I don't know if the intent is there or not, but I can see the similarities. If they are upset, then why not modify the design?

I'm sorry, but even if their was Islamic "symbolism" in there, isn't our country based upon freedom of religion? Why is being Islamic so bad? Just because the hijackers were Islamic doesn't make all other Islams bad.

Every religion has its good and bad, and to come out and say this and for the media to put it out is almost brain washing some Americans into thinking that Islam must be a bad religion.

But what if the architect has come up with a huge cross?

I agree whole-heartedly with what the first option says - all that matters is what the families think. Detractors aren't being very respectful.

Syako - but (s)he *didn't*, he came up with a design that reflected what happened, pointing to the crash site. (S)he can fully defend the inspiration for the design, and if it came out as a cross, (s)he'd STILL have a valid explanation that it wasn't religious, just based on what actually happened there.

oh my, it's the dreaded part-circle I've been seeing on fire in my dreams.

what?

I was just saying in response to Marie that I feel like if it were a cross (a Christian symbol) people would also be up in arms because it's a religious symbol. So it's not specifically an attack on Islam, but more of people not wanting any specific religion being tied to the design.

I personally, think it's much ado about nothing and that ultimately it's up to the families of the victims.

my point too is that there is the same as your syako, but from what I see living near the crash site is that people tend to be ignorant about religions that aren't there own, and make horrible assumptions about them. But who cares if it has any religious meaning, you can do that with anything.

i agree that it's up to the families of the victims... but at the same time, you can't please everyone all of the time. there will always be someone who is not happy. whatever the outcome, i hope someone capitalizes on this opportunity to educate people about the religion of islam - it's not all jihad and blowing up buildings.

i don't really see all that imagery that they're talking about. i agree with you all - the ones that should have a legitimate say in the memorial should be the families.

i also like that the poll included the outrage over the Vietnam memorial when it first came out. i'm not sure i totally understand what the controversy was about, but suffice to say, it's one of the most popular and poignant memorials out there.

What does the artist/artists have to say?

If the up roar is simply because some aspects of the art resemble an Islamic symbol I think people need to relax.

It's NOT a Muslim symbol
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/images/symbols/crescent-200.gif
any more that it's part of the Russian Flag!
http://www.sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/students/2009/09jrkipp/images/200507...
A semicircle is just that. Ridiculous.

And I'm sure there are and will be crosses, stars of david, and muslim star and crescent symbols there representing the victims, if that is who died.

Plus the FAMILIES have not objected- it's other troublemakers and conspiracy theorists that have caused this uproar. Would you have ever thought of this if it hadn't been mentioned?

5,300 signatures? Wow. Did people actually see the design before signing?

I'm pretty sure if a Cross had been incorporated into the design in the manner in which this semi-circle has been incorporated, no one would say anything. I'm pretty sure if the terrorists were NOT "Muslims" most people wouldn't even know that the crescent and star is an Islamic symbol.

Oh well, to each his own.

I don't really know what I am supposed to be seeing here.

It looks like a relief map to me. I understand that families of the victims might be more sensitive to it's design, and I think that is understandable.

Did it ever occur to the losers that were boycotting the memorial that there may have been a Muslim or two that were innocent and killed in the same plane crash? Besides, granted, there may be some unintended irony that the topography resembles the Islamic crest, but still, not all Muslims are bad. Bet there are some Christians that do worse things (think of that Austrian guy...).

lady - your words are a little harsh...

????WEIRD????
:/

I had to look at this a few times to figure out the "symbolism" that people are complaining about. Yes, there's a semi-circle, but I don't see the star and crescent any more than I see a cross when two perpendicular lines intersect. Just my two cents.

I agree that this was an attack on Christians, and the memorial should have a more Christian theme. But the bottom line is what do the families think? If they like the design, the public should back off. Since family members don't like the appearant symbolism, changes should be considered.

Under the illustration on the last pafe, it says that trees have been added to completely encircle the site.

Well it appears to me that any likeness is purely coincidental and just like the imagination of a child who turns shadows into monsters the protestors are only seeing what they want to believe.

I disagree that the art should be purposefully more representative of Christianity.

If the artists say it has nothing to do with Islamic symbolism than let's give them the benefit of the doubt. I think the problem is that the subject is an abstract; so many different perceptions can be taken from an abstract.

