After the passenger planes hit New York's Twin Towers, and they began collapsing, a desperate call for help went to New York's police, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel. Volunteers quickly joined them as they arrived in force.
But as the thick acidic smoke permeated the air, it was almost impossible to see and thousands of people fled the billowing plumes before they were overwhelmed and sickened by them. But the heroes didn't question their role as they fought to rescue as many people as they could.
Some died horrible deaths during the battle. And as they collapsed other courageous people took their place.
Afterward, across the U.S. and the world, they were celebrated for the heroes they were and in the face of the 9/11 tragedy, Americans could not have been prouder of them.
That was in 2001. Since then many of those brave people have died from the toxic exposure of those crucial hours and many more are gravely ill. They are appealing to the U.S. government for financial assistance.
Who comes to their rescue? No-one. Congress tabled the motion and those gallant souls are left to fight their battle alone. Why? Congress claims to be too busy, as they are anxious to recess for the holidays. But those heroes weren't too busy when that fateful call came to them on 9/11.
If Congress' callous conduct bothers you as it does me, please raise your voice. Now it is our turn to do the right thing on behalf of those who desperately call upon us as we once fervently called upon them.
Dick
12/21/10 Update: The Ground Zero health care bill is being blocked by Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn, a Senator and Doctor, who says he has problems with the bill and with the Democrats' tactics in trying to pass it. He is joined by Wyoming Republican Senator Mike Enzi who said, "I'm not trying to fight it, I'm trying to get it right." With all due respect to both Senators, there has been ample opportunity to review and amend this bill. But if they kill this bill as they are trying to do, at the least, provide emergency funding to those Ground Zero heroes who so desperately need it. Don't make our nation's shame in abandoning these heroes any worse than it is.
12/22/10 Update: Today I called the DC offices of California Senators Barbara Boxer (202) 224-3553 and Dianne Feinstein (202) 224-3841, to strongly encourage them to pass this legislation before Congress adjourns. Please do this with your Senators. Thank you.
12/22/10 Update. Wonderful news. The Senate has apparently reversed itself and the First Responder bill is now going to be approved according to ABC News. Thank you to each of you who made your voice heard.
Source: ABC News:
"Senate Democrats and Republicans today have struck a deal to secure passage of a bill to provide health benefits and compensation to 9/11 first responders, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, said today in an exclusive interview with ABC News.
In recent days Coburn has come under withering criticism for opposing the bill on the grounds that it provided "overly generous funding" and included "unnecessary and duplicative compensation funds."
But Coburn emerged from a closed-door meeting that included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and New York Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to reveal that that a deal has been worked out that will likely enable the bill to pass the Senate – and then the House – by the end of the day."
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/exclusive-senate-strikes-deal-911-responders-bill/story?id=12459170
6 comments:
As we watched the buidlings smouldering, blowing their dusty cement filled with crushed plastics in the air...common sense said that it was toxic.
The TV crews were assured by 'experts' that the air was safe.
Obviously it was unsafe for human survival.
As a parent of a firefighter, I know only too well that first responders are human and not super human. They are our children, parents, spouses.
It is shamefull that they are left suffering, as are their families who love them.
Dear Reader, Anonymous said it better than I.
It is heart breaking to see how our heroes from 9/11 have been cast aside and forgotten by most of the politicians and the news media.
When those heroes were needed, they rose to the occasion even though they confronted incredible danger, including from toxic materials. Some of our heroes have died horrible deaths as a result.
But many others struggle with terrible illnesses and now ask our government's help. In return they get silence.
Congress and the President are too busy to focus on them, but not too busy to rush through a tax cut package that greatly favors the wealthy, who through lobbyists are their primary campaign contributors.
Our heroes from 9/11 don't have expensive lobbyists nor do they write big campaign checks. What they do have is the support of you and me to speak for them.
So please raise your voice. Write an editorial letter to your local newspaper, post on blogs and if during the holidays you come across your local Congressman, say something.
Congress and the President are silent but you and I don't have to be. Not on an issue of this importance.
Dick
I think there is a 'message' hidden in how two issues have been dealt with by our elected representatives:
1 ~ there was time to determine that volume on our television commercials will not exceed the volume of the shows they sponsor.
2 ~ there was not time to help first responders have the care they need for decent lives or humane deaths.
Dear Reader, If you would like to see a clip from The Daily Show of 12/16/10, their last show of the year, in which Jon Stewart set aside much of his comedy to address teh death of the First Reponder Bill of 2010, please see: http://www.salon.com/news/trending/2010/12/17/jon_stewart.
Thank you.
Dick
Reposted from Beachfnt:
While it seems that we take for granted that when we dial 911, caring individuals will selflessly put themselves in harms way on our behalf. Our elected leaders have failed those caring individuals in not passing the Zadroga Bill. I don't know if it has been perfectly crafted and quite frankly, I don't care. If it eases the suffering and makes life better for those that answered the call on September 11th then I would like to see my tax dollars spent in that way. Shame on any Senator that voted against this bill!
As usual, the Daily Show demonstrated why it is so valuable to our democracy as they gave us the real news! Some excellent clips on this subject are in the link below:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/12/jon_stewarts_campaign_for_the.html
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