by Day Starr
There is beginning to be much talk around the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. Some want to build it bigger and better as a statement to the terrorists. Others believe it is now hallowed ground--a mass graveyard. They would like to see a memorial similar to one at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. I have another vision.
The reasons that may have existed for the creation of a business center in the early 1970's no longer exist now. Today's technology makes it able to locate businesses in communities throughout the five boroughs. On the other hand, it may take close to three years for public transportation to the WTC area to be repaired and returned to normal. Traveling by car to the downtown area involves long waits as new checkpoints are created.
Perhaps it is time to move away from the idea of a few concentrated centers mega-business centers in Manhattan. Decentralization can bring economic stability to various communities, including those that have been economically deprived and depressed in part by the prior centralization. More money will be spent with local small businesses and local tax bases will benefit. On the environmental side, making it easy for more people to walk, bike or take a bus to work will cut down on air and noise pollution.
Instead of building a larger tower, or series of financial towers, upon the ground where so many lost their lives in a violent act of war we should build a Peace Village as a tribute to them. The Peace Village would be a place where those who work for peace can gather·activists, thinkers, philosophers, healers, humanists, spiritual leaders, teachers, people who have devoted their lives to peace and justice, as well as those who are newly dedicated. There are "think tanks" of people dedicated to war and violence and other worst case scenarios; why not a think tank for peace? People coming together to discuss, to study, and to establish means of nurturing peace in this new millennium, and studying what has worked in the past in finding peaceful and just resolutions to major problems. There would be study centers for high school and college students and day trips for younger school children. Music and the arts would be used as tools for peace.
It should be a place of natural beauty, where thousands of trees bloom in honor of the thousands killed; a place of reflection; and an oasis of calm, where we can try to nurture our spirits back to wholeness after this gigantic disaster.
If this vision makes sense to you, if you have comments or would like to help make this a reality, e-mail me at flushinggreens@att.net or write me:
Day Starr
c/o Flushing Greens
Box 527-524
Flushing, NY 11352-7524.
Walk In Harmony,
