The Freedom Tower

A website called Glasssteeelandstone.com says the Freedom Tower will be one of the most important buildings of the early 21st century.
It takes on that significance because in its politics, “its symbolism, and for the reason it was built.
“The Freedom Tower is the replacement for what was once New York’s World Trade Center. In September 2001 terrorists destroyed several of the Center’s buildings, including the massive 110 -story twin towers. The stated reason for this action was to protest the United States’ support of the nation of Israel and its people. The terrorist attack only served to solidify the bond between the U.S. and Israel, and caused wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and the toppling of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Thousands died when the twin tower fell, and millions were emotionally and psychologically scarred.
“The Freedom Tower is more than a real estate project. It is rehabilitation for those hurt by the terrorists and a way to heal the scar on a nation. Part of the healing process is new growth, which this tower represents. But it has been a painful process. The early designs were ridiculed. When the first cohesive plan came out of the pack it, too, found few of detractors. New Yorkers are notoriously cranky people and they took aim at the design. Most had forgotten, or were too young to remember, that the original twin towers were also the subject of much vitriol for their design and expense. It was only after those towers were taken away that the city realized it had grown to love its pair of white albatrosses. But detractors stalled the project for more than a year, adopted celebrity real estate mogul Donald Trump as their mouthpiece, and embarrassed the city and the nation by allowing the United Arab Emirates to begin work on what would become the world’s tallest tower while New Yorkers were busy sticking their thumbs in each other’s eyes. “
A mouthful, yes, but it is just as accurate.
The Freedom Tower is huge, its drama, its bigger than Broadway. Bigger than the last two World Wars. Its politics. Its make believe and real. Just like the Twin Towers. When I went to the Towers for any reason, it was like a trip to Disney Land, Disney World, even something as simple as riding the elevators to a routine Port Authority public hearing. It was the Magic Kingdom and the Freedom Tower will be even better.
Wait and see. It’s a spectacle that can be created only in New York.
The world revolves around purpose, intension and politics. The Freedom Tower is a function of all these things.