirades to bring it all back into such clear focus over and over?

Like many of us in Brooklyn Heights, I saw the Twin Towers fall first-hand, from the rooftop of my apartment building. I am weary of watching them collapse one more time under the guise of “news” or “special reports” that bombard TV, print and the Web. My belief: It’s time to acknowledge quietly, privately.

For the tenth anniversary in 2011, in addition to the presence of Presidents Barack Obama and George Bush, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as well as Bloomberg, there were 40-plus TV specials, complete with “investigations” of what 10-year-old children of 9/11 remembered (nothing) and profiles of the “unborn of 9/11,” which have nothing to do with the actual events of the day… all in an attempt to score rating$ and boost sensationalism.

Please, might we let the dead rest in peace—along with the rest of New York? Until we treat September 11 as a personal remembrance, sans the headlines and replays of photographs and video clips, America—and more so, New York—is forced to relive the past over and again. It is time to move on.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Share this Story:

,

←  Older Comments
 →
  • Ari

    @Bagely Is my comment any snarkier than someone who is angry about the display of lights 1 night a year to commemorate the tragic death of over 2700 people who died (and will never have health insurance)?

  • Bagley

    @Ari- Stop. One night a year? Honestly? Do you live any where near here?

  • ari

    @Bagely – Quoted from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum: “The “Tribute in Light” will return for one night as a tribute to all those who were lost on 9/11. The lights are located at West and Morris Streets in lower Manhattan. The lights will be on beginning at sunset on September 11, 2012 and fading away at dawn on September 12, 2012. There will be no formal program. The lights are best seen when it is completely dark; sunset is expected to occur at 7:11pm that night and sunrise is expected to occur at 6:34am on the morning of September 12, 2012.”

    I was out earlier tonight (in Brooklyn Heights where I’ve lived for many years) – no lights on.

  • Bagley

    @Ari- Should you and me and Mr. Taylor meet?

  • hortense

    @Ari – Awesome post!

  • Mr. Crusty

    you know I said my piece on this a while back and did not wish to comment again but these posts from Bagley have been so infuriating that I felt I needed to respond.

    Apparently, if I am reading Bagley correctly, he is saying that there is a lot of “anger” regarding 911 having to do with “health care” issues and “rebuilding” issues. And that a lot of people in his building can’t stop “coughing”.

    His words, “The “lights,” while nice also are just symbols – they don’t connect us, or rebuild or provide health care services for people who can’t stop coughing”

    What the hell do the lights have to do with these issues? They are a memorial to those that died that day. To their family members. How incredibly selfish and self centered to suggest that the memorial should be discontinued because they bring up bad feelings for Chuck and Bagley reminding one of issues that they are “angry” about like how fast the rebuilding is going?

    This fits a pattern here on BHB. People are incredibly myopic only seeing every issue through their own personal interests. If something isn’t right for them, they extrapolate and say it is not right for everyone. A hot dog stand on my block? No way! A bridge from Squibb Park to Pier 1? I won’t use it so it is of no use! A pop-up pool? No way…. I want an aquatic centers. Double wide strollers, dogs peeing on other people’s property. It is all of a mindset that is incredibly selfish and self centered.

    The lights are to memorialize the deaths of nearly 3,000 New Yorkers in an unprecedented act of terror. We should NEVER forget that sacrifice and the pain and suffering of that day even if it makes Chuck and Bagley upset at having to be reminded. We don’t want to upset their day after all now do we?

  • Bagley

    @Mr. Crusty, Ari, Hortense—Please be quiet. Please just let us be quiet this week. Don’t tell me anything about the lights. Just be quiet. And be nice to our neighbors. Seriously. Be quiet, and be nice.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Barley who the hell do you think you are. We WERE all quiet until Chuck decided to make his distasteful “editorial” which everyone with the exception of you took deep offense to.

    You be quiet and stop complaining bout a beautiful memorial because of se misplaced anger of yours.

  • Ari

    One more thing Bagley…..The lights may be on an extremely long and excruciating week (which they’re not, but let’s pretend they are)

    How are you going to be able to ever look across the river again?

    That really tall building that is under construction and now occupies a pretty prominent place in the downtown skyline must really be a huge insult to you. Lights are on for a week, but a really tall skyscraper must be an incredible affront to your selfish beliefs.

    They might as well just tear down the promenade to spare the public from seeing such a horrible and poignant symbol that personifies your deplorable point of view.

  • leonard Barton

    I do not regard Mr. Taylor’s perspective on the 911 lights as “harsh” or “insensitive.” He writes in a calm voice and is calling for us to “move forward.” We share a collective pain re.the tragedy. I recall the years of hot debate re. how to handle the site, the memorial, the new building. The editorial did not include a single word denouncing the events of 911, disrespecting those gone, negating the reality.
    Several comments are written as if Mr. Taylor had expressed” Get over it….” He did not. Chuck is a sensitive man who loves his country and dealt with his own pain regarding 911. In retrospect, I assume he now regrets openly voicing his thoughts about The Lights as some things are better kept private.I feel readers should take his overall contributions to this blog in perspective. Yes, he’s honest, yes he adores the neighborhood, yes, he offers a fresh energy to this blog.He does not have a callous bone in his body.

  • Mr. Crusty

    @leonard Barton:”Several comments are written as if Mr. Taylor had expressed” Get over it….” He did not. ”

    I don’t think Chuck meant to say “get over it” but the below line damn near suggests that and it is the line the made me wince when I read it.

