One America place

Ground Zero Proposal

One America Place;
A Proposal for Ground Zero
Abridged Version
by Eric Szuter

September 11, 2001 - the haunting question remains:
"Why? ... Why? ... Why?"

It is not enough to say the attacks were due to the forces of evil. After all, how is evil to be defined? One could say evil is the opposite of goodness. But then, what exactly do we mean by goodness? The necessary asking of these two, age-old questions quickly demonstrates that the subject of philosophy must be consulted if any satisfactory understanding of the ultimate causation of the September 11th atrocities is to be realized. The events of that day point toward a critical difference between the philosophical underpinnings of the West and that of the Arab world.

What fundamentally differentiates the West from the pre-modern Arab world is an epistemologically sound view of the concepts of truth and opinion. Almost second nature for most Westerners today, this ability to clearly differentiate the two did not materialize spontaneously. Over the centuries, many Western thinkers have contributed mightily. However, none have contributed more than the English genius Isaac Newton (1642-1727) and the Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). What might have happened is fiction; what actually happened is fact. And the fact is that we owe much to these two exceptional thinkers.

With a virtuoso, scientific performance published in Principia Mathematica (1687), Newton boldly outlined a system of the world. Fellow Englishman Edmund Halley (1656-1742) employed Newton's work to accurately calculate the return of the comet that now bears his name. Soon after the comet arrived on the schedule that Halley predicted, Newton's system of the world became universally recognized as the first one in history that was at least approximately true.

Newton's work is the supreme triumph of reason over superstition and can be viewed as a turning point in the history of mankind. The after-effects have been mind-boggling. The Western world that for thousands of years could be aptly described as one of monarchies, ox carts, and candles was swiftly transformed into one of democratic republics, supersonic transport, and light-speed communications. The rest of the world has benefited as well, but due to cultural inertia remains somewhat behind.

In Critique of Pure Reason (1781), Kant produced a philosophically sound, epistemological view that reinforces Newton's work. With it, he enabled anyone so inclined to clearly differentiate truth from opinion. From Kant, we realize that Newton's system of the world is, indeed, approximately true and, in addition, can begin to grasp important aspects of truth itself. As a result, we now understand that man cannot be confident that he holds truth unless that which he believes to be true pertains to the real, observable universe. Finally, we can now see that such true knowledge can be developed only by means of the scientific method and approached only by means of successive approximations.

The implication is clear: if a particular belief has not been validated by the scientific method, it is, by definition, opinion.

Consequently, most in the West now recognize that no one person nor one book holds a monopoly on Truth. This notwithstanding, to this day, the people of the Middle East generally look to their holy book as the source of truth. They depend on their holy men to interpret these writings and to guide them. This is the aspect of present Arab epistemology that caused the hijackers to go to their deaths thinking they were doing good - not evil.

Although it is probable that the philosophical underpinnings of the West can most certainly be significantly upgraded, this speaks volumes regarding the relative quality of our philosophical foundation in the West when compared to the primitive one of the Middle East. Clearly, the events of September 11th have less to do with the collision of airplanes and buildings than with the collision of two cultures.

Conceptual parameters of the design

The impending construction on Ground Zero presents an incredible opportunity to send a message and to teach. The end result should be so meaningful and so uplifting that it could almost be said that those who have died in the attack gave their lives so that a greater goodness could come to America and the world. We have in our hands the power to make sure that these people did not die in vain.

To begin to accomplish this lofty goal, we must first accept that the developers' final decision will include an important statement. Next, the message to be sent must be carefully considered. By means of concrete, steel and glass, we must say the best thing we can, we must say it in a way that educates and inspires, and we must do so clearly and unambiguously. With this in mind, I offer the following.

Two half-mile-high towers

New twin towers must be constructed. The design should embody an imaginative and dramatic new concept of heroic proportions. It should make the strongest, boldest statement possible. It should encompass the most fantastic project conceivable and the underlying theme need be philosophy. It should proclaim to one and all, "I am the Eighth Wonder of the World."

Thus, on one hand, we would be affirming that we are grateful and proud to be Americans, that we have confidence in our philosophical foundation, and that the optimism and "American Way" that emerge from it can never be defeated. Invoking the words of American founding father Thomas Paine, we would be broadcasting to the world in one thunderous voice: "The enlightened mind can never be darkened".

