THE DAY OF THE NEWS

      New Yorkers cheering hours after Osama Bin Laden's death

        On the evening of May 1, I was in Manhattan to find the popularity rating and opinions of presidential candidate Donald Trump (confirmed not running on May 17th), when I received a breaking news tweet by CNN. I then received another tweet from BBC. All of the tweets displayed the same message. “OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD.”As I read the tweet, more people started muttering about the same thing. A few hours later, many gathered in Times Square and Ground Zero (the site of the former WTC towers) and started to chant “we got him, we got him!” People were listening to President Obama’s speech on their tablets and smartphones, hearing their president announcing the news.

QUESTIONS FOR THE EUPHONY 

"Now I can go and rebuild the symbol of American freedom in peace." 


           Two days after Bin Laden’s death, I revisited New York to see how Americans were taking Bin Laden’s death. As New York has been the site where Bin Laden became known for his atrocious action on September 11th, 2001, it would be interesting to see how New York reacted to Bin Laden’s death other than celebration. I compiled a list of various questions to see how Bin Laden and his death affected the interviewee’s life, whether the interviewees approve President Obama’s handling of Bin Laden, and whether the interviewees think they aresafer from Al Qaeda and the threat of terrorism after Bin Laden’s death. I interviewed 100 people in the WTC site (most of them construction workers), 200 people in Times Square, 100 people in Wall Street, and 150 people in Columbia University. I also asked them whether they thought Bin Laden was really dead,and/or if the American government is omitting some facts.

“And while I was depressed in missing my first day at work, the first tower was struck.”
(source:  britannica.com)

              100% of the people in the WTCsite, 60% of the people in Times Square, 45% of the people in Wall Street, and 30% of the people in Columbia University answered that they have been personally affected by Bin Laden’s actions and/or his death. Chelley, who is 29 years old and has lived in New York for 14 years, told me that she remembered the day when the towers fell down. “I was supposed to go to the Wall Street area for an internship, but I missed the bus on that day,” she explained, “and while I was depressed in missing my first day at work, the first tower was struck by the plane.” Although the WTC area was in the financial district area, I was surprised that the percentage of people in Wall Street were less affected by Bin Laden’s death personally than other parts of New York. “It’s simple,” said a businessman (he was asked not to be named). “Many people here don’t stay in one place for even a month, let alone a decade. Besides, since the WTC was so close to here, maybe the people who were affected are probably resting in graves.”

                Jared, the construction worker for the new WTC, and who I’ve interviewed earlier in the April article, told me how happy he was that the nightmare of America lies beneath the sea. “I haven’t seen that horrible event face to face, but I’m sure as hell glad to see that **** dead. Now I can go and rebuild the symbol of American freedom in peace.” 

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Obama during the Bin Laden Raid, receiving live coverage from the deployed Navy SEALS Team
(source: wordpress.com) 

             Although the poll numbers for personal significance varied from different locations, there was almost unanimous support for the assertion that President Barack Obama’s decision to assassinate Bin Laden and the subsequent burial at sea. The Times Square, WTC, Wall Street, and Columbia University had 95%, 100%, 85%, and 90% respectively in terms of people supporting President Obama’s actions.  One interviewee told me that his confidence in the president has strengthened. “He could have bombed Bin Laden’s hideout,and yet he was brave enough to send in Americans to get Bin Laden.” Another interviewee commended the risks the president took. “It could have gone terribly wrong,” she explained, “if this raid failed, Obama’s presidency would not have recovered.

Although most of the people’s confidence in Obama’s popularity has increased, some of the New Yorkers do believe that Obama has caused a blunder in America-Pakistan relations. “I seriously do not think that the president has thought this through,” said an interviewee. “I think Obama was merely thinking about his poll ratings. Even if he WAS thinking about how to dispose Bin Laden without mistake, I wouldn’t barge into allied territory without notifying them.” Another interviewee gave a more balanced criticism. "I respect Mr. Obama's decision to send in troops in order to confirm Bin Laden's death, but I would rather have bombed the compound, as sending in troops may have gone very wrong: he could have escaped, or many Americans could have died during the operation."

DEATH?

