The curse of the 9/11 widows

[Herman Munster]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=403840&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=

This was the lottery that nobody wanted to win. The day New York's Twin Towers were destroyed by hijacked planes, hundreds of widows were left destitute. As the full extent of the horror of 9/11 became evident, public donations poured in.

During the feverish days following the attack, Congress established a billion- dollar compensation fund, and grieving wives became overnight millionaires. No one could have known that for many of them, the money would destroy their lives once again, attracting jealousy, resentful relatives and making them even more depressed. Some would become squandering, spendaholic widows, their payouts fuelling addictions which could not replace the husbands they had lost. Others would become embroiled in legal battles with their families, their lives eaten up by bitterness.

Some, vilified by the public, would even receive a cash windfall which attracted others' husbands. And, most pitifully, some would get very little at all - their spouses deemed worthy of only a pittance under a system which favoured the rich.

Those who took the 'blood money' of up to $7 million each were banned from suing the government or airlines for further compensation, their rights stripped away.

[Double T]

1. The entire monetary compensation program was a total disater........

should have been set up like a trust fund with monthly payments to the widows. The rich always seen to make out better than others regardless of the circumstances. No one should ever have to sign their rights away, but what else would you expect under bushco's regime.

[Herman Munster]

2. this is very common

it happens to like 75% of lottery winners. All the leeches come out of the woodwork when you get a windfall like this.

[flyarm]

3. TODAY I TOOK A BASKET TO MY NEIGHBOR WHO LOST HER SON

in the WTC...

i know this is a very difficult time..so i went today and had a basket of FOOD goods made for my neighbor..all kinds of cheeses and snacks ..all speciality stuff..crackers..
i picked all the stuff..because i know this weekend she will have lots of company come..her other children..and family..

i had a big basket made..because ..i needed to..and i know it will help her out when shopping is the last thing she will want to do.

and i got her a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure ..because most times..in bad times..moms take care of themselves last..OR NOT AT ALL..
i told her go next week and get taken care of a bit..for herself...

she cried..and said she would..

i am crying while i write this..

she cried of course..and said it is tough..as i know it is..

i was a flight crew for one of the airlines involved..for the ny base...so i have a good idea how tough it is..

unfortunately..her son's birthday was sept 3rd...so she has a double wammy..

maybe a way to send our regards would be a nice letter to these families ..through a letter to the editor in your local paper..

non political..just a letter to say ..something these families can hold onto..


i saw in my neighbors eyes today the pain..and yes it is still raw..


this family has a sign by the door on the front porch....

Jeff's place..with an empty beach chair..

we can never fill that chair..but we can send our kindness and kind thoughts to these families.

fly

[hashibabba]

4. That was a very sweet thing you did today flyarm.

We all need to do what we can do to help those who lost loved ones. LTTEs are a good start.
Thanks.

Oh, and they say that most people lose their entire lump sums in 1 1/2 years. I had won two suits and blew both of them in exactly a year and a half, where it should have been put to better use. Oh well.

I get angry when people gripe about the amount of money these women are spending. It's their money for their loss and even though its sad to see them blow it, its really not our business where it goes.