One World Center

That's the name of the building going up at the site of the World Trade Center. You might remember that the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed on September 11, 2001 by a terrorist act.

When the plans were being developed to rebuild on the site, the name of the new building was to be Freedom Tower. Today we're hearing that will probably not happen, that in the interest in marketing the space in the building, it will be called by it's address One World Center.

This is because the marketing company feels they can rent out the property easier without the word "freedom" in the title. It's been suggested that calling it the "Freedom Tower" might target it for future attacks. The name didn't seem to be the problem in the prior attacks on the building. No, this is a marketing ploy. Seems that the word "freedom" is unsettling to prospective tenants.

What an insult to the people of the United States. And the world. And especially to the dead and their families. Over three thousand people died on September 11, 2001, every last one of the them innoncent of any wrong doing to deserve the deaths they suffered. We tend to ignore,or may just not think of, the people who were citizens of other countries who died that day. These were people who worked for foreign companies with space in the Twin Towers or foreign born who worked for Americn companies. It doesn't really matter. On that day, everyone who died was a victim of a horrendous act that defies my understanding. Even today, my mind boggles trying to understand how 19 men could do such a thing. Not just them, but the other people who would do the same thing today.

As far as I am concerend, every last person, American or foreign national, every police officer, firefighter, pilot, flight attendant, passenger, who died that day died in the name of Freedom. Someone who doesn't want us to be free to live our lives as we do took those precious lives with no more thought than swatting a fly.

Is marketing more important than remembering that day, and the lives that were taken? I'm a capitalist, and believe that every consideration should be made when trying to market your product. But this is one time I don't want to see anyone make money on a project. Sometimes money is the least important consideration. 

My personal opinion is to leave the footprint of the building as a park. Call it Freedom Park. Call it Rememberance Park. I don't care. But don't negate the impact of the deaths that occured on that site or the reason they died. 

Over the last few years, I've found myself attracted to companies that use America, or Freedom, or Patriot in their names. I don't necessarily choose a business based on it's name, but it does attact my attention faster than another name might. And in business, your name is usually the first thing a customer sees. It better catch their attention and get them in the door. Of course, you have the provide the service to keep them coming back. But you have to get them in the door first. 

Knowing that about myself, which do you think I would look at first? Freedom Tower or One World Center?