The deepest, darkest day in my lifetime is 9/11/. Nearly three thousand people died, almost all of them civilians, and many more were injured. We lost our sense of security that day, despite two vast oceans that separate us from our enemies. The nation's two largest skyscrapers collapsed before our eyes. It's had a lasting impact. It's why we take our shoes off at airports.On the fifth anniversary of that somber occasion, the Guv' and politicos like former exec Glenn Reibman celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony for Bethlehem's Riverport project. That baby was seeded with county and state money, and everyone was slapping each other on the back. Mayor John Callahan joined in the fun, too.
Now it's Allentown's turn to be tacky. According to a breathless report from DCED Director Joyce Marin at puff blog Allentown Good News, Allentown will mark the death of three thousand people just nine years ago with a bicycle race. She's instructing everyone to take time off and even goes so far as to tell them to eat at a King Edwin-favored restaurant. She does mention NYC, but only to note how the people there support the marathon runners.
48 comments:
I don't know if this is valid or funny or serious and I'm off, but I belong to a local photography club and I once showed everyone a picture of the PPL building I took. Two of them members were shocked. "How did you do that?" They both said that security stopped them from taking photographs because they could be used in a terrorist attack against Allentown. I don't remember if it was PPL security or the cops, but I'll ask them at the next meeting.
When did you take your pic, before or after 9/11/01?
Coming together to celebrate new beginnings is the best memorial one can provide. It shows the terrorists that we as a people will contiue to thrive and build. We willnot be forced to huddle in the dark out of fear. Or will we stop progress with the gnashing of teeth and the wringing of hands.
You have sunk even lower than your normally gutteral levels to slap the Governor, Reibman and others for helping to keep hope alive. Of course we need people like you and Angle to curse the darkness, at least when it is politically advantageous.
I wonder if what they did was as bad as Angle complaining the day after 9/11/01, that the Express didn't prominently cover some goofy press conference he had. Don't believe it ask your whoarey buddy Joe owens, see what he tells you.
The Callahan attacks continue.
No Surprise there.
Allentown has something positive happening, so you have to slam it.
No Surprise there.
I'm going to church to light a candle this 9-11.
I'll attend Mass and a prayer service, just as every year since.
You made this up. She wouldn't do this.
Joyce Marin's absurd blog piece about the "9/11" bike race reminds me just how despicable she is. Now we have a "Guggenhiem" like parking garage? What happened to Insider Strategy #6, get together with Ed Pawlowski at his "SOHO" like neighborhood for a "9/11" campaign fundraiser?
I don't think Americans need memorials or days of somberness to remember the attacks on 9/11. As a previous commenter mentioned, I think going on with things is the best way to honor those who died. I was in NYC on 9/11, and lost friends and coworkers in the attacks... I don't need to do something special to have a day of mourning or remembrance - I have those days all the time, and certainly the anniversary date does not go unnoticed.
I guess there are plenty of "tacky" things about the way that blog post is written. But that this event is being held on 9/11 doesn't strike me as the tacky part.
Never forget, but do not use this memorial date that is a living symbol of tragedy and lives lost, as a promotional tool for a center city activity as meaningless as a bike race! What is next? "Holocaust kosher hot dogs" at the grower's market?
How regrettable and tasteless.
These are the folks who moved to this area BECAUSE of the 9/11 attacks?
Shame on us all for tolerating this kind of icky public relations tactics in city government. Shame on the Mayor for allowing his staff to use such tactics at a city sponsored blog that permits NO opposing viewpoints to be posted.
I think the race sounds cool. Sorry, I guess I'm just a tacky kinda gal. Have you been to any of the bike races that roll thru Allentown? They're FUN and cool and very inspiring.
While I'm no "Allentown Good News" fan, and I firmly believe 9/11 should NEVER be used by politicians for fundraising efforts (but look, it won "W" the election in '04), I don't think a race is "tacky." I think it speaks of strength and power and resiliance.
It is funny that Marin has no idea her Guggenheim garage is under renovations right now - does she live anywhere near Allentown? As far as her restaurant recommendation, maybe the bikers are rolling right thru the brew works again. That was pretty cool before, and it wasw good for the city, too.
Isn't this couple from NYC? How could she be so disrepestful to families who lost love dones?
