Seven Years Later: Why Is There Still A Hole at Ground Zero?

Seven years ago this week, I stood on the pile of burning rubble at the south end of Manhattan with thousands of other Americans who in our nation's defining hour did what we could to make a difference. Firefighters, doctors, soldiers, cops, steelworkers, and nurses--we all came together to serve our country in a time of exceptional need. I will never forget the demonstrations of courage and the expressions of sorrow, the sight of the bodies and the smell of the smoke. And I will never forget the bold promises of our leaders, uttered loudly before the smoke even cleared.

They stood on the pile with bullhorns, they issued press releases, and spoke at benefit concerts. We heard politicians from every corner of America swear: "Never Again! We'll make them pay! The terrorists won't win! We will rebuild!"

Seven years later, that hasn't happened. And we should all be embarrassed as a nation for one simple reason more than all the others--there is still a mammoth, gaping hole at Ground Zero.

Bureaucratic gridlock, partisan bickering, old-fashioned greed and failed leadership have all been blended together perfectly in one big pot to create a colossal, historic stew of inaction. And that stew has given the terrorists a score that not only have we failed to avenge, but we have failed to fully recover from. The wounds of 9/11 are not healed, the statement has not been made, and the country--especially the President and the two men running for that office--seem to have forgotten about the recovery of Ground Zero altogether.

Now this week, of course, we'll get the standard, annual photo ops, bold promises and tough talk. Rudy Giuliani will be celebrated, and plastered on every TV network in America. Emotional remembrance videos will run on a loop all week long. Politicians will manipulate the tragedy into a gotcha talking point to bolster their position on one issue or another. And more promises will be made. But the fact will remain--there is no monument, there is no building, and there is no attention. No one in Washington seems to give a second thought to the south end of Manhattan anymore. Except when it's politically convenient for them.

New York is the city I love most in the world. I lost friends on 9/11. I pulled bodies from the rubble there. I, along with almost two million other troops, were sent to war because of what happened there. And I am sick and tired of walking and driving by it and seeing a stalled construction site.

So today, I call on Senators Obama and McCain to make a promise they will keep. Pledge to all those that died, all those that served, and all those that remember, that Ground Zero will be re-built by the end of your first term. Blow through the logjam, bring the divided interests together, craft a plan, flex some muscle, and start moving forward briskly. If you want to unite the country as President, this is a perfect place to start. If we can put a man on the moon, create the internet, and fight two wars simultaneously, I am sure that America can mobilize all its political will, ingenuity and resources to rebuild one of the most important pieces of real estate in the world. And it can start with new leadership under your watch. You can't shake up Washington, if you can't even rebuild Ground Zero.

On September 11, 2001, millions of young Americans like me promised to take a bullet for this country. Seven years later, the least our presidential candidates can do is make a promise to rebuild a few sacred acres of it.

Follow Paul Rieckhoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulRieckhoff

Comments

[PuppaX]

You want THIS to become a major campaign issue? I live in New York, and I'm also blown away by the fact that nothing's been done with the site, but really...THIS is what you want them to start playing politics with now?

[demfriend]

Paul I hold a huge amount of respect for you for being the spokeman for not only the soldiers, the vets and those who assist them and now you touch the very thing which has bothered me for days. This election cycle has brought about many more movies, tv shows and video documentaries about 9/11 and if Bush were in the running again I would say fear mongering was happening. The amount of stuff this year is way more than Bush has "allowed" since the terrible day due to his fear we would chase and kill anyone who looked middle eastern. I believe the tributes should happen but not as a piece of an election and unfortunately the timing is such it will always be a time when both occurred. The victims of that day and since should be honored every day and for that to happen there must be more than just a light show and speechs. Thank you Paul for being a great service to your country and a wonderful example of an American.

[Opsimath44]

Concur in full!

[gsuescum]

Seven years and it's still a hole......

It took 10 years for the U.S. to build the Panama Canal one of the modern wonders of the world. It took the U.S. less than 4 years from the attack on Pearl Harbor to build an Army, Navy and Airforce from scratch and win a worldwide conflict against Japan and Germany.

Every time I'm downtown where the Trade Towers stood I'm reminded of how patheric the leaders in our country have become.

[Opsimath44]

Pathetic leadership? Whoa... what TV channel have you been watching? I thought the only problem we had was liberal Washington?

[LeftRight]

gsuescum has obviously only been getting news from the "internets"

[castrochavez08]

Paul Reickoff is clearly a smart guy with practical military experience. It always makes sense for us civilians to listen to what our military men and women have to say, whether or not we agree, we can always learn something.

These 140 experts who have served our nation also deserve to be heard.
http://patriotsquestion911.com/

[LeonBNJ]

The delays in rebuilding the WTC site and the memorial are due to too many politicans and special interests, a terribly complex rebuilding process as certain things can't be done until others are and changes demanded by the NY Police in security plans (which for example required a shift of the base of the 'Freedom Tower'.

[ethanhein]

Well said, Paul. I feel like NYC loves America more than we get credit for, and sometimes we don't get very much love back. I think politicians avoid the hole in lower downtown Manhattan because it makes them anxious and uncomfortable, and it should.

[MyNameMeansRock]

I just want to say this is a very well written article. I agree; it's tragic that in 2009, 2010, and 2011 what you see today is probably what you will see then.

[RealityBaseCamp]

Well, as you know, first they have to build the historical replica of the Berlin Wall across lower Manhattan. Only then can we remember all the things we have to be afraid of. And the terrorists won't have won, because, uhhhh, we can still go shopping, I guess. Somewhere.

[Berettasskeeter]

Paul, why do you want the "wounds of 9/11" healed? Let's keep them open, and take revenge wherever we can find it!
Semper fi

[LeftRight]

Why revenge when we can spend 100 years in Iraq?

[PackyJ]

Damned right! Anytime our national wounds start to heal, let's pick the scabs off them, so we can all continue to live in fear!

We should be exacting revenge on Japan and Germany, the bastids!
And on Great Britain, too, for the Revolutionary War!

[LeftRight]

And don't forget the Indians!!!

[guntotinganglion]

Would that "revenge" involve killing innocent men, women and children...you know, the one's who've paid the real price of Bush's Rape of Iraq? At least 95% of all casualties in Iraq have been innocent civilians. Would that revenge include every country on Earth that had nothing to do with 9/11, like Iraq? If so, why not go after Argentina...they had as little to do with 9/11 as Iraq did.

Since you end all your posts with Sember Fi, how bout a reminder of what you're declaring yourself to be Always Faithful to...

First line of the Marine oath...

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic"

Obeying commands of the Commander-in-Chief comes AFTER protecting and defending the Constitution against enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. When ANY CiC has violated the Constitution, HE BECOMES the domestic enemy the Marine oath refers to! Any Marine following orders from a CiC that has violated the Constitution, has violated his/her oath to first and foremost protect the Constitution!

It takes great courage to stand against a CiC who's violated our Constitution...but it is required of ALL Marines in their sworn oath. Marines aren't meant to be Good Germans, they are meant to be law abiding, Constitution honoring citizens of the United States...and oath honoring practitioners of Semper Fidelis...Always Faithful to the Constitution FIRST...and everything else second!

[LeftRight]

That's NOT just the Marine oath! It's the same one for ALL the services! Trust me, I know, I take my oath very seriously, even though I'm no longer serving!