Some have even suggested to me that Bin Laden might not be even dead (Al Qaeda confirmed Bin Laden’s death on May 6, 5 days after the raid). “It kind of seems suspicious to me that Bin Laden is dead. He was living near a military base in an authoritarian regime, and was only a few distances away from the capital”, said Patish Kunjahabi, an Indian who was in the States because of his business. “I’m pretty sure the Pakistani government, no matter how incompetent, would know that the most wanted man in the world is within their country. Pakistan wants to know about the lives of the daily lives of their citizens. You’re telling me that they don’t even know about the most famous man in the world living next to their capital?”

REMEMBERANCE & CONTEMPLATION

"I know that Bin Laden's death won't bring my brother back; still, we got him."

                Despite the celebrations and debates about Bin Laden’s death, there was also a time of mourning in NY.Although there was celebration on the evening the day of Bin Laden’s death, I was also able to witness events that were not celebratory. There were a few families who were mourning in Ground Zero. Many of them had placards and flowers, and laid them near the construction site. A fire fighter (name undisclosed) who worked near the WTC site told me that he remembered people jumping for their lives. He remembered himself and his friends trying to save as many people as possible amid the thick blanket of dust from the buildings.Another man remembers losing his friend in the chaos during the building’s collapse, only to hear his death the following morning.

                A teenager named Simon (not his real name)was laying flowers and a placard written “we got ‘em”, accompanied by his father and his mother. When I asked who they were laying these flowers for, Simon replied that it was for his older brother, who was a salary man in the WTC. I asked him if he was happy that Bin Laden died. Simon started to cry, and his fists were clenched tightly. “I know that Bin Laden’s death won’t bring my brother back.” He then got up and forced a smile, his face stained by tears. “Still,we got him.” 




 

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To Ground Zero

It has been almost 10 years since the destruction of the twin World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001. However, Ground Zero (the site of the former WTC towers) is no more a tragic graveyard. Ground Zero, once a derelict strip of ruins, is now facing a revival as construction has started to build a single main World Trade Center, along with minor WTC office buildings, a memorial center, a train station, a shopping center, and a performing arts center. I wanted to see the progress of the construction first hand for those outside New York. I went to the WTC station via the Metro Transit Authority of New York.

The Construction

“We want the American people to be able to see the WTC as soon as possible” (Left to Right: Other WTC buildings, The main WTC buildin, the second WTC building)

          When I arrived at the site, the construction of the main World Trade Center (also called Freedom Tower) was continuing in full-scale. It was raining on April 16. Despite poor weather and dangerous slippery conditions workers were re-constructing the building. I asked one of the workers, Jared, on his opinion of the current construction work. “Yeah, it’s dangerous, I know,” said Jared, “but we want the American people to be able to see the new World Trade Center as soon as possible; I think it will mean a lot to them and the 9/11 victims.” “Besides,” he added, “we have a schedule to follow and I think the workers have adequate safety gear.”


From Left to Right (tallest buildings): Main WTC building, second WTC building, third WTC building
Pictures from (http://www.wtc.com/about/)

          According to Jared (confirmed in Wikipedia), the main World Trade Center building is to be completed in 2013 and would be the tallest building in New York (standing 541m), as well as in the US. The lower exterior has almost been completed; its glass windows are already installed. All of the seven WTC buildings are to be environmentally friendly, in accordance with the rising movement to improve the environment and fuel efficiency. Apart from the main WTC building, the second WTC building has also shown progress. “With sluggish economy and the depression, I’m actually amazed at the fact that we’ve completed this far although we have a long way to go,” said Johnny, another construction worker.
High Expectations

          When I asked why the main WTC is called the Freedom Tower, Jared remarked “It’s called Freedom Tower because it stands tall and FREE in America.” Like Jared, all 20 interviewers on the WTC construction site replied the main World Trade Center was a symbol of rebirth for the US. They added that they have high expectations for the new World Trade Center buildings. “I’ve lived in New York for 15 years, and I was shocked when the terrorist attacked and destroyed one of the symbols of New York,” said Sam, one of the interviewees, “and I’m glad that the construction has kicked off.” When I asked the interviewers about the cost of the WTC buildings, all of them had stated that they would be ready to pay for the rebuilding of the WTC buildings. “We’re constructing more than a building,” said Sam. “We’re rebuilding America and New York.”

 
In Memoriam

“DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO FELL AND TO THOSE WHO CARRY ON – MAY WE NEVER FORGET."

