Cross-posted from Mike Malloy
"The museum at Ground Zero tells the dark story of the 9/11 terror attacks with spectacular artifacts and exhibits. It pays heart-wrenching tribute to the innocents and heroes killed that day.
"It also has a gift shop.
"The 9/11 museum's cavernous boutique offers a vast array of souvenir goods. For example: FDNY, NYPD and Port Authority Police T-shirts ($22) and caps ($19.95); earrings molded from leaves and blossoms of downtown trees ($20 to $68); cop and firefighter charms by Pandora and other jewelers ($65); 'United We Stand' blankets.
"There are bracelets, bowls, buttons, mugs, mousepads, magnets, key chains, flags, pins, stuffed animals, toy firetrucks, cellphone cases, tote bags, books and DVDs. Even FDNY vests for dogs come in all sizes.
"After paying $24 admission for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and $15 for kids 7 to 17, visitors can shop till they drop.
"'To me, it's the crassest, most insensitive thing to have a commercial enterprise at the place where my son died,' Diane Horning said. She and husband Kurt never recovered the remains of their son Matthew, 26, a database administrator for Marsh & McLennan and an aspiring guitarist. 'Here is essentially our tomb of the unknown. To sell baubles I find quite shocking and repugnant,' said Horning, who also objects to the museum cafe.
"About 8,000 unidentified body parts are now stored out of sight in a 'remains repository' at the museum's underground home."
Is this as nauseating to you, Truthseeker, as it reads to us? Literally selling trinkets and knick-knacks over the dead bodies of the 9-11 victims. Memorial doggie vests? Oh, there's a museum cafe, too. Makes you wonder if the menu features "terrorist two-for-one" specials, or "Taliban Tacos." Or maybe "Ground Zero Gyros."
Disgusting. Back to the gift shop, the NY Post continues:
"Among the museum shop's specially designed items:
"...A black and white 'Darkness Hoodie' printed with an image of the Twin Towers. The pullover, like other 'Darkness' items, bears the words 'In Darkness We Shine Brightest.' Price: $39.
"...Silk scarves printed with 1986 photos by Paula Barr, including a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Another depicts 'lunchtime on the WTC Plaza.' They go for $95 each.
"...'Survivor Tree' earrings, named after a pear tree that stood in the World Trade Center plaza and survived 9/11. Made of bronze and freshwater pearls, a pair costs $64. A leaf ornament molded from the swamp white oaks at the memorial is said to change from amber to dark brown "and sometimes pink around the time of the 9/11 anniversary."
Color-changing jewelry -- like mood rings? What do you imagine is the mood of the victim's families? Can you fathom the outrage if the Holocaust Museum boasted a gift shop with "survivor" T-shirts and doggie outfits?
Speaking of victims, President Obama held a press conference today to discuss the unfolding VA Hospital scandal. He did his best to address the allegations of cover-ups and misconduct, as ABC News reports:
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