9/11 Memorial (Arizona)

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The 9/11 Memorial in Arizona is a state memorial to the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001 located at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza near the State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona. The monument is a circular plan with raised concentric rings. The rings are inscribed with written statements that reflect down by sunlight onto the pavement below.

A member of the design team, Eddie Jones, stated: “The attacks gave America a sense of what the rest of the world is feeling, sometimes on a daily basis” and “We’re certainly not as innocent as we used to be.”

Although she had no editorial control over the final result, the memorial is endorsed by Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano. [1] “This Memorial is unique, bold, dynamic, educational and unforgettable,” Governor Napolitano said. “The thoughts and remarks etched in stone will serve as learning tools for all of us, our children and our children’s children.” [2]

The memorial is supported by some 9/11 families and survivors and is sponsored by the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix firefighters union, and Bank of America, among many other institutions. While built on public land, no public funds were used to build or promote the memorial.

[edit] Controversy Over Design Intent

The memorial's unveiling five years to the date of the 9/11 attacks generated controversy on conservative weblogs, with right-wing activists alleging an anti-American bias in some of the written statements and a perceived pro-Islam bias based on an alleged crescent shape of the memorial.

Some of the written statements inscribed in the memorial include: "Erroneous U.S. Airstrike Kills 46 Uruzgan Civilians," "Congress Questions Why CIA and FBI Didn't Prevent Attacks," and "You Don't Win Battles of Terrorism With More Battles" [3] Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said he was stunned to learn of the inscriptions. “To politicize it to me is absolutely outrageous, instead of a memorial to remember those who have sacrificed their lives,” he said. [4] The memorial's design was also criticized by Len Munsil who was running against Napolitano for Arizona Governor at the time of the design unveiling. Napolitano was re-elected by a wide margin the following November. [5]

In response to public criticism, the Arizona state commission responsible for the memorial has promised to review the context of the inscriptions. [6] Chairman Billy Sheilds is saddened by the political controversy, but promised to reconvene and review the inscriptions. [7]

At a meeting held by the Memorial Commission to hear statements from the public, only 7 of the 35 citizens speaking did so against the inscriptions. Most of the public stated the desire to keep the memorial as is, and spoke against rash or hasty judgement due to politicizing of the memorial. Those that did speak in opposition to the inscriptions suggested the only appropriate memorial would have the names of those that were killed on the day of the events. However, Commission members stated their goal was to provide something that was not simply a "head stone", and to include Arizona's involvement with relief efforts.