    “it appears we’re going to continue to acknowledge 9/11 until the day we all die. This is perhaps the one occasion where I’d love to read nothing but nonsense about Justin Bieber’s hair.”

    Again, I don’t think it was Chuck’s intention, but that is a rather insensitive comment.

  • Hicks on Hicks

    I agree with the editorial. However I realize that I will be forced to relive the pain of that day as we approach its anniversary. This despite my best efforts to forget the smell, pain and sadness.

  • http://Youngpalsmusic.com Mike

    I couldn’t agree more with this article. It’s time to let the pain and bad memories inside us and move on.

    Originally from turkey, I lived an earthquake disaster where I lost many friends. I never felt the need to share my pain nationally. It is something that I need to heal on my own. Just like my experience, 9/11 is something that’s in the past and everybody should grieve within their own hearts.

    Brilliant article.. Pity on publisher notes who chickens out on personal reactions.. Everybody is allowed to state their own thoughts, that’s why we live in democracy.

  • leonard Barton

    We all have experienced loss and grief. Each individual has their own way of dealing with it. Back to the initial controversy: Mr. Taylor simply voiced that we should move on. That was his personal view on how he relates to 911. Nobody can please everybody. Even a National tragedy, with international repercussions is open to subjectivity. I think we fellow BHB folk should move on and deal with tomorrow when it’s here. I for one moved out of NYC for 4 years following 911. Now I’m back and moving forward. I have a (former)friend who still insists that 911 was a USA-created conspiracy, she’s nuts. Let’s face tomorrow with respect and reverence and not forget what transpired and can happen again…..

  • http://Youngpalsmusic.com Mike

    Very well said Leonard, thank you!

  • Angela De Marco

    Yes to the lights. Make the rest go away.

  • yoohoo

    Agree with Chuck Taylor; at least the speeches by all those elected and appointed, who want to benefit politically and economically, have been dispensed with. The light beams are an appropriate and tasteful memorial, even if visible for only a few days.

    Anyone who wants to contemplate the tragic events of 9/11/2001 year-round can visit the lobby of the American Express Company building on West Street and sit by an octagonal pool, over which a huge tear drop-shaped crystal is suspended, while drops fall into the water from high above.

  • yoohoo

    It’s curious indeed that nobody mourns the tens of thousands of war dead of WWII, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. Is it because you weren’t born yet?

  • Mr. Crusty

    @yoohoo you have heard of Memorial Day, haven’t you?

  • Promenade Princess

    I have no problem with Chuck Taylor expressing his opinion on an issue that is relevant to this neighborhood, since many of us witnessed the events of 9/11 from this side of Manhattan. And he’s certainly correct about the ongoing barrage of media sensationalism about the horrible day, which I understand to be his main point in the post he wrote.
    Last Saturday night scanning TV channels, National Geographic, CNN and TLC all were airing “tribute” specials about 9/11, and I could not agree more: I don’t need to see the Twin Towers fall over & over again via a relentless series of television specials. All he was saying, from what I read in the post, is that whatever anyone experienced on that day is meant to be respected, but it’s also time to allow everyone to process the events in their own way.

  • Mr. Crusty

    @Promenade Princess: I agree that many wish to process the events in their own personal way. I don’t know how any 911 tribute detracts from their ability to do so. They do not have to watch or participate. I too saw all those shows on TV but quickly passed them by.

    But 911 was also a communal event. It was an attack on NY. Unlike what someone else said, it is not like some natural disaster such as an earthquake. It was an intentional attack by other human beings. That makes it different. And while I respect those that wish to remember (or not) 911 in their own private way I can understand why others want to remember in a communal way with their fellow New Yorkers. Can we respect them as well? Some might find comfort in being with others on this day that none of us will forget. No one is telling Chuck how to deal with this day but he seemed to be wanting to decide for everyone else how they shoud process the emotions of 911 by even objecting to the beautiful twin lights because they bring back bad memories for him.

    Again the line that I think offended many of us was this, “Eleven years after the gruesome events that took place September 11, 2001, it appears we’re going to continue to acknowledge 9/11 until the day we all die”

    The answer is yes Chuck, I certainly hope, so as painful as that may be.

  • SPM

    I had posted this earlier, but somehow it did not make it on. As you say, “To be completely transparent, this post is NOT a “BHB Editorial” and I was as shocked as you when I read Chuck’s post. Truth is I can’t be online 24/7 and some contributors are permitted to publish live without my or Claude’s approval. We have worked very hard to build this blog and your respect along with it for the last 6 years. This post is in no way indicative of a “new” editorial direction and we apologize for any offense taken. ”

    Let me ask you a question, do you PAY this person? If so, he is an employee and as such he can be fired by you. This is not the first time that Mr. Taylor has published in a snarky, controversial tone. He is careless and callous and really, not a very good writer. He’s going for provacative, but really comes out as asinine.

    I am sure if you advertised a paying position on the Blog, you can get someone that is more in keeping with the editorial direction you wish to take.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    kipped,
    I am happy you had a good experience in RI.
    You made lots of assumptions about things that I never said. I can only tell you what we experienced but again I am happy you had a good experience.
    Good for you.

  • Andrew Porter

    Take a long view. A very long view. Now we know how the people who live up nearby the concentration camp sites of Europe feel, or those who live in Hiroshima, or near the killing fields of Flanders, or any other major historical site.

    These places are being visited by curious people long after the events that made them famous—or infamous—have passed into history.

    This is something, I suspect, that we will be living with for a Very Long Time, and it will intrude into our lives and sensibilities for, well, not forever, but….

←  Older Comments
 →