Do you remember how patriotic Saratoga Springs was when they announced they were commissioning a 9/11 memorial? And do you remember how proud Saratoga Springs was when they announced the memorial would be placed in front of the brand new convention center on Broadway? And do you remember how awfully repulsed everyone was when it turned out the memorial wasn't pretty? And do you recall no one hesitated to steer the DNA-laden steel through the repulsive Design Review process?
No? Doesn't ring a bell? Too busy planning kayak trails and bike lanes?
Well, perhaps now you can hang your head in appropriate shame as the memories of the fallen of 9/11 are relegated to "the gut" down the hill behind the massive parking lot where all the shit used to collect before modern sewage treatment became all the rage.
3,497 murdered souls summarily demoted to the step-child status of a Victorian McDonalds so as not to injure the delicate sensibilities of the drunk tourists on Broadway.
Only in Saratoga.
And yet there is an historic marker in front of Bailey's restaurant, singing the praises of the "Jewish gut" area of Saratoga Springs. The architect who did the drawings for the site plan thinks it is the perfect spot for the steel arrangement. (notice, no reference to sculpture, or art).
ReplyDeleteThis was botched from the gitgo, but the resting place for the steel seems appropriate to me and many others I have spoken with.
Yes, I'm sure the Jews were just thrilled to be marginalized in the gut. I think you're confusing a novel view of history with the reality of the day.
ReplyDeleteMore to the point, I'm curious why the City Center wasn't, in your eyes, equally appropriate for the "arrangement." I'll venture to guess that you, your friends and Frost like the new spot simply because its out of the way.
Very few things in our modern world are sacred...WTC steel is one of them. In no uncertain terms the sacred steel was marginalized by Saratoga Springs. Just like Joseph Seligman
Ben, you painted "the gut" in a negative way, in your own words. I said nothing of the kind.
ReplyDeleteI merely quoted from the sign, so proudly posted in front of Bailey's Cafe/Restaurant. When the sign was installed, it created much controversy, both positive and negative.
Any long-time Saratogian would know that the use of the term "the gut" of Saratoga Springs, was meant to describle the heart of the city.
It should not carry any negativity, whether installing steel structures, artwork, sculptures or spending a night in the toxic downtown of our city -- as described by a delusional un-named commissioner.
Please don't imply anti-Semetism by my previous comment.
Please re-read it.
We disagree about the location of the steel arrangement, but that's all.
I didn't mean to imply you were being anti semitic. Just pointing out the irony that you used the example of a marginalized ethnic enclave as the basis of the memorial not being marginalized. The Jews set up shop in the gut because they weren't wanted on Broadway. In the context of desireable locations in Saratoga, this area has always been considered less than worthy.
DeleteYou can't argue about taste but....
DeleteI like the ugliness of the statue. I think the ugliness captures what happen on that day.
I also prefer the more peaceful location in High Rock Park.
I think this place will lend an atmosphere of quiet reflection people need when grieving.
Shot
I agree about the appropriate ugliness of the statue and I'm sure the location will be lovely. The gut HAS come a long way. The thing I can't forgive is treating the memorial like an unwanted orphan...bouncing from foster home to foster home. Its also unfortunate the memorial will get 1/10th the exposure.
DeleteChill out.
DeleteIn dealing with dozens of people everyday; friends, relatives, workers, and so on; decisions, big and small, have to be made.
Sometimes things get heated and emotions take off.
The process can get ugly.
Many times the uglier it gets, the better the outcome is.
In this particular case, the process worked and the outcome was correct.
This particular orphan of yours after bouncing from home to home has finally found a nice place to live.
As far as the exposure or lack of exposure is concerned, maybe it's better that the placement is where it is; so as you put it and I embellished on it, "so as not to injure the delicate sensibilities of the drunk tourists pissing and puking all over themselves on Broadway."
BTW, did you think than when Noah got his hands on that twisted metal that it would look like anything different?
Shot
BS,"The Gut"is a phrase coined by the late saratogian reporter Dick Brooks it's horrible,prior to that..that area of the city was referred to as "the Valley"....and before that "lower village".
ReplyDelete2:49 AM
ReplyDeleteGo look at the sign in front of Bailey's.
Dick Brooks wasn't born in the 1800s.
Time Out. Should have stated this earlier. Any future reference to "Bailey's" should be expressed in its proper form: "The Golden Grill."
ReplyDeleteDon't you mean Tannebaums?
ReplyDeleteBen, you're right.
ReplyDeleteShame!
On all of us.
Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University.
I must be getting old because it seems like only yesterday.
Thank god for the all volunteer draft. Nowadays just a few young men, mostly poor kids, get to to do 3,4, and even 5 tours of these never ending wars while the rest of get to do more important things like argue over the placement of a statue.
What a great country we’ve become.
Although, I don't feel quite as patriotic as I did 42 years ago.
Shot
Ooooh, the Golden Grill....now that sparks a few memories.
ReplyDelete