# Downtown Manhattan 'Rescued' From The Scourge (IMHO) Known As The Freedom Tower **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588 "2005-05-05T20:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/41 "2005-05-18T23:10:17Z")
Just saw this in the Sydney press. Trump seems like a tosser of sorts, but I am with him on this one. Rebuild the things, bigger, more capitalistic, and more phallic than before. I think people will work in them, too. A couple of years ago I might have thought not, but time goes on. I also agree with Trump that the Freedom Tower is an empty skeleton and a defeat. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/42 "2005-05-19T08:21:53Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Which is probably why Trump ([who just wrapped up his press conference](http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/18/news/newsmakers/trump_twintowers/)), sees the need to have 2 phalli/phalluses…whereas most people are content with just one. Donald Trump: A Size Queen For Progress. Who else would have the guts to say “No, ONE giant dick is NOT enough!” Yesterday I was complaining about too many cooks, now it’s Trump and too many cocks. Whatever gets built at the WTC, you’d like it to be something tasteful and meaningful. There’s a lot of emotion involved, and sensitivity. So who could possibly be a worse addition to this process than Donald Trump? I wish he hadn’t thrown that weird thing on his head into the ring. Looking at the old designs, I liked the Think Team and Foster plans best. The Think towers were ghostly and weird, and the ‘kissing’ Foster towers were also appropriate. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2587707.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2587707.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/43 "2005-05-19T08:26:41Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > Just saw this in the Sydney press. Trump seems like a tosser of sorts, but I am with him on this one. Rebuild the things, bigger, more capitalistic, and more phallic than before. As somebody who’s going to have to see the things periodically over the last… rest of my life (I hope), I ask: why the hell do we need an uglier replacement for buildings that nobody really liked to begin with? Build the ugly phallic monuments to capitalism in your own city, thanks very much. 😉 Defiance is not something you make a lasting monument to. Remembrance, hope, things like that? Sure. Phalluses and capitalism? Come on. _Everything_ is a monument to capitalism. Especially skyscrapers. These ought to at least look good and mean something. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/44 "2005-05-19T11:28:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Looking at the old designs, I liked the Think Team and Foster plans best. The Think towers were ghostly and weird, and the ‘kissing’ Foster towers were also appropriate. > [BBC NEWS | Americas | In pictures: World Trade Center plans](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2587707.stm) Somebody actually likes the Think towers? Two hollow shells, with a wierd shape that looks like a plane sticking out of the side of the building? I always thought that Think was the worst design of the bunch. I’m pretty sure that they only chose it as a finalist because they wanted Studio Libeskind to win. (One finalist to approve, and one to reject. Like on that one episode of the short-lived Dilbert series.) I think that the Freedom Tower was one of the better designs. But you still wouldn’t get me to accept a job in it. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/45 "2005-05-19T15:03:27Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m still votin’ for the [Gaudi](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2687565.stm) design. I look at it and can’t decide it’s cool in an art deco way or cartoonish and laughable. Though I keep looking at it and thinking "It looks like a rocket from an early sci-fi movie. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/46 "2005-05-19T15:09:26Z")
I’m no fan of trump, but I agree with him. The two towers look better then most of the designs I’ve seen(many of which look like they should be in R’lyeh rather then New York). ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/47 "2005-05-19T16:33:26Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I look at it and can’t decide it’s cool in an art deco way or cartoonish and laughable. > > Though I keep looking at it and thinking "It looks like a rocket from an early sci-fi movie. I vote for “cartoonish and laughable.” That Foster tower is starting to grow on me, however. It’s kinda cool. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/48 "2005-05-19T16:45:59Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > "It looks like a rocket from an early sci-fi movie. Well, NYC is a [Metropolis](http://home.planet.nl/~voogt053/Pics/Metropolis.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/49 "2005-05-19T17:00:14Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I’m no fan of trump, but I agree with him. The two towers look better then most of the designs I’ve seen(many of which look like they should be in R’lyeh rather then New York). To quote [Trump](http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/198nd1.htm) > [@](#): > > The plan “looks like a **junkyard** , a series of **broken-down angles** that don’t match each other. And we have to live with this for hundreds of years?” he said. “It is **the worst pile of crap architecture** I’ve ever seen in my life.” For all I know, he used yesterday’s press conference as a cross promotion for his Apprentice TV show or that stupid board game. I’ll also cede the point he makes nicer golf courses than he does buildings. But he’s only playing the role of PR man. The TTII is the work of Herbert Belton (the original designer) and Ken Gardner (engineer). Question not asked / answered at his ‘press conference yesterday’: _Donald, if rebuilt, would **you** be willing to move your personal office to the 111th floor of the new WTC site_? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/50 "2005-05-20T05:45:37Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Well, NYC is a [Metropolis](http://home.planet.nl/~voogt053/Pics/Metropolis.JPG) '"At this moment, we, as a nation, are about to touch the stars! I tremble at the honor of announcing the culmination of mankind’s long history of intellectual and scientific acheivment! Yesterday, our power spanned the Earth. Today, it can illuminate the heavens! May it stand forever; [OUR](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Metropolis-new-tower-of-babel.jpg) [ZIGGURAT!"](http://www.absoluteanime.com/metropolis/index.jpg) C’mon, do we really want to get upstaged by the [Dubai tower](http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6781)? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/51 "2005-05-20T15:40:57Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > '"At this moment, we, as a nation, are about to touch the stars! I tremble at the honor of announcing the culmination of mankind’s long history of intellectual and scientific acheivment! Yesterday, our power spanned the Earth. Today, it can illuminate the heavens! May it stand forever; [OUR](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Metropolis-new-tower-of-babel.jpg) [ZIGGURAT!"](http://www.absoluteanime.com/metropolis/index.jpg) > > C’mon, do we really want to get upstaged by the [Dubai tower](http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6781)? second linky no workee. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/52 "2005-05-20T23:33:21Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > second linky no workee. So sorry. Please to try [this’n](http://www.absoluteanime.com/metropolis/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/53 "2005-05-22T08:48:30Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m still votin’ for the [Gaudi](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2687565.stm) design. You know what? I say, let’s go back to basics. Are there any unbuilt Cass Gilbert designs? How about Raymond Hood? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/54 "2005-05-22T10:27:40Z")
would anyone really be sup[rized if there was another terrorist attack if they really went ahead with what some people are suggesting here? a “middle finger pointing at Mecca”. Great way to be offensive. also, i really don’t think it will matter what it looks like as long as it plays up the jingoistic bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/55 "2005-05-22T14:57:21Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > would anyone really be sup[rized if there was another terrorist attack if they really went ahead with what some people are suggesting here? a “middle finger pointing at Mecca”. Great way to be offensive. > > also, i really don’t think it will matter what it looks like as long as it plays up the jingoistic > bullshit. Hell, the way things are going right now, we could put up a freakin’ mosque, and Al Quaida would want to below it up. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/56 "2005-05-23T11:43:27Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > I think creating a giant metal middle finger pointed toward Mecca would be sweet. That is really offensive. Glad to know that some folks in the US recognize the War on Terror for what it really is… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/57 "2005-05-24T01:38:34Z")
> [@Endemic](#): > > That is really offensive. Glad to know that some folks in the US recognize the War on Terror for what it really is… Oh, gee, ya _think?_ I guess I’ll have to call my congressman and tell him NOT to support the bill funding a 200 story middle finger! (And to think, they’d already designed the revolving restaraunt and gift shop to be installed in the giant cuticle!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588.md?page=2)