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The day before Memorial Day, 2014, I was in New York City.  I stood in The National September 11 Memorial park looking into empty places where two great towers once stood.   This monument had a profound effect on me.  The memorial is a work of art, and, as a work of art should, it pulled at me to contemplate the feelings it inspired and think about why art is important.

The sound of the ever falling water is peaceful and the engraved names that go on and on around the perimeter are sad and sobering.  But it is the water falling endlessly into the empty footprints of the Twin Towers, then falling again further into unknown depths at the center that I found so terribly sad.  Art always says something if you listen and this monument told me that it had explored the depths of tragedy and grief, death and absence, and that no one could attempt to honor the dead more sincerely...but that it had no hope or comfort to give.   

Art is a powerful thing and it influences us in more ways than we realize.  When we want great people, great events...even terrible tragedies remembered, artists are called upon to create something that words can't express.  But should a memorial be a source of comfort for those who visit, or inspire hope?   Monuments  say something about the culture in which they were created and, of course, I realize the September 11 Memorial may whisper something different to another visitor.  It did not comfort me or tell me what I wanted to hear. I don't think that was the artists intent. It did inspire me to reflect on that day, to remember and think about those who were murdered, their family and friends and on what I believe.  But comfort or hope has to come from another source.  Maybe that's okay.