USS New York

In a shipyard in Louisiana, USA, an amphibious assault ship is being built. Its bow section will contain salvaged steel from the New York Twin Towers that were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The ship will be called the USS New York [1,2,3].

The wounds from treachery and deceit, callousness and savagery, have now given rise to a spirit of vengeance and war. In a culture of frequently over-hyped symbolic extravaganzas, simultaneously fed by and feeding the Hollywood industry, the advertising industry, the political stage dramas and the various lobbying enterprises, comes another symbolic gesture, laden with emotion that borders on the sentimental. In a time when the world could do with restraint and sobriety, the US authorities choose to fuel the flames of destruction. The spirit of the reborn Christian is glaringly absent in this symbolism.

Instead, the hurt and loss of many are being manipulated to feed a war mentality and, more importantly, lucrative defence industry. The very first and primitives reactions to hurt and loss are being nurtured to the peril of all, while the more mature response of stoic suffering and measured recovery are being cast out the window.

A more fitting symbol would have been to use the salvaged steel from the Twin Towers to contract another building on the original site. It would have sent the message that for the country once hurt, recovery will follow, externally as well as internally.

Yet, the opportunity has passed. The path has been chosen. The world is one step closer to meltdown.