Posted on 05/21/2014 1:16:41 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The tension surrounding the National September 11 Memorial Museum's position as both a grave site and a moneymaking tourist attraction continued on Wednesday, when it finally opened to the general public. Both the New York Post and the New York Daily News spoke to first-responders and relatives of 9/11 victims who were upset to learn that the museum was the site of a cocktail party attended by Michael Bloomberg and other donors on Tuesday night. Tuesday was the last day for people who were directly affected by the attacks on the Twin Towers to visit the space for free, and some were reportedly turned away from the door as the 60-person, black-tie get-together and preparations for opening day began. The Daily News reports that a group of firefighters who were asked to leave early walked out "in tears."
"To have a festive occasion on human remains, it's repulsive, it's repugnant," said John Feal, who volunteered at ground zero and advocates for 9/11 first-responders. Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son died in the towers, said that the party was "a prime example" of why the unidentified remains stored in a private repository "must be removed immediately from this building from this site of commercialism, parties, drinking, catering." Meanwhile, an anonymous museum employee told the Daily News, "I don't think alcohol should be allowed in there. It's a sacred ground and [the partygoers] desecrated it."
Museum spokesman Michael Frazier responded to the complaints, saying, "The days-long preview included 24-hour operations over that period. We had to close the museum to prepare the space for our historic public opening [Wednesday]. While closed for these preparations, there was a very small and short gathering for donors. Those donors include Conde Nast, which is sponsoring [Wednesday's] free admission. The small gathering was done respectfully and in recognition of our supporters, who helped to build this important institution." Still, it seems that it would be best for everyone if Tuesday's event were the last party the museum had for quite a while.
I know many liberals secretly cheer the events that brought down the WTC. They think America deserved it for being so Capitalist.
You need to find some new friends
Sorry. Thought you said you knew many. Old tired eyes. My apologies
Where are the two or three churches that were supposed to be built on this ground? At least that’s what the seer who foretold this attack said. Non-denominational churches/chapels.
Some people need to move on. Its a reception in a museum for crying out loud. Does that mean a party should never be held in the Freedom Tower since its supposedly built on the same “hallowed ground”?
You expect anything different from Sodom on the Hudson?
Booze is apparently safer than Big Gulps...and smart cocktail parties on the graves of dead people...No.
I guess you have no problem with cocktail parties at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington?
A Memorial where human remains are laid to rest is far different from the office building.
Ugh, ugh, and more ugh. What next? Cocktail parties at Auschwitz?
1 World Trade Center is a place of business - of course, parties can be held in the various offices.
But the museum should be off-limits for these kind of things. A little respect. Maybe after 50 years but not now when so many survivors and families are still around.
My husband was close to all the folks who were incinerated and or jumped to their deaths at Windows on the World. These young people were probably toddlers at the time. They disgust me. Why don’t they move to Pearl Harbor with their exotic drinks? /s
Well, it isn’t really just a museum, is it.....
Pee in their iced tea...
I notice, Big Daddy, that you don’t mention your state. I suspect it is no where near where the atrocity took place. Distance is so...well, distancing...
Time is also very distancing. It’s been 13 years, somebody has died everywhere. It’s a tourist attraction now, which is kind of gaudy, but tourist attraction generally get cocktail party openings, and other parties will be held there.
No, but I used to work in the Pentagon.
Again, some people will always find a reason to be outraged. I really don’t see where this is the crime of the century.
Why yes. Yes, it does.
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