The Actual Assignment

The essay "Ground Zero" emphasizes the fact that anyone can mourn a tragic event without having any direct connection to the event. Even though Berne had not lost any family members to the attacks on the World Trade Center, she still paid her respects to the people who did. While visiting, she sees many other people from different ethnic groups paying their respects as well. These people also may not have any direct connection to the loss that occured at Ground Zero, yet still they were there. One old man in the crowd even recalls when the buildings were being constructed, when there was originally nothing, and now there is nothing again, but it is a different kind of nothing. Also, when Berne is eating at the diner, there is a commotion outside where it seems a body is being carried to an ambulance. Everyone in the dining room stopped what they were doing to stand up. They were either examining the situation or being respectful of the undeclared ceremony, but nonetheless, the people around Ground Zero were mourning this additional small loss with which they have no direct connection.