If you stare at it long enough, you can actually see Grateful Dead lead singer, Jerry Garcia!

theres nothing islamic about the picture
for heavens sake have people become THAT paranoid??!!

Well look at the political/national security atmosphere here in the U.S. Sun_Sun. I'm not saying these people are being reasonable but can you blame them in light of the way the Administration uses fear to keep the minions in line with their actions.

dave: what was an attack on christians - 9/11? people of all religions died that day. anyway, even the people who claim responsibility for it will tell you that it's a response to an economic and military policy that's kept troops in the middle east way beyond their welcome... yes, there is the extremist angle, but i don't think putting up a cross as if to say "I SEE YOUR EXTREMIST MUSLIM JIHAD AND RAISE YOU ONE ANGRY CRUCIFIX" is going to do a darn thing.

The 9/11 attacks were not directed at Christians, they were against Americans - other religions are well represented among the victims. Why don't they simply put a small plain building there, with a couple of chairs, and people from all around the world can come and discuss ways to actually work for peace to honor the dead.

hypnoticmix- i agree that people are scared and rightfully so. the things that have happened the past 5-6 yrs have been horrific for everyone. but when we say everyone, we must include the muslims who were living as normal Americans one day, then become targets of racial slurs and dirty looks the next.

and plus if it really was like a green crescent with a star in the middle or some arabic calligraphy, i would understand the controversy. but there is just a red semi circle!!! i remember learning about the semi circle in school. shall they take that out of the curriculum now??

i just think its a bit much!

If the families are unhappy then the design should be scrapped.

Why didn't they allow the families themselves to come up with some kind of a design. It doesn't have to have any religious symbol and definitely doesn't need to appear to have one, cross or minaret.

I think more of a granite marker with all their names and a walk way with gardens and places to sit and look at the flowers.

But then, that's just my point of view.

This is some really dodgy journalism, the kind that this issue does definitely need. All I see is anonymous sources: "some", "one critic", "yet another." This is the kind of stuff Rush Limbaugh resorts to. There's not even a listing of which publication this came from, nor is there a byline. This is merely whipping up paranoia, hate and fear. The people at Sugar should embarrassed about this piece, and if it was written in-house, they should be ashamed.

Misterbear, The International Herald Tribune has been around since the 1880s and is part of the New York Times Company. They're located in Paris, not exactly what I'd call "Limbaugh Country". I don't think Citizen needs to be embarrassed about reporting a piece from the IHT any more than they do if they reported something from USA Today, FOX News or The Nation.

I have to agree with Sun_Sun in the sense that if there was blatant Islamic symbolism in the peice, then I can understand people getting their panties in a twist. But when you compare the tribute to a map of the landscape, it does follow the movment of the hills, the grouping of the trees...it all matches up. I've seen videos on YouTube of people just picking it apart, and it saddens me. Everytime something good is trying to be done, paranoid nobodies with narrow minds have to throw in their conspiracy theories into the mix, and get all of the narrow minded friends involved. Just take it as it is, and appreciate the good in it. Ugh.

All this hate, judgement and paranoia is getting exhausting to see anymore.

I think the design is fine, someone mention its like an embrace. The vivid red is also beautiful.

Has anyone seen the Oklahoma City memorial? I loved it. The colors are muted in bronze and black with a pathway, as you start to follow it you start to come upon chairs with the victims names on them and then you notice that there are little chairs too (that's when I cried), you follow the path more and you see a concrete wall and realize you're standing in what was the buildings foundation and the wall is a part that survived, as you walk a little further to a shallow pool of water that reflects the monument behind it, a large monument with the time the attack occurred. The point of this is when it is done it will touch everyone differently but I'm sure the final memorial in Oklahoma didn't make everyone happy despite its simple beauty.

Syako, I wasn't trying to be harsh. I'm just so sick of people that make comments that are negative towards social groups that aren't the typical "everyday Christian-American" family. Even though I was raised in a Catholic/Baptist background, I still spent time with people from other backgrounds and heard people constantly make comments about Jewish people, about Islamics, etc...its not cool. So blatant forms of ignorance, I'd rather call out and just be rude, like they're being rude.

Sorry if I offended anyone though.

which is fine, but we're normally pretty civil and un-rude on here. Which is why we all are so addicted to it!