ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

I have to agree Danica's Comment. I too feel that the families do have to move on. It was tragic, and horrible, but we as a human race are capable of moving forward in the face of adversity...that being said, for some reason Americans more than any other country it seems, tend to dwell for far too long, on tragedies. Children loose family members every day: to cancer, disease, accidents, etc. etc. etc. They are ALL tragedies. They are all sad. No one wants to loose a family member, be it by cancer, or a plane crash. If we can't move on with our lives and be independant and self-reliant, than this country is going to be a bunch of forever-mourners wallowing in our own self-pity rather than overcoming obstacles and improving our lives. Money does not mend hearts.

I, for one, have really heard enough about 9/11 victims. The warriors in the U.S. military who are defending our country have left many children behind also. Where is the counseling that these children need? Or help for their remaining spouses? It is my understanding that all of the families involved in 9/11 received quite a lot of money after the terrorist attack. Can these monies that each family received not be used for this purpose?

You should have included ways to help. If there are organizations that still need suppport, especially monetary donations. There has been so much written about money that has not been well spent, people are afraid to give. It would be great to get a list of dependable and honest programs to support!

Thank you Danica. I was going to write something similar. Even 7 years ago I questioned the amount of financical support being given when so many other families face similar crises with no help at all. Do the families of 9-11 victims deserve help? Of course! But I think ALL families deserve this same help when faced with a tragic and uxexpected loss. (If my volunteer firefighter hiusband died in the line of duty, we would receive no government help/scholarships, yet would our loss be any less because it didn't happen on a certain date?)

While some will think me callous or unfeeling, I think that it is probably time that families moved on. "Moving on" does not mean forgetting; but rather the recognition that 'we' are the survivors and life does go on - we're left to live it. These young children, along with all of their family members, friends and neighbors, definitely suffered a significant loss; however, children, families - human beings all over the world - suffer significant losses everyday. I am, by no means, suggesting that these children/families should not still have the support of their families and friends - they are all more than 'entitled' to that. Where do we "draw the line", however, in providing and funding services for these families? It was, indeed, a tragedy that took the lives of thousands of men and women - but 'smaller scale' tragedies, if you will, occur every single day for families all over the world; when the mother of three young children succombs to cancer; when the father of a newborn infant is struck down by a drunk driver on his way home from the hospital...these tragedies may effect 'fewer' people but the impact on the family is no less significant. These families grieve the same as anyone else and they, eventually, 'move on' with living. For the most part, 'funding' is not available for these families to go to summer camps, music lessons, counselling, art therapy or to provide scholarships to the 'surviving children' - they "make due" with whatever resources they can manage to find (i.e. life insurance, family support etc.); oftentimes a LOT less than many of the families directly impacted by 9/11 with the loss of a loved one.
I am truly a very giving, loving, compassionate person, but I can also see the reality that, even millions of dollars, can only stretch so far...and in reality, seven years was a pretty long way.