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UNITED WE STAND | DIVIDED WE FAIL
It Is NOT Too Late To Do The Right Thing — And Do The Thing Right The adage that “Nothing Is Stronger Than An Idea Whose Time Has Come” — and its many variations — is commonly attributed to Victor Hugo. But world history has reached the same conclusion over and over again. The image above was created by the Twin Towers Alliance a dozen years ago. There have been many changes to the downtown skyline since then, and to the final TTA plan, but the promise has not changed: New Twin Towers would penetrate the doom and the gloom that infiltrated the whole world on September 11, 2001, and shine as the beacons of an American Renaissance. The plan for completing the World Trade Center that follows is sure to convince most people that it is indeed feasible and fitting. But will it become a reality? Only if the millions who have always supported rebuilding — who lean as much to the left as to the right and everywhere in between — put politics aside and join forces. We have delayed publishing this plan for many years because hyper-partisanship would have killed it. But now that the results of the 2024 election have left Americans across the ideological spectrum calling for unity as never before in memory, we believe the time has come. Unity has risen to the top of the nation’s wishlist. Most of us believe that we can only gain ground together. But if half the country is left heartbroken, resentful, and defeated every four years, how can we ever get traction? How can unity ever be achieved? By seeing each other through September 12th eyes. Recalling how close we came in the days that followed the wrenching attacks — and how accepting of others we were — is the perfect place to start. After all, it is unconditional goodwill that drives firefighters and other rescuers into harm’s way to save strangers. Honoring their example would make us better Americans. We should expect no less from ourselves. Having the discipline and commitment to conduct our affairs “with malice toward none and charity for all” is a tall order and the hallmark of a great country. Opposites need each other. Drawing out and entertaining each other’s better angels will heal the division that has undermined our best efforts for decades. Just as a bird needs two wings working together to fly, so do we need our two wings working together to solve our toughest problems and achieve our fondest dreams. We can only overcome the bitterness and hardness of heart that divides us by flying higher and gaining more understanding and more perspective on our differences. If we are ever going to find true solutions to what ails us, let it begin here on the World Trade Center’s hallowed ground. If we come together to repair the World’s Skyline after all we have been through, the two golden towers would always be there as a monument to the wonders we can achieve together. What a memorial for the ages that would be.   
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