R000429
Tuesday, March 12, 2002 12:40 PM
Distribution of 9-11 compensation fund
Re: The appearance of Kenneth Feinberg, head of the September 11th
Victim Compensation Fund, on NBC's "Meet The Press"
Sunday, March 10th, 2002.
How shameful! As all Americans are called upon to unite in response
to the terrorist attacks of 9-11, our patriotism is being "graded" based upon
how we live our personal lives! It is as if another terror has been
unleashed upon our great democracy...the premise that some lives are more
important than others. Maybe the terrorists did succeed in dividing this
great nation?
Although monetary compensation will never bring back the souls lost on
that fateful day, to deny the loved ones of gay victims of 9-11 is akin to
furthering bin Laden's agenda! The idea that one's religious and moral
beliefs are better than another's is the reason these terrorists so willingly
agreed to be martyrs. The US had its own martyrs that day and they died not
for their religious beliefs but for the right to live in a democracy that
sees all it is citizens as equally valuable.
As a taxpayer, am I not expected as with all other Americans to
financially (and patriotically) support my government's efforts in protecting
this democracy? Only to have the benefits of democracy denied gay people
when they have made the ultimate sacrifice for it. It is the setting aside
of differences both in the past, on 9-11, and since then that makes this
nation the great leader that it is to the world.
As Americans we have always shown a great sense of justice in
responding to the historical atrocities visited upon us and other peoples of
the world. And have proven to the world what makes this nation the great
protector of democracy. However, to become even stronger we must admit our
weaknesses. President Bush was a great reflection of American's resolve
since the events of 9-11. Yet his administration and both the Republican and
Democratic political parties have demonstrated our other weakness...that we
are willing to go to great lengths to "bend the law" for undocumented aliens
who died on 9-11 but not for some of our own citizens!
Please let us once again show the world (and ourselves) why we wake up
every day proud to be Americans. And, despite our weaknesses, we will spark
a true and everlasting shift in world politics with the democratic ideal that
all people are equally deserving of respect regardless of their differences.
The much publicized scrutiny that has gone into distributing "9-11
funds" has most certainly identified the direct victims and their loved ones
in order to allow a proper and fair compensation of financial loss. We all
have it in our power to do the right thing.
Individual Comment
Oakland Park FL