KI writes:
While taking notes and observing the Ground zero site, I realized that there are mainly, but not restricted to two types of people who go to see, live around and travel past the site. Natives, the ones who are use to the gapping whole in the middle of the center of their homes, and the tourist, the people who seem to be fascinated by it. What are they looking for? (I asked myself observing them), there is nothing more to see, there are no bricks from the once tallest man made structure, there are no families around waiting for questions to be asked about that day, no celebrities to be seen with.
If anything I can compare Ground Zero to the Roman Coliseum. They both have a history of both being something grand and universally known, they both have their own stories to share. In that way I could understand the reason for tourist to be pulled towards the Ground Zero site. I know if I were to travel to Italy today the Roman Coliseum, and the leaning tower of Pisa would places I would go to.
In my paper I am developing, I will focus in the history of the Twin towers, its remains (ground zero) and the effect or non effect it has (or had) on many New Yorkers. Since I did not travel with the class to the site, I had to go the next day by myself, which I gather was more awkward then if I had went with my class. My first task when I arrived was to observe the people, all of them. The people passing by, all in a hurry to go to where ever they have to reach, pushing by the tourist who stop and pull out cameras and gather to take pictures with each other. The tourists who stop to read and see the images placed outside of the gates separating them from the site. I believe the characteristics of tourist seem to be that of aww, and fascination. Something that they can say they have seen and talk about. But for the Natives, we know all about it, we’ve talked about it and we’ve lived through it, so for us what is there left to mention?
The census from the natives I took was very little to almost none at all. There were hardly any natives standing around the site, and I wasn’t surprised. But what I did gather from some people was that from one Native “Why has it taken so long to build a memorial, or any type of building? Week after week I pass by the site and nothing is ever being done… but talk.”
One tourist stated when I asked the question why are you here? Why are you standing here? Was: “ I don’t know, curiosity I guess, something to say I have seen.” That would be a similar answer to a question if someone in Rome asked me why am I so interested in the leaning Pisa. Something to see I guess.
