Ground Zero, A Tourist Attraction?

A friend sent me a clip of a video link for "God on Trial". The clip is a dramatised dialogue between between Jewish prisoners during WWII at Auschwitz. This is what the brief description on YouTube says about the clip

This video from wimvandenberghe features a scene from the movie "God on Trial," in which Jewish Auschwitz prisoners discuss God's breaking of his covenant with the Jewish people. It's a powerful scene which clarifies God's abuse of Jews.

And here is the clip of the video, I am not embedding it because it doesn't really have anything to do with this entry, except to explain my train of thought. It is still worth the watch.

I was then reminded of an entry a friend made on his blog, The Foley Loaded, where, while visiting Germany he saw The Dachau Nazi concentration camp. I remember being touched by this entry.

From there, for whatever reason, I wondered what's going on with the former site of the World Trade Centre. (Side Note: Because my mind went from concentration camps to 9/11 does not in any way mean I equate the events of September 11 with the Nazi Holocaust - Six million lives lost in agony versus three thousand lives lost does not compare.) After all it has been more than eight years, surely there must be some plans for it? I remember right after September 11, 2001 there was all this rhetoric flying around from much of America saying they were going to rebuild as quickly as possible, they would construct something even bigger as a sign to the terrorists and the world that America will endure and that they will not be cowed by these "cowards".

So I searched the Internet for "Plans for Ground Zero New York" to see if there is an agenda and if so what it is. I clicked on the first non-sponsored search result returned by Google which led me here. Briefly, it outlines some proposed plans followed by loss of investors and insurance money followed by delays followed by more delays and then followed by even more delays.

Then I looked up at Google's sponsored link which said "Ground Zero & Statue Tour". I read it again and the words had not changed. Ground Zero had become a tourist attraction! And for a reason I can't explain, I felt dirty and cheap. So I asked myself why was it that I was bothered by the former site of The World Trade Center being a tourist attraction but when I thought of the Concentration camps of Nazi Germany being the same, my reaction was different?

Was it because 9/11 happened in my lifetime? And I could remember where I was when I found out about the planes crashing in to the towers?

Was it because I had seen the footage of the towers crumbling down over and over and over again?

Was it because this now tourist attraction had led to two wars in two countries?

Was it because I had lost someone in the attacks?

Was it because when I had seen current footage of concentration camps, they had not been not a pile of rumble?

Was it because in my mind, concentration camps were not in the middle of a once devasted city serving as constant reminder to everyone one of its citizens of the most tragic day in recent American history?

Was it simply that I had never been personally affected the Holocaust even though it happened on a grander scale?

Perhaps it's a combination of some or all of the above... I just don't know.

---Update---

You know what I think it is? I think it's because nothing has happened at Ground Zero. I think it's because it's like still like looking at a fresh open wound. If a memorial had been placed or something, I believe it would be a little easier to me to bear. I find there's a certain morbidity looking at it the way it is. The concentration camps have been sanitised and probably no longer smell of decay and loosed bowls and urine while where is the Twin Towers resided, there is nothing but a gaping hole in the ground.

And the hits just keep on coming...

It seems, the powers that be decided it wasn't enough that I would be at the epicentre of all the brats on a flight out of Toronto, or that I wouldn't even make it to Kenya, or that I would barely make it back to Canada - I guess for a lark, they thought let's hit Shay with a viral infection in the sinuses! Something fun that would keep him coughing all night long, unable to sleep with a vicious headache, congestion, stiff neck, hips and knees - this is shaping up to a just a wonderful fucking year! Feel sorry for me...

Horrible Impression Of Canadian Immigration

Upon my return to Toronto after my very short trip across the pond, I had to go through an extra checkpoint to explain the brevity of my trip. I don't blame them. When it comes to "terror suspects", I hit the trifecta. I was an unshaven Indian chap with a Kenyan Passport who had been out of the country for less than twenty-fours so I don't begrudge the officials for doing what probably needed to be done.