On the other, we would be demonstrating the importance of a high quality philosophical foundation for any nation as well as a recognition of the need to further improve our own. New twin towers must go up. In the best interest of all, they must go up bigger and better than before, and the theme must be philosophy.

The tower to the left would be "The Tower of Reason." On the cornerstone, below its name, would be the motto: "From rationality does truth emerge." At the very pinnacle would be inscribed the word, TRUTH. The basement would house a large museum dedicated to the great thinkers who have made major contributions to the rational realm of philosophy - science - including a special place honoring Isaac Newton.

The tower to the right would be "The Tower of Love." On the cornerstone, below its name, would be the motto: "From goodness does beauty emerge." At the very pinnacle would be inscribed the word, BEAUTY. The basement of this tower would house a large museum dedicated to the great thinkers who have made major contributions to the intuitive realm of philosophy - the humanities - including a special place honoring Immanuel Kant.

A side-by-side arrangement of two, half-mile high towers inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's mile-high concept would be a suitable design that could meet the above-stated criteria. (Raymond C. Bergeron, Jr., a gifted New Orleans architect, produced the concept that appears in the rendering.)

A design that that suggests "goodness"

The side-by-side arrangement is suggestive of the spires of a cathedral. This implies a certain quality of sacredness or Godliness and, therefore, goodness. This seems perfectly appropriate, considering the great loss of life and the overall purpose of the project. However, at the same time, this feature would also serve to convey to the world that, as the aftermath of September 11th clearly demonstrated, the goodness of Americans described in 1831 by de Tocqueville lives on.

In the early evening just before sunset, the towers together with their crossover connection project an image of a golden "H", which stands for HUMANITY. Its arms reaching for the heavens, this gigantic "H" would serve as a reminder that if we wish to realize our full humanity, we must hold fast in our hearts the belief of Henry David Thoreau that goodness is the only investment that cannot fail.

Memorial halls

Nearly 3000 innocent people died in the attacks. The Ground Zero site is now - and will always be - hallowed ground. Therefore, a memorial area on the main entrance levels of each tower honoring those who died must be part of the design. Upwards of 25,000 square feet of each tower should be dedicated to a tastefully designed memorial hall. In these areas, each and every deceased would be commemorated with an individual enclave, including a custom plaque, pictures, and a short biography on display for the viewing public.

A mini city

In addition to the special areas described above, the towers would be designed as comprehensive, multi-use facilities that could essentially function as a mini-city. Everything necessary would be available such that residents could in principle move in and never have to leave. This would then constitute a mini-civilization. Such usage would also serve to symbolically emphasize that a high quality civilization is made possible in the first place only by means of a high quality philosophical foundation.

One America Place

A most appropriate name for this development would be One America Place. Never have I seen America come together as one more than as we did in the aftermath of September 11th attacks. In addition, it could be most beneficial if we Americans could also become of one mind in

* recognizing that our way of life has been made possible in the first place by a quality philosophical foundation with positive stability,

* promising to never forget those who lost their lives as a result of the September 11th attacks,
and
* committing everything in our power to make sure that they who lost their lives did so such that a greater goodness could come to America and to the World - that these people have not died in vain.

A seminal opportunity

By recognizing the important ideas that underpin our way of life and by paying proper gratitude to the great men who developed them, this construction program would be a towering demonstration of humility rather than arrogance.

At the same time, by stating this boldly and publicly, America would be extending a helping hand to not only the Arab but the entire pre-Kantian world. By highlighting the powerful ideas that underpin the West in this way, we are making available to any part of the pre-Kantian world the intellectual tools needed to significantly upgrade its philosophical base. Nations that take notice will one day produce for their people the full advantage of living in a modern world.

The enemy's attacks were fanatical, cold-blooded and savage. In certain respects, the response by America has been and must continue to be robust. Yet on this front, at Ground Zero, we can answer the enemy in a high-minded and civilized fashion. This is a singular opportunity to affirm our way of life and to improve the prospects for the future of America and the world. It may be one just as significant as that which America faced in 1776 when Paine said, "We have in our hands a chance to begin the world over again!"

We can do this.
Let's roll.