The Retired Secret Service Agents arranged for this moving and behind the scenes tour of the 9/11 Memorial site. Amazing. The completion and dedication date is slated for next year on the 10th Anniversary. 5200 entries from 63 nations were received to design this site. One of the things we learned was that very few schools are providing 9/11 information as part of the curriculum. Say what? Political Correctness gone awry. While we teach our children to respect differences but we are not teaching them to reflect and learn about groups whose beliefs are fundamentally antithetical to our own values and ideals? Shouldn't we discuss ways of dealing with communities of hate? Terrorism is designed to promote fear and anxiety, and inevitably, it challenges basic assumptions about personal, national, and global security. How can democratic societies protect civil liberties and freedoms in the face of increased security? We live in a world of heightened risk and fear but surely we can and should teach our children to face these realities and how they can choose to live their lives according to the values we cherish. Bubba says we ought to play the films every morning for 10 mins on national TV- lest we never forget the horror of this attack. So check out your local school system and find out what they are teaching the kids in your neighborhood about 9/11 or not......www.national9/11memorial.org
The Immigrant experience-in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty-this small island in New York Harbor received over 25 million immigrants from 1892-1954, when it closed it's doors and was declared excess Federal property. It reopened in 1976 to the public for tours. In 1990 the Immigration Museum Opened featuring the American Wall of Honor-the largest wall of names in the world where individuals can have the name of an immigrant ancestor inscribed for posterity. Bubba goes searching for Boca's roots - yup, there is "Baba's" (grandmother in Serbian) name. He recalled when he first met my Mom and she asked "what are you?". Huh? "You know your people? Italian, French, you know". "Mitzie," he said, "I am American, my people have been here for hundreds of years". "Oh my", she said, "it must be terrible not to have any heritage". Welcome to the family Bubba- to know us is to love us! Check our your own ancestral boat ride over at the web site-very cool and free!
www.ellisisland.org
CitiField opened in 2009 (remember the old Shea Stadium?). After the colorful ride on the subway (the Flushing Flash where Boca Bounced Blissfully-NOT!) we were ready for some Sky Box creature comforts and fun. Now this is the way to take me out to the ballgame baby! Good chow and lots of Chardonnay. And a good time was had by all- I am not sure but I think the Mets won. :) SO FAR THE REUNION FUN HAS BEEN FANTASTIC! Thank you New Yorker and Jersey Boys for putting together such a fun reunion for the gang. Cheers!