Here is my qualm with Canadian Immigration officials - there was a Nigerian gentleman ahead of me in line who, for whatever reason, walked past the "Wait Here" sign and one of the officials, in a tone seething with sarcasm told him to wait at the "Wait Here" sign. She went on to say the sign was after all, big enough, to laugher from her co-workers.

After my turn at the counter, being unfamiliar with this area, I asked how to get out of there to which the official replied in a tone I can only describe as snarky to follow the big "Exit" signs that were across the room obstructed by security people loitering right in front of them.

Think, for a moment, someone who has never been to Canada before, is greeted in such a manner. What are the chances they would come back? How many would recommend Canada to their friends and relatives as a friendly nation to visit, or worse still, how many would tell their friends and family not to come to Canada?

I always thought Canada to be better than that. Sure, not all officials are like that, but these people represent Canada, more than that, they represent people's first impression of Canada. There is no excuse for this sort of shoddy attitude.

Kids Today!

I'm really beginning to hate kids, more than that, I'm really beginning to hate their parents.

While waiting for my flight to Amsterdam, there were literally a dozen or so screaming children running everywhere by the boarding gate. There were kids crying. There were kids running in to other passengers and there were parents who were simply sitting idly by.

I don't know what it is about parents, but they have this ability to tune out tantrums by their children. I, on the other hand, not being parent, cannot! If anything quite the opposite my ears tend to focus on the noise until if feels like a drill boring in my head.

Once we got on the plane, I had children at my twelve o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock and six o'clock. The child in front of me was as children are supposed to be, seen but not heard. The child at my two o'clock was running up and down the aisle seriously inhibiting the flight attendants - his parent did nothing. The child to my three o'clock was screaming and crying and throwing everything from her colouring book to the food containers in the aisle obstructing the food and drink carts. The flight attendants were forced to play nanny to this spoilt child by cleaning up after her - her parent did nothing. The child behind me had a never ending tantrum, screaming and crying and kicking the seat in front of her which was occupied by a elderly gentleman. After a few minutes of seeing this poor man being jerked forward after every kick, I turned around and politely, but firmly, asked her parents to kindly restrain their child, until I did this - her parents did nothing.

Now I'm not that old. I was born in the mid-seventies and I hate those "when I was kid" type differentiations, but when I was kid, there is no way in hell I would have gotten away with anything like this sort of behaviour. I was raised the way, in my opinion, children should be raised - quietly.

While I dislike gross generalisations, even more, I dislike gross generalisations based on race - I have found that is the children of Africans and Indians who are the worst culprits - Indians more so.

These aren't one time observations, I have noticed this pattern all over the city, but unlike the city where I am able to remove myself from unruly children, an aeroplane is a different matter entirely.

Not being parent, or even being an older sibling to anyone, I can't say I have any solutions that on how to handle children like that. What I can do, is offer what worked for my Mother - a tight slap!

A tight slap on the bottom or my face was always constructive to my social behaviour. Yes, here in North America one would probably be incarcerated for administering such discipline, something I vehemently disagree with but seeing as how the majority of the next generation are being raised, I think it's a policy the government ought to re-think because till this day, I am grateful to my Mother for being the disciplinarian that she was.

Are children getting worse, or are parents getting lazy? It's probably cause and effect. Lazy parenting leads to this kind behaviour.

Shortest Vacation Ever!!!

I left Toronto Pearson on December 30th for Mombasa via Amsterdam. I arrived at Schipol on the 31st, early in the morning.

So here I am at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam awaiting my return flight to Toronto. Yes, you read correctly, back to Toronto.

If you haven't heard, Kenya recently had presidential elections - the opposition candidate Raila Odinga was expected to win; early in the polls he had what appeared to be an insurmountable lead, however after delays in the count, the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki ended up winning the elections.

After accusations of voter fraud and election rigging, violence and riots have erupted all over Kenya. From what I hear, Kibaki has already sworn himself in as president elect, while Odinga is also swearing himself in as the "People's President". I don't get it either.

When I landed at Schipol, I called home to see how everything was - I was told NOT to come due to the violence which, by this time, had hit Mombasa, my final destination. I tried to see if I could fly directly back to Toronto, however due to my ticket limitations, I was forced to buy a brand new ticket which would cost me $850.00 Canadian.