Perhaps a memorial event, a day of caring and sharing but a bike race! Awfully poor taste.
All of a sudden Bernie is attacking Mayor Callahan? We don't see that at all.
Time to rename your blog:
I hate anybody to do with PaWlowski Ramblings.
Taking another shot at Marin? You just don't like any of the women in Pawlowski's life. Who is Joyce in your Shakespearean tragedy?
Only a demolition derby and bonfire would be more disrespectful. And there's still time for these Cretans to organize ...
"Coming together to celebrate new beginnings is the best memorial one can provide. It shows the terrorists that we as a people will contiue to thrive and build. We willnot be forced to huddle in the dark out of fear."
No, certainly not, but in my view, it's too soon for either ribbon-cutting ceremonies or city-sonsored bike races that don't remember. I, for one, would feel very uncomfrotable at either event. The wounds are still too raw. And in truth, the death toll from that tragic day continues to mount. Many of the rescue workers and others near ground zero are developing pernicious forms of cancer. In my view, scheduling a bike race on a day like that is disrespectful to the families of people who lost loved ones that day.
I am surprised Marin, who did live in NYC, would fail to mention the tragedy or at least plan some remembrance alongside the bike race to make this a little more palatable. That would not be hard, would it?
"You made this up. She wouldn't do this."
I've linked to her puff piece.
"I guess there are plenty of "tacky" things about the way that blog post is written."
That may be, but I'm not speaking for the City of Allentown. I'm writing for me, and I think it is too soon to have something like this without at least some remembrance of what happened that day.
Monkey mama,
I'd agree that W preyed on our fears, but this is not quite the same thing. My point is that it is tacky to have something like this without at leat acknwoledging what happened that day. If we can pledge allegiance before every LL baseball game, we can certainly find the time for a few words or a moment of silence for hat happened on 9/11.
"Taking another shot at Marin? You just don't like any of the women in Pawlowski's life."
Gee, I did not know Joyce Marin was one of the women in Pawlowski's life. I thought she was the city's DCED Director. It's just a tad chauvinist to describe her the way you have.
If Marin was to host a bike race for charity to help fund local food bank or Habitat, that would be an appropriate event, we believe, for this day.
Taking another shot at Marin? You just don't like any of the women in Pawlowski's life."
Gee, I did not know Joyce Marin was one of the women in Pawlowski's life. I thought she was the city's DCED Director.
I didn't either.
12:08 Am said:
Bernie, I took my pic a few months ago and they were all stopped to take their pics this year.
did the city schedule the date of this event or was it the organization that is charged with running such circuit style races. My guess is that the city is a venue on a three day race ticket. It literally was probably a "take it or we race in another town on th esame date" proposition.
Either way, I do not view 9/11 as a day to stop and not do anything. Certainly memorials are an important part of the day and I'm sure churches will hold memorials and there will be a moment of silence at the race, but I think a day of community gathering and community spirit is entirely appropriate for a day in which the nation, as a community, was attacked. What better way to respond than to proclaim that our communities continue to be important.
" there will be a moment of silence at the race,"
Marin mentions that nowhere in her breathless shill for this race. She seems more interested in the Jumbotron. The event web page mentions noting about a moment of silence, either. But it does mention "a City Culture Fair to highlight Allentown's rich history and nationally recognized museums and entertainment venues."
I'm concerned about history, too.
If the event has hastily decided to add a moment of silence, this blog will have served its purpose.
You're such a sad, small man, O'Hate. All you seem to be able to do is knock things --unless, of course, they hold a personal benefit to you. Try to get help, will you? You might someday be happy. Or are you afraid of that possibility?
Ahh, the usual ad hominem. This blog was intended to keep A-town from being tacky and it appears there now will be a moment of silence.
to 1:11.
We met Bernie in Allentown at council meeting. He is not so small. He was pretty tall and sat in the front row and we could see him all the way in the back.
He's tall.
interesting that marin refers to allentown's nationally renowned park system; with such a reputation, you would think they would be reluctant to make and degree as necessary such major changes
Ohare is not so much tall as fat. Come on man. Ohare makes the full moon blush.
The term fat troll has a symbol and that symbol is ohare.
You really had to reach on this one ohare, to attack all your favorite targets, wow. But these are successful people, something you know nothing about.
