Nah, I don't find your earlier comments too far off base, Sand. It looks rather neo-classical, much like Hitler had designs on for Germany's architecture.
The main thing, to me, is that it lacks any semblence of humanity or history.
Take a look at the close-up shot, of the people walking inside it. What in the world are they going to do there? What are those people walking up to? What will they look at?
Look at the so-called "Freedom Wall"? Ok, a bunch of gold stars to seemingly commemorate the more than 400,00 people who died in the war (the Vietnam memorial is brilliant in this regard). Are you going to get any sense of appreciation by looking at a bunch of gold stars? Didn't think so. Next!
Perhaps after staring at the stars for 3 seconds you can ponder the surrounding pillars which "symbolize the unity of the states". Uhm...ok... Nice pillars. Next!
The two arches representing the Atlantic and Pacific victories. Nothing there but bronze columns with egales, and a victory medal.
Ok.. well...the *only* place they start to get it right is the entrance with bronze panels depicting scenes of life during WWII. But it's almost as if this were tacked on as an afterthought.
Other than that, thing thing looks like nothing but an oversized trophy. When you visit this thing, I but you walk away with no greater appreciation for the sacrifices made. It's not a memorial...it's decoration.
-----edit-----
I'm not suggesting that a memorial isn't long overdue. Merely criticising the design they came up with. The fact that any memorial at all is coming so late as to not be seen by the majority of the people who took part in the war is... incredibly sad.
[This message has been edited by Nash (edited 05-28-2001).]
