Sept. 11 Souvenir Debris

[Tess]

WASHINGTON - The removal of souvenir debris from the scenes of the Sept. 11 attacks reached the highest levels of government, including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and FBI (news - web sites) Director Robert Mueller's chief of anti-terrorism, a Justice Department (news - web sites) investigation has found.

rest of story
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=718&e=7&u=/ap/20040313/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fbi_sept_11_rubble

If they want people to keep their hands off, as with the Columbis Shuttle debris, shouldn't they (government workers) set a good example?

[jmarie]

It was my understanding that they thought the space shuttle debris might be contaminated. And they were trying to recreate the space shuttle to see what might have gone wrong.

In the 9/11 scenario, they knew what went down, there was no need to recreate. It was just a reminder of what happened and not to forget.
I do not see any sililarity. Nor do I feel what he, Rumsfeld, did was wrong.
Joyce

[jpap]

Originally posted by jmarie
It was my understanding that they thought the space shuttle debris might be contaminated. And they were trying to recreate the space shuttle to see what might have gone wrong.

In the 9/11 scenario, they knew what went down, there was no need to recreate. It was just a reminder of what happened and not to forget.
I do not see any sililarity. Nor do I feel what he, Rumsfeld, did was wrong.
Joyce
I agree!

[stefania4]

I seem to remember a scandal about firefighters and inspector removing debris to save as mementos. I can't see why it would be different for officials.

And while I'm not making a judgment on the ethics of having a piece of the plane, it is - in my opinion - decidedly creepy to want to have it on hand.

[HUNGRY!]

I would have a problem if someone tried to sell it for profit, but I guess its only human to take a piece of it (although I agree- creepy). I kept all of the newspapers and I taped the news broadcast that day. It was a horrible thing and I think its human nature to want a momento (not the right word but I can't think of another- reminder maybe?). I'm not a fan of Rumsfeld but I don't think that they did anything wrong in this case.

[Escher]

Since 9/11 will be the central point of their careers, I think it is fitting....

I don't think it is creepy....

My Grandfather has some old Nazi stuff from his days in the US Army....
I have a piece of the Berlin Wall....
My mother has a Soviet flag from a MayDay parade in Red Square....

As a matter of fact verifiable souvenirs from historical periods can be quite valuable....

[eas11]

I do think it's creepy. About 9/15 I was walking in NYC and there was an official car that parked on the street just outside the work zone. It was covered with ground zero dust/soot/ash. People started running over to it and scooping up the ashes in film cases, lunch bags, even a sock! :confused:

I don't understand saying this is on a desk as a "reminder". Really, who NEEDS a physical reminder on display?
Ellyn