Parisians didn't properly notice the conquerors. Parisians simply did nothing but go about their daily lives. The Germans wanted the Paris of their dreams, but something fundamentally had changed that day in June 1940.
Thousands of unknown people die in the Naked City of New York every year. Unrecognized death is no stranger to the Big Apple, which casually moves along to the rapid pulse of everyday life.
Why should it surprise anyone that our Unseeing City has not fully recognized the worst tragedy ever to befall our nation? Why should the Unseeing City care that once again real estate bickering and greed guide its action instead of respect for almost 3,000 war dead, a war that still rages?
Why should it surprise anyone that our Unseeing City cares not to oppose the building of an Islamic mosque within sight
We have our own Die Stadt Ohne Blicht, the Unseeing City that sees not the unhealed tragedy nor the current efforts to encroach upon sacred ground in the guise of rights violated permanently that day and continuously around the world.
Perhaps it is the realization that we were wounded more than we are willing to admit.
Something profound changed Paris that day in June 1940 when the "City of Light" became Die Stadt Ohne Blicht. Something profound happened that day in September 2001.
New York City must not become the next Die Stadt Ohne Blicht. New York City must rightfully honor our war dead and guard the sacred ground on which they died.
Charlie Herbek
Spotsylvania