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Wilhelmina Schouten
Untitled
All photos © Drunell Levinson. All rights reserved.
What September 11th means to me!
A senseless loss of lives. A senseless destruction of property. An unprovoked attack. People killed that might not even know where Afghanistan is.
Since I worked in one of the buildings for several years, I can imagine who got killed. The cleaning lady. The coffee person. UPS men. Mailboys. Secretaries and receptionists. Mostly young people. I can only guess how many foreigners died. People having breakfast in "Windows on the World"! An estimated 86 nationalities. Vacationers. Honeymooners. Parents and children.
What happened to the people I worked with? Did they get out? My phone is dead. I cannot reach anybody. Since I live on Staten Island I can only look at the enormous cloud of smoke and dust. Bridges are closed. The ferry runs for rescuers only. The length of the Staten Island waterfront looks like a shrine burning candles. People praying – huge banners with messages and prayers.
I try to understand what the parents of those terrorists think, and what about their wives? Children? Sisters and brothers?
A positive note: It was heartwarming to see how everybody helped and consoled each other. People of every age, race and religion became one in their grief and disbelief.
Let's stay united and watch out for each other, and let's hope it will never happen again.
Wilhelmina Schouten
Untitled
Wilhelmina Schouten
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