While I was on the phone arranging payment, a gentleman, RGC Bischoff at the KLM counter tracked me down to the phone I was using and said that from the time it took me to get from the counter to the phone, a travel advisory has been issued which qualified me to get use the return portion of my original ticket.

Mr Bischoff will probably never come across this tiny little strand of the web, but I would like to offer him my sincerest thanks for going out of his way to get back to Toronto and back to safety. I will writing KLM a letter commending Mr Bischoff for going above and beyond to accommodate me.

Right now it is 10:50 am in Amsterdam, my flight to Toronto leaves at 1:30 PM Amsterdam time and arrives at Pearson International Airport at 3:30 PM EST.

Now I am going to the bar to order a stiff one!

Kwaheri

Happy Holidays to everyone - and a special Merry Christmas to Darrell ;) I won't be posting a lot to TFTH for the next month or so. I am going to Kenya! I leave on Dec 30th and plan to return three weeks later.

If I get access to some decent Internet while I'm there, I may post anything I find blog-worthy, although I suspect most of my entries will be on my personal blog. So until my next posting - have a great new year's everyone. And as they say in Kiswahili - Kwaheri!

An Excerpt...

The following entry starts mid-thought because it is an actual entry from my personal blog, however all the pertinent details are still intact... I hope

On my way in, there were a couple of gentlemen discussing religion, a subject of interest to me; so I eve dropped. One of the gents quoted something which resonated with me. Curious, I introduced myself and asked for more information, to which he informed that the quote is from Gospel according to Thomas from the Coptic Gospels.

After a little research I learned that the Coptic Gospels are, if I understand them correctly, dialogues between Thomas and as well as some of Christ's "sayings". I always knew not all the gospels were included in the Bible, these, apparently, were one of them. After very little digging, I found the quote:

Whether you look under the stone or within the split wood, God is there.

The reason this struck a chord with me is because, in my mind, it encapsulate the omnipresence of God elegantly and I can see why the Roman Catholic church discarded it. In essence, it implies one does not need a church/temple/mosque/synagogue or what have you, in which to worship and dispels the concept of hallowed or consecrated ground as the whole planet is already such.

If only the religious right could figure this and take cleaning up the planet more seriously.

So here I still am

I'm sure most of you would have deduced by now, I'm full of shit. The post below is indeed an April Fool's prank... or is it? Yes it is... or is it? Okay okay, it is... or is it?

Looks like a couple people fell for it, or at least were able to admit to it. You all know who you are. If you enjoyed this edition of dumbschmuckery, we'll be here same time next year. See you then.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, I've had a bit of writer's block. I'll say something when there's something to say.

I can't friggin' believe it!!!

Holy shit holy shit holy shit!!! You're not going to believe this. I was digging out my spring/fall clothes, this morning, for the season, I stick my hand in my spring jacket and I find a super seven lottery from October 2006. It's a little beaten up and I have no idea if I've checked it or not. So I stuff it back in the jacket and don't give it a second thought. Later in the evening, I head out for my daily stroll; it is a little nippy and I shove my hands in to the jacket pockets for warmth, and there's the six month old ticket.

So I stop by a corner store on the way home and have the ticket checked and the machine plays its little jingle telling me I'm not a complete loser, so I figure a free ticket or maybe ten bucks, but in no way did I think of a number like $1,223,320!!!! I hit six out of seven super seven numbers and the bonus, but it was my encore that paid out. I hit ALL my encores and made very COOL MILLION!!! I called the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission hotline for validation, and after a few confirmation questions, and a trip to their local office and it's verified!! ONE POINT TWO MILLION DOLLARS BABY!!!

Next week I have to go to Niagara Falls where they'll have the presentation ceremony at the Fallsview Casino. The Casino is sending me a Limo and I get a suite for the week. I guess they think I'll spend my new found wealth at their casino... although, they do have poker tables. All I know is the second I get cheque in my hot little hands, I'll calling my accountant and then my travel agent!

Needless to say I won't be posting much of anything on TFTH for the next little while. See you all when I see you.