Press Release - The International Freedom Center

June 29, 2005

Give art a chance - Don't make Ground Zero exhibit centers pawns in the culture wars

To hear the protesters tell it, you might think the restored Ground Zero will contain cultural institutions that blame America for genocide. You might think the site will be used to promote artworks that rub our noses in haughty contempt for mainstream values.

But where's the evidence for these suspicions? While the 16-acre site will contain an International Freedom Center and host an organization called The Drawing Center, these institutions hardly sound like relentless incubators of raging anti-Americanism.

The most you can say is that some accomplished people connected with the Freedom Center have global outlooks and liberal backgrounds. And it appears that the Drawing Center currently has a display in SoHo that satirizes the words of President George W. Bush about an Axis of Evil.

Forgive us, but so far we're less than shocked.

The truth is that Ground Zero must serve as many things to many people. For example, the World Trade Center site is envisioned as a continued revenue producer for its owner - the Port Authority - and thus it will contain office towers and a shopping complex. It will also contain a new PATH train station. At the same time, it will house a 9/11 museum and memorial. And among the site's cultural amenities will be the Freedom Center and also the Drawing Center.

The aims of these institutions - especially the Freedom Center - are level-headed and appropriate. What better place to examine the global march toward human liberation from tyranny than the place where our own freedom was so mercilessly attacked on Sept. 11, 2001?

At first, aides to Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg held firm in the face of protests by some family members of 9/11 victims and others. But late last week Pataki started to vacillate. He now says he wants a guarantee that the institutions will avoid exhibitions that could offend 9/11 families and others. To his credit, Bloomberg has continued to support the two institutions. He talks about the need to find a balance between honest artistic expression and what's appropriate for the site. What an awful mistake it would be to make these tragic acres a hostage in the culture wars.

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

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