  “I saw people jumping off the roof. I saw the building collapse. These events I can’t forget,”



          People still remember the tragedy of the twin WTC buildings. There is a mural set up to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack. The inscription reads “DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO FELL AND TO THOSE WHO CARRY ON – MAY WE NEVER FORGET.” Even in the rainy weather, many people who lost their family members in the attack and those who were passing by were paying their respects. “Although the construction of the new WTC buildings signal for a rebirth, the scars remain” said an anonymous mourner. A fire fighter recounted what happened on 9/11. “I thought the world was ending,” he said. “I saw people jumping off the roof. I saw the building collapse. These I can’t forget,” he added.


“He [the statue] represents all the victims, who were ordinary and who were uninvolved.”


          Near the construction site is a statue of a man in a suit sitting on a bench, rummaging through his suitcase. The statue has no inscription that describes it. I asked 10 random people on their thoughts on the statue.  “I think it represents an unnamed victim of 9/11,” said one interviewee. “It must represent an ordinary day for an ordinary person, minding his own business, before 9/11,” stated another. “He [the statue] represents all the victims, who were ordinary and who were uninvolved.”
Leaving Ground Zero

          Many people hold high hopes for the new WTC buildings; they believe that it will rejuvenate a torture caused by the recession. The buildings, which will incorporate safety features that exceed New York standards, are to be beacons of hope and freedom for Americans. The people who admire the buildings, however, have not forgotten the victims of 9/11. The buildings will not only serve as a beacon of hope, but a reminder of those who perished in 9/11. 

 

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 When I went to the supermarket near my neighborhood in Tenafly, I was browsing for green tea, preferably Japanese-made. However, when I arrived at the store, I noticed that green tea bags from Japan were all empty. Emily Sheen, the store manager of the supermarket, told me that all consumable products from Japan were suspended from purchase.


Many Japanese Stores have been hit hard by the recent Fukushima Disaster.


Fear of radiation expands throughout the United States
 
 Recently in the United States, there is a growing panic about the radiation. However, this fear is not restricted merely to the West coast of California. Many people in New York City are concerned, if not alarmed, about the Fukushima Daiichi Plant accident in Japan. “Many of our fish and other ingredients are from Japan,” said a sushi chef in New York. “We’ve already changed our suppliers to the States, but customers are still concerned about radiation; it’s not only just us – many other chefs are suffering and other stores with Japanese products are suffering too.” I have recently conducted a questionnaire, with a list of questions regarding the disaster (ex/ Have you been avoiding Japanese products because of the recent nuclear disaster?). The questionnaire was compiled in New York city (the Wall Street area, Times Square, and Central Park, Brooklyn, and Queens). The questionnaire surveyed 200 adults (anyone over 18 and under 65) and those who were not ethnically or nationally Japanese (I believed that inclusion of Japanese in this survey would influence the results and I wanted the survey to contain impartial results). According to the responses of the questionnaire I've compiled , I’ve discovered that 40% of people are currently avoiding eating in a Japanese restaurant due to the nuclear power plant, 30% are avoiding buying both Japanese products and produce, and 70% are no longer buying Japanese produce (raw & packaged).

Korean Stores in LA experience revenue after the Fukushima plant crisis (following picture from http://www.hmart.com/company_new/shop_main.asp)



 However, for the Korean store in LA, they were experiencing an increase in revenue. Many Korean and Chinese stores, state the store manager of the LA Korean market, were experiencing increasing revenue and customers that went to Japanese stores. Seaweed and Korean seaweed soup (미역국) are currently popular item currently in California, because of its taste and its high content in iodine. Although the store manager expressed sympathy for the Japanese store owners, he said he was glad that he was facing less fierce competition from other stores.


UCLA Student: “Because the wind will head toward the US, in the Western direction, we may see a significant increase in radiation.” (Picture from http://www.ucla.edu/academics.html)



 The situation may not be as frightening as people imagine, but the discomfort still remains

 I also interviewed a graduate student in UCLA (he asked to be anonymous), who is currently studying meteorology and nuclear physics. “Unlike the opinions stated in the media, the US will be not affected by the radiation as much.” He also stated that he was not worried about the radiation coming towards California. “Less than 100 milisieverts will reach California, and not at all beyond the Rocky Mountains, so there shouldn’t be panic am I seeing now in LA.” However, he stated that there could be a great number of factors on how the situation could get serious. “If the reactors are not contained, not cooled, or not repaired quickly, we will see a great amount or radiation in the globe,” he said. He also stated that if the meltdown and the subsequent explosion were serious enough, there could be potential global fallout around the Pacific Area. “Because the wind will head toward the US, in the Western direction, we may see a significant increase in radiation.” When I asked if Korea will be faced with radiation from the plants, he said no. “Wind should blow to the West, so there is no chance that Korea will face radiation from the wind. If there was to be radiation contamination from Korea, it may come from the contaminated seawater used to cool the reactors.”

