This one will force itself into our faces, as if its planners didn't trust us to go see it otherwise. The paradoxes are not lost on many WWII veterans, who have protested that the monument is antithetical to the principles they fought to uphold. The deed seems to be done now. Even though the National Capital Planning Commission voted May 3 to revisit all aspects of the design, Congress intervened. And on Monday, President Bush ordered construction to begin.
Opponents vow to continue their fight, but their chances seem slim to none.
WWII veterans are dying now at a rate of 1,100 each day. The memorial's supporters say it's taken far too long to get the show on the road. That's primarily due to the sensitive location on which they refused to compromise, not a reluctance to give WWII veterans their due. Controversy over public art is nothing new, and sometimes even the biggest critics come around over time. Those complaints have receded into history, overcome by millions of name rubbings and billions of tears.