Colorful Characters Dot the Drab Landscape of the 9/11 Memorial

It was a cold and gray morning in lower Manhattan and hundreds of people had gathered around the World Trade Center site in order to remember or share their opinions on the events of September 11th, 2001.
A group of South Asian men, some wearing turbans, holding signs reading “Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam” and “Promoting Human Rights by Confronting and Defeating an Anti-Human Rights Ideology were among the crowds.”
“We want to show the American Public that radical Islam is very dangerous,” said Narain Kataria, Founder and Secretary of the Indian American Intellectuals Forum (IAIF). A resident of Elmhurst, N.Y., Kataria, a Hindu leader originally from India, has been in the U.S. for forty years.
“Because of political correctness there is no open dialogue about radical Islam,” he said. There are many Muslims in his group who are themselves against “radical Muslims” because “the greatest victims of radical Muslims are other Muslims.” And Kataria has his own ideas of how these “radical Muslims” should be dealt with.
“If we can’t stop Saudi Arabia through peaceful means, then we have to cut off access to their bank accounts and seize their oil fields,” he said.
Only a few blocks away stood another band of men who were wearing “Investigate 9/11 tee shirts.” Young and stocky, wearing baseball caps and chains, Dominic Andreana and Richie Andreana Jr. of Staten Island believe that there is a complicated conspiracy behind the events of 9/11 which involves the U.S government.
“This organization was started by victims’ family members who say they were lied to,” said Richie – “60% of people – that’s 6 out of 10 – on the 911 Commission say they were lied to by the government.”
Added Dominic, “there’s a lot of shaky evidence – a lot of unanswered questions – like
they found Thermite in the dust of the World Trade Center. That’s a government explosive – how did it get there?”
William Peery, 53, of Vermont, a fit looking man wearing ‘outdoorsy’ clothes, with a soft voice and a focused stare, also wears an “Investigate 9/11” tee shirt. He holds a sign reading “Justice for the Victims of 9/11.” Peery, who is weary and suspicious of the government’s investigation of the terrorist attacks, has visited Ground Zero on Sept. 11 for the past four years.
“Mainstream media has really let the world down,” he said. “They didn’t question that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. They just did what the government told them to because they’re all owned by giant corporations and these parent companies profit hugely whenever wars happen.” This is the reason for Peery’s concern over the 9/11 investigation. He believes that instead of searching for the truth behind what happened, U.S. reporters simply answered to the government, telling the public only what the White House wanted them to know. He is part of a group called “We Are Change” which in his opinion, does delve deeper in search of the truth by practicing “ambush journalism” which uses aggressive tactics in order to “embarrass people in the highest levels of government.” He considers their technique to be similar to the style of Michael Moore, but more cutting-edge and not as humorous.
“Oil companies in Texas negotiated with the Taliban to run a pipeline for oil from Afghanistan to Iraq and the Iraqi government has to pay the oil companies money for accessing their own oil. Exxon Mobile has made the greatest profit any company ever has in the history of planet Earth. They created an artificial oil shortage.” He also adds that the area we are now fighting in Afghanistan is rich in oil as well.
Amidst the theorists and lobbyists, one man stands quietly apart. Paul Keckler, 29, of Harrison, New York awaits his brother and uncle at the entrance for family members of the deceased. Eight years ago today, Keckler was a college student who woke up at 10:00am to 57 voicemails. He turned on the T.V. to breaking news reports that the World Trade Center had been attacked. It was a day he would never forget.
“I knew at that moment what had happened to my father, Gary, a trader. He was in the second tower. The name’s Keckler. It is what it is.” Although he admits that the ceremony brings him little if any peace, he says that he comes every year because “there is no physical place. No remains of the body. And it’s good to get together with some family and remember the old man.”
He Glances towards the “Investigate 9/11” group handing out pamphlets and having their tee shirts photographed by press and tourists alike.
“It’s part of the world we live in. They’re allowed their opinion. It’s great that they’re allowed to wear that kind of stuff and express their opinion. I personally don’t believe in it.”
Keckler has more faith that the US government is trying to protect its citizens. He doesn’t believe that another 9/11 could happen. Or maybe he just hopes this is the case.
“I mean, my brother works at Grand Central Terminal. Let’s just leave it at that.”