Our Altered Skyline
In late October of 2001, I sent a letter to the New York Times in response to a quote
by Ken Burns of New York documentary fame that appeared in an article about
Manhattan's changed skyline. The letter was not published; I include it here in its
entirety.
Although I have great admiration and respect for Ken Burns, I disagree
with his assertion (as quoted in “The Manhattan Skyline’s ‘Phantom Limb’”,
Times, Oct. 24) regarding the loss of the World Trade Center: “There’s no
question that every tall building is diminished by this; the skyline doesn’t
look as tall….” The destruction of the World Trade Center has left a void
in our hearts and a gash in our skyline, but not at the expense of other
skyscrapers. With buildings, as with people, it has made what we have
left all the more precious. I work ten blocks from the Empire State
Building; I see it now with a newfound awe; it has never looked so tall.
And the Chrysler Building never so beautiful, gleaming like a silver
rocket in the sunset. Even to the south, though my attention is still
drawn to what is no longer there, I am seeing new buildings I’d never
noticed before.
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tonyhoffman@earthlink.net