 

For many Americans in New York, the Fukushima disaster is a poignant reminder of thethe Three Mile Island accident (following picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident)

 
.     

 The US has reasons to worry. Even though many efforts have been extended to curb the problem, including sending 180 workers to fix the reactors, so far none of the plans has succeeded. The US will face a shortage of needed Japanese goods, as Japanese agricultural produce is currently restricted in the US and electronics cannot be resupplied as Japanese factories are now shut down. The US has also faced a nuclear crisis of its own, the Three Mile Island incident in the 1970s. “Although it hasn’t been as serious as the Fukushima plant disaster,” recounts the sushi chef in New York, “we couldn’t sell produce from Pennsylvania for months.”Although Japan is a faraway nation from the United States, its tragedy has greatly affected its faraway neighbor.

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The 24 sheep sculptures were lined up along Times Square, in an unorganized line.

           As a Korean who lives in New York, I took a bus to an outdoor art exhibition in Time Square. Called 'The Time Square Show 2011' in Manhattan, there were many artworks displayed in Times Square. The exhibition was from March 2 to March 7, and I was able to go on the last day of the exhibition. The show's purpose was to show the works of various artist in the United States as well as Manhattan. When I looked for the description of the artworks, most of the works only had the names and the studios they were produced from. The main feature work was the only one that had a description along with the artist's name. 

Kyu Seok Oh's Counting Sheep was the only work with a description complementing the artwork.


                  “Counting Sheep”, by Kyu Seok Oh,included 24 sheep sculptures that were lined alongside the walkway facing the New Year Countdown ball. Mr. Oh currently resides in Queens of New York City, and had held numerous exhibitions in Japan and the United States, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (1988-2006) and the Harlem School of the Arts (2006). Counting Sheep was part of his Renka Project, which the sculptures were made from steel wires, covered with white paper shells that looked similar to plaster. The description stated that this work was inspired when Mr. Oh wanted to contrast the flashing neonlights with the soft, light bodies of the sheep. According to his statement in his website (www.kyuseokoh.com), he “wanted to create something light, bright, andlarge that would juxtapose against this background [neon lights]”.

An individual lamb sculpture from Mr. Oh's studio 

I interviewed several bystanders, many of whom gave positive reviews. When I asked one of the bystanders about what impression did the sheep give out, he said that “Although the sheep sculptures have no eyes, they look like they’re looking around curiously.” Another stated that “they gave mean impression that they were wandering aimlessly, while trying to escape thejungle of concrete and neon signs.” Most of the people stated that the sculptures suited Times Square. “Just like the description says, you know, it’s like the sheep are absorbing the noise and the lights,” said a British tourist visiting New York. “I want to fall asleep just by looking at it,” joked another.

 “they gave mean impression that they were wandering aimlessly, while trying to escape the jungle of concrete and neon signs.”

               However, according to a survey that I conducted during the interview, only 44% seemed to know that Mr. Oh was Korean. 21% said that they thought he was Chinese, 10% thought another Asian national, and 25% were not sure. Although the survey only included 200 people and within Times Square,these figures imply that many in New York do not know that this artwork wasmade by a Korean. In fact, over half of the people who knew that Mr. Oh was Korean were Koreans themselves. The description for the artwork did not statethat it was made by a Korean-American. Many of the Koreans I interviewed in Time Square, when I showed them that only 44% knew that Mr. Oh was Korean, were shocked. “I think there must be a greater advertisement for Korean art in the United States, to show that we have created this art,” said an art student from the Pratt Institute of Arts. “Many people know about Chinese and Japanese accomplishments in the US; we need to tell and inform people of Korean accomplishments,” stated Kim Jin Suk, who immigrated to the U.S. 6 years ago.

 Nevertheless, there were many who thought that this exhibition was significant for the Korean community. “It’s an honor to have a Korean exhibit his work in the center of the world,” said Hanna Oh, an art student from Columbia University. Many Koreans in the United States feel that this is a major step towards Korean art in the United States, and hopefully future works will leave New Yorkers sheepish once again.

 

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