David Read Johnson, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Post Traumatic Stress Center,
New Haven, CT

Dr. Johnson wrote "Rebuild the Towers," which was syndicated nationwide. Some quotes appear here, and a link to a rare web-run version of the article follow:

Listening to Bruce Springsteen's recently released "My City of Ruins" and being moved by his uplifting chorus "Come on, rise up," I suddenly understood why the public so soundly rejected the six proposed architectural plans for a memorial, and also why they will reject all future plans, however elegantly designed, by whatever famous international architects: because the only fitting memorial to Sept. 11, the only satisfactory reparation, our only vehicle for healing this horrendous wound, is for the Twin Towers to be rebuilt. Both of them. Completely.

For we will not be satisfied by a beautiful hole in the ground surrounded by fancy stores; neither will water fountains washing over bronze statues, tree-lined walkways, black obelisks, eternal flames, walls with 2,830 names, beams of laser light or any other representations of absence be acceptable. No one looks at the ground anyway; visitors to the site look only upward, where the memorial should be. Where the buildings should be.

Rebuild the Towers

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Spiro Theoharakis M.D.
Board Certified in Child Psychiatry
New York, NY

Just wanted to comment in a personal way to the current efforts underway. As a young boy, visiting my immigrant father's luncheonette one block from where the towers were being built, I often looked to the heavens in awe of the men and machinery involved in its undertaking. I grew up with the towers. It paid for my education and even after the neighborhood was condemned; we would often visit as a family thankful for what its construction meant to my family. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I have learned that unexpected loss is a part of life. Unlike my ancestors who mourn their losses by wearing black and not moving forward, I adamantly believe it is in the best interest of our children to rebuild the towers as well as commemorate the lost. We need to show our children and the world that we are not afraid to give our lives for what we believe in as Americans.

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Barbara L. Breitman, M.A., LMFT
Psychotherapist
Los Angeles, CA

Like many Americans on that dreadful morning, I was home planning out the day's events without much anxiety. Nothing seemed unusual or out of the ordinary. In fact, it was a warm and sunny morning in L.A. I had my radio tuned to my customary FM station enjoying the music, however, before 8:00 a.m., the mood changed. Suddenly there was an announcement that seemed to propel me into a state of surrealism. The stoic voice coming from my radio said that there had been a serious accident involving an airplane, and something about New York and the World Trade Center. Could this be really happening? The news continued for several minutes. Immediately I turned on my television. To my shock and disbelief, the unimaginable had occurred, and I was witnessing what I never thought could be possible, a reign of terror against my city of birth, as well as my nation.

As an American, my first response to the tragedy was to make myself available to any national service organizations. I immediately contacted the Red Cross to offer my assistance as a psychotherapist. As a therapist, I thought I might be able to help anyone dealing with the shock of this sudden tragedy, especially the loss it brought to so many families, and the nation as a whole.

In my professional arena, I have counseled persons with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). As a result of September 11th, I strongly feel that our nation, especially the citizens of New York, have symptoms of this disorder. For many people this means sleepless nights, irritability, irrational thoughts, feelings of paranoia, emotional numbness, depression and efforts to avoid reminders of the trauma. In my opinion, however, in order for us to move forward and heal, we really need to address these feelings. Communal gatherings in the spirit of healing as well as one on one dialogue about the tragedy is always a start in the right direction.

I would also like to see a structural re-building of some sort on the 16 acres of land that once housed the World Trade Center. I realize that many in our country have expressed the desire to build a park in its place. However, to re-build an actual structure, a working structure that could very well house trade and industry once again, sends a powerful message to the world that America is healing, and refuses to be stopped in her progress. This kind of action would also serve to empower the American people and make us feel stronger.