Frankly, no one gives a crap what you think people should do on 9/11. I hear Stoffa is planning on taking a crap and I find that disrespectful.
Took a moment to read Ms. Marin's blog regarding the bike race. Not once does she describe the tragedy of 9/11 and why Americans must not forget. Some of this is is childlike, such as "our cars not making it up the hill". Oh really, are we to expect an $80K staffer doesn't drive a nice car? Was of open mind about this issue, thinking she must have the event earmark funds for a worthy cause.
Hey, I expect a full report on Charlie Dent's Town Hall in Upper Saucon today.
Happy Ramadan!
Wonder what the Lockerbie bomber fresh from his hero's greeting in Libya would say about all of this!
"Great Cairo speech", maybe?
Anon 3:26, I can always lose weight, but you'll always be an anonymous asshole who is too cowardly to identify yourself.
If by successful you mean ignoring a calamatous event or snubbing the little guy, I'll happily remain unsuccessful.
Oh, we can't all be as holy as O'hare. Is this post serious? You read disrespect of 9/11 into another person's post about a bike race? Dude, you gotta get some help. Chill out, Its only some cheerleading for a crazy mayor. You give the loonies too much credit here in Alientown.
Ohare snubs the little guy every day. He is a schill for Stoffa and Sutton-Falk and their anti-people policies at the County.
He praises their awful policies while employees suffer. Yea, a real champion of the little guy.
I stood up for people who were laid off, who weren't being paid a living wage and whse salaries were frozen for three years. I do not stand up for workers who mob council, demanding the ouster of another worker. I do not stand up for greedy deputies demanding triple time for security at a goofy football game. I do not stand up for people who think the taxpayers work for them.
" Is this post serious? You read disrespect of 9/11 into another person's post about a bike race?"
Having toruble getting this? That's probably bc you yourself are a tad tacky. I can only shine the light, my child.
Iron has it right.
Happy Ramadan, after ignoring National Day of Prayer, and a fly by for a photo shoot over Manhattan without letting anyone know are FAR more disrespectful of our lost brothers than any bike race.
Anon 3:26
God, you are a bitter person.
God's honest truth! Saturday's Washington Post reported that the local Muslims do not have enough space in their mosques to accomodate the influx of participants during their prayer services.
Solution:
The local Rabbi's have rented out their synagoges to the Muslims for a fee. Of course, the Rabbi's rent out their houses of prayer, when they are not in use for their own services.
There has not been any problems. And, both parties have been very pleased with the outcomes.
Have pigs started to fly yet???
Peace, ~~Alex
Anon 3:26 is not bitter, he is pathetic.
Maybe one day someone will sprinkle fairy dust on his head and he will disappear.
Poof! Gone! Wow that was easy.
This is the right place to find fairy dust. The mancrush zone.
Someone who throws that term around so frequently must be very cofused about his own sexuality. But wehen you come down to it, what does it matter? Am I supposed to be offended by some anon calling me a fag? You do me no disservice, but you hurt gay people everywhere with remarks like that. Rob Hopkins and I rarely agree on anything. But I think he'd me with me in condemning this homophobia.
Oh please!
It's homophobia when you come right down to it. You are slamming me for my "mancrushes," and that's a slam at the gay lifestyle.
Wow, if you folks are this pissed about a bike race on 9-11, you're gonna love this.
Obama's Plan to Desecrate 9/11
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/24/obamas-plan-to-desecrate-911/
"The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry."
"This effort to reshape the American psyche has nothing to do with healing the nation and everything to do with easing the nation along in the ongoing radical transformation of America that President Obama promised during last year's election campaign. The president signed into law a measure in April that designated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, but it's not likely many lawmakers thought this meant that day was going to be turned into a celebration of ethanol, carbon emission controls, and radical community organizing."
"A coalition including the unsavory left-wing pressure group Color of Change and about 60 far-left, environmentalist, labor, and corporate shakedown groups participated in the call. Groups on the call included: ACORN, AFL-CIO, Apollo Alliance, Community Action Partnership, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs, Friends of the Earth, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Mobilize.org, National Black Police Association, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Council of Negro Women, National Wildlife Federation, RainbowPUSH Coalition, Urban League, and Young Democrats of America."
Mancrush or bromance, you call it. That is how everyone else sees your coverage.
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