Shhh

STANDING near the site of the former world trade center, in case anyone is interested, is a huge, tall, gleaming new building, also called the world trade center, looking for all the world like something out of an imaginative science fiction movie.

Its absolutely gorgeous. A fitting replacement to what was lost, and a testament to the strength, courage, and resiliency of the american people, indeed, of people. thing is, nobody seems to know about it. Its almost as if its invisible. One might wonder why.

Shouldn't something this magnificent be highly publicized, the talk of the town, on the front cover of publications ranging from news magazines to architectural digests to gossip tabloids? Well, one would think. Its almost as if the magnificent structure is just another office building, hardly worthy of notice or mention, a ho hum affair. 

Suddenly a thought comes to mind. Maybe its intentional. Maybe the plan is to undersell, to downplay any excitement or publicity, the strategy being to attract as little attention as possible, to appear nonchalent, to avoid the sort of spectacular achievement celebration which might draw fire, literally.

Bear in mind that the first trade center was attacked not once, but twice. Those who were determined to destroy it were willing to give it more than one try, disinclined to give up the quest after a "failed" attempt.

An avoidance of hubris. The world trade center sat like a proud beacon of prosperity and capitalism, among the first sights for those  closing in to new york from abroad, an obviously target of opportunity for anyone wishing to harm america. Let's not brag too much about this one, lest it attract the same fatal attention as did the previous version.

But is that really the way to go about this? In fear? or is it common sense, and modesty? Let the thing speak for itself. That's loud enough, nothing more is necessary, or desirable.

But haven't we been awakened to the ever present danger, and eliminated all threat of further attack through response, perparation, and due diligence?

If ever in new york, you might want to wander down towards battery park on the south end of the island, and take a look. You won't have to get too close to see it. You might not even be allowed to get too close, or stare at it too long.

But enjoy the awesome sight, its truly magnificent. Just don't tell people about it, or make too big a fuss over it. Its hard to protect buildings, and we want this one to last more than forty years.