May 5, 2008

9-11 Memorial in PA has Islamic Symbolism

The 9-11 memorial planned for Shanksville, PA has a lot of people angry, and I can't say I blame them.

According to Newmax.com:

While most of the relatives of the victims approve of the plans some, like Tom Burnett Sr., the father of a Flight 93 victim, are angered by the alleged symbolism.

The shape of the memorial — which The New York Times reported was designed by Paul Murdoch, a Los Angeles architect — is in the shape of an Islamic crescent, critics say, and it has a wind-chime tower which mimics an Islamic minaret. Furthermore, it would point east toward the Islamic holy city of Mecca.

“It’s really revolting to me, this whole thing,” Burnett told the Times, “It’s an insult to my son and all the others.”

Five of those objecting told members of the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force and the Flight 93 Advisory Committee that the design should be scrapped because its apparent Islamic symbolism. Among them, the Times wrote, was Harry Beam, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who presented petitions with 5,300 signatures opposing the design to members of the Flight 93 boards.

Beam joined Burnett and others who hope to persuade members of Congress to investigate or to try to generate enough public support to stop the project, according to the Times. “They all believe there’s no place for Islamic symbolism or anything that would elevate the status of the terrorists,” Beam told the Times.

Memorial officials told the Times that Burnett, and his wife, Beverly, are the only family members of victims who have spoken out against the design.

Read the full story

I doubt the designers of this memorial intended to use Islamic symbolism in the design. The designers and supporters of the project argue that the design is based on the terrain. But once this issue came to light couldn't they have come up with a new design? Haven't these families been through enough?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to agree. It probably was not deliberate but in my opinion, it comes down to common sense. A professional should know better.

The Lonely Conservative said...

Isn't it funny the way the left wants us all to be so sensitive to people's feelings. That is, until it's the feelings of victims of Islamic terrorists. I haven't heard a liberal stand up and say the design should be scrapped.

Anonymous said...

That's right. We don't hear from them because it doesn't fit into their agenda. The thrase Islamic terrorism means nothing to liberals. They think everyone is harmless. Their philosophy: Just give angry people hugs and they won't be angry anymore.