email524.xml
Title
email524.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
email
Date Entered
2002-08-20
September 11 Email: Body
The response over here is very similar to yours, including the fear. It's not only the heart of America that has been hit, the heart of democracy, the heart of the western way of life has been attacked. "They" declared war, not only to the Americans but to everyone who shares your (our) norms and values, who value democracy. That's what I sensed over here. Nevertheless the intensity of those feelings will be less than yours - because although TV brings it into one's living room; we still can feel the distance between "us" here and "you" there -- and, it happened "there".
I've heard people say they feared an attack here (a plane was still missing), somewhere in Europe. I didn't. I feel a tremendous pain, I feel
(still) great disbelieve, I feel powerless - and besides all these different other feelings, I feel "ought" (no way I can describe exactly what I feel except by saying ought); because America (being the most powerful democracy) is enemy NR 1. We, here in Europe, may have the same principles, America will always be the first (and most likely only one) "they" attack. I realize that I am save and that gives me this "ought" feeling; I think it is some sort of quilt for feeling save.
Also over here a lot of people are worried about their loved ones - New York is after all an international city. The brother of a friend of mine lives in New York, with his wife. It was many hours later he was able to reach his family (in the Netherlands and France) to let them know they were o.k.
The way these terrorists succeeded, their triumph now, makes me furious and sick. Their success will no doubt encourage other terrorists.
I wonder what the impact will be, economically and politically. I wonder how America, (and how the entire western world) will respond. The words of Powell were strong and encouraging. We should never forget the principles of democracy, if we do they win.
I have missed five hours of your day, I'm going to catch up with the news.
I'm going to see what September 12 will bring us.
Love,
I've heard people say they feared an attack here (a plane was still missing), somewhere in Europe. I didn't. I feel a tremendous pain, I feel
(still) great disbelieve, I feel powerless - and besides all these different other feelings, I feel "ought" (no way I can describe exactly what I feel except by saying ought); because America (being the most powerful democracy) is enemy NR 1. We, here in Europe, may have the same principles, America will always be the first (and most likely only one) "they" attack. I realize that I am save and that gives me this "ought" feeling; I think it is some sort of quilt for feeling save.
Also over here a lot of people are worried about their loved ones - New York is after all an international city. The brother of a friend of mine lives in New York, with his wife. It was many hours later he was able to reach his family (in the Netherlands and France) to let them know they were o.k.
The way these terrorists succeeded, their triumph now, makes me furious and sick. Their success will no doubt encourage other terrorists.
I wonder what the impact will be, economically and politically. I wonder how America, (and how the entire western world) will respond. The words of Powell were strong and encouraging. We should never forget the principles of democracy, if we do they win.
I have missed five hours of your day, I'm going to catch up with the news.
I'm going to see what September 12 will bring us.
Love,
September 11 Email: Date
tuesday 9/11 9:53 pm
September 11 Email: Subject
today
Collection
Citation
“email524.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 6, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/38856.