R001828
Monday, March 18, 2002 11:47 PM
re:
Mr. Zwick,
In an appearance on the Sunday, March 10 broadcast of
NBC's
"Meet the Press," Kenneth Feinberg, the head of the
September
11th Victim Compensation Fund (a fund created by Congress
and
run by the Department of Justice), said that gay partners of
the heroes of September 11th will not necessarily be
eligible
for the same compensation as heterosexual family members who
lost their loved ones.
According to Feinberg, lots and lots of people will
receive
compensation under the plan, including children, babies, and
even fetuses. And as an indication of how generous the fund
will be, even illegal aliens, who aren't American citizens
and who are in the US in violation of federal law, will
receive benefits. Feinberg even says that the Attorney
General has promised that if undocumented aliens come
forward, they won't be kicked out of the country, and their
employers won't be penalized. "The attorney general, in
consultation with Immigration, etc., undocumented aliens who
come forward, the families will not suffer any consequences.
They are covered by this program. They will get a check. The
employer, where we need the economic information about the
undocumented alien, will not be penalized," Feinberg told
"Meet the Press."
I was outraged at this development. How could this
happen in America?
Do we fear gays and lesbians so much that we will
selectively ignore federal
laws to give special treatment to illegal aliens while
discriminating against
some of our own citizens? I am truly ashamed of those
politicians who claim
to be representing us, but only use their office to spread
their own fears and ignorance.
The events of the last six months have certainly opened my
eyes to the political world.
I know I will consider much more closely, the votes I cast
in the future.
Individual Comment