N000646
Friday, December 21, 2001 9:19 PM
Good Plan
While it is profoundly horrendous, the loss that so many families suffered in this single tragedy, the compensation plan outlined appears reasonable to me. Although I did not lose any loved one in this disaster, I have lost loved ones in other ways.
Americans lose loved ones, old and young, each and every day, many of them in accidents and violence no less horrendous than those who died in these terrorist acts. But for those families, there is no "Big Brother" to even attempt to assure their future, beyond what they as a family may actually have created in areas of insurance, retirement or alternate incomes.
Make no mistake, the whole of America wants these families to be assisted and are heartfeltly in favor of this fund from the government and also that the families should benefit directly from the ARC WTC Victims Fund, but America is also a country that recognizes greed when it raises it's ugly head. While reading the AP description of the this Federal Victims Compensation Fund, I was repulsed to see the quote of one woman ( , whose dissatisfaction with the fund as outlined so far was very apparent) that said in speaking of her husband, "No amount of money is ever going to replace him but my children should never have to want for anything." That unfortunately has the ring of greed in it. If her husband died in some other unfortunate manner, (as people have continued to do since 9/11) would they have had enough personal resources to make her comment come true? Perhaps, perhaps not. It's not for me to say.
It is true that there is not enough money in the world to fully compensate for the loss of a loved one, a mate, a son or daughter, aunt, uncle, grandfather, or grandmother, or grandchildren. What about the soldiers killed so far in Afganistan. Aren't they part and parcel of this tragedy too. How much will the fund pay their families? Nothing, I know. And that is the point. But until the government gets into the business of compensating every family, every time any family member dies. . .well let's just hope that the majority of victims families can see beyond their own greed and realize everyone in America is pained by this loss of life, everyone in America truely wishes that this fund along with other funds, will help them bridge to their future. America does not want the victims to be forgotten a bit, and ask that they accept these funds in the spirit that they were set aside in and with the other funds in the spirit in which the givers intended, as heartfelt assistance in a time and circumstance of incredible sadness (not pity), and not as some form of deserved compensation.
Sorry for rambling, best of luck in your work ahead.
Individual Comment
San Diego, California