Newsdump ~ Here and Now

When a bird flies for pleasure it glides
with the wind. But when it senses danger, it
turns and flies into the wind, so as to rise above it.
Corey ten Boom

Here and Now...

      This is the political and controversial part of Newsdump. It is my philosophy that all the uplifting thoughts and information we have in this ezine are very important to help each of us think in more positive and resourceful ways. Still, each of us needs to take a serious look at what affects our daily and longterm safety, and serenity. Here and Now is written as a counterpoint to the mainstream press' version of our global village. You are a discerning reader, and this piece is intended to add to your knowledge and may cause you to ask questions of the status quo. The big picture question that begs to be asked concerning many areas of our lives is this..."Who is minding the store?"

September 11, 2001...

      This is a discussion of that surreal day in time, and what led up to it and what has happened since. As with all horrific events, when some measure of normalcy has been regained, we need to take a deep breath and take action, but not over react. Foresight is always tough and hindsight is always 20/20.
      Before I question the government snafus that contributed in a big way to the tragic devastation of September 11, 2001, we must remember the personal side of this day. It was a day of courage when this country declared war on worldwide terrorism. But first, I have to wonder why media reports have evolved to a "shorthand" style only including a handful of names in all of their reports?
      For example, it took four men to lead the passengers of United Flight 93 to take it out of the hands of the terrorists and into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Four ordinary men who took extraordinary action - all good family men and good neighbors. Why are their names, all but one, lost in the reports?
      Todd Beamer was one, and he gave us the catchy saying, "Lets Roll."
      He is a genuine American hero, but he was not alone in this. Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, Jeremy Glick and he comprised the four-man team of leaders. We need to hear these names in unison when this story is told, as it will be for years to come. We need these four names (as we need all the names when a report is given) to commend them. And we need their names and faces to continue to endear them, and their families, to us even more so than they have been so far.
      As I question our country's and our actions, let me say, I am in no way trying to diminish this event to the routine bureaucratic actions that so many times take over our lives. As a nation, and as individuals, we have a hole in our hearts for those lost to terrorism. At times, when a violent or catastrophic event happens, it can be too much for human comprehension; like 9-11, the bombings in Oklahoma City, the American Embassy in Africa, the World Trade Center (93), and the Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and natural disasters.
      Our humanity makes us reach out and show our caring nature whether our actions are enough or not. This helps us all to go onward and forward. And, we try as best we can to sort out the tragic events as they happen. Then we try, when possible, to prevent them from happening again. If they are not preventable, then we try to be prepared to help those in times of devastation. It is what we do.

The Nitty Gritty...

      Who knew? Who did not do their jobs to protect us on, or before, September 11, 2001?
      It has come out on many national radio talk shows, and some news reports, that our government employees who work for the FBI, CIA, and the Imigration and Naturalization Service (INS), not only knew about several of the terrorists that flew the planes on 9-11, but tracked their activities in this country and throughout the world as early as January, 2001. The INS knew that most of the highjackers were on expired visas and did nothing for several years to deport them.*
      Additionally, it has come out on the national mainstream television and radio news that several hijackers were detained at the Boston airport, not once, but twice, and were still allowed to board the planes.
      Knowing this information, we need to know if anything is being done to remedy this in the future. Regardless of whether they are civilian or government employees, do the screeners and security people who did this still have their jobs? Have they been replaced? If not, when will they be replaced by people who will do the job right? Of those who are government employees, will these people keep their jobs and their retirment pay?
      Depending on your work and career and the fact that none of us is perfect, we can say, let the first person who is blameless throw the first stone. And in issues of straight morality and ethics, that is correct.
      But these bureaucrats and government employees they supervise both have jobs that are a public trust and the public should demand accountability. For example, in the military, if you do not do your duty, you can face a court martial and if found guilty, lose your military income and retirement pay. In extreme cases, where death is caused by this dereliction of duty, jail time can occur.
      Then I ask again...Why is it that these bureaucrats continue to work, collect their pay, and will eventually collect their retirement pay?
      I have no answers. And the truth be known, there may never be satisfactory answers to these questions.

Choices...

      This is still America. We can make our own choices as to what makes us feel safe. We do not need public officials and media pundits to bully us to fly again to save the airlines, or go to New York City to shore up its sagging economy. Getting back on the horse, so to speak, in a time of war may be all right for many, but those who do not feel this way have a right to their choices, too.
      Each of us has to go on as best we can. Without undo hysteria, we can basically secure our homes and make them as safe as possible - same with our cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles. We can use good judgement in safety and protection issues of our children and grandchildren.
      No matter what the global situation, there are things we can do. As individuals, we can do more than give lip service to the statement, "We are all in this together."
      This could mean, if a neighbor has an ambulance at the front door of their home, we can offer to help, make any calls. If need be, feed their pets, water the plants, do errands and generally "look out" for the house.
      For personal and public safety, we can insist that our government and manufacturers use higher standards for highway and vehicle safety, and accountability of same. We do not want to relive the Ford Explorer and Firestone tire scenario and similar fatalities.
      But I digress.
      Yes, we are compasionate. Yes, we always need to help. Yes, we have to grieve and cry.
      Let me take time to paraphrase..."To everything there is a season...A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance...A time for war, a time for true peace."**
      Grieve, yes, but we need to stop the big weep that our media loves to see us do. They stoke the fires of this weep to get copy and ratings.They try, and sometimes suceed, to keep us in a constant state of dispair. And, as they do this, they foster the image that the families who lost a loved one in this tragic event are on the streets of this country without food.
      We are not a third world country, although our burgeoning homeless may seem to belie this. Nothing is without cracks, but we do have systems in place for our children, if a breadwinner or parent were to die.
Just My Stray Thoughts...

      We need more accountabiity for the money we sent to the Red Cross and other charities for the survivors of 9-11. Last reports were somewhere between $72 million and $500 million. Sadly, if we were to face such a large scale tragedy again, we need more of a system than throwing money in a box at a retail store. And, just as the media does public information pieces on the local and national news and the national news magazine shows, we need this survivor information made public. We need to be in the know, not just for those families affected by 9-11, but for any family who loses a loved one and has minor children at home.
      And, as horrific as this attack has been, annually we have "acts of nature" deaths from tornados, hurricanes and floods, and even if their lives are spared, many will be homeless and without food. Much like 9-11, the public always sends untold money and goods to those who need it. Non-profits who collect and then use this money do not do public disclosures as do government agencies. If they do, it is not in an easily accessable way for the public to see. We need to develop a serious system of accountability and record keeping to manage a windfall in donations no matter what the cause and need.

Back To My Focus...

      Let's do a quick mini-inventory of survivor's benefits. But before I do this, let me say that I was a military wife through the Vietnam years. And I have neighbors who lost husbands in that war. It is from this experience that I learned about the benefits from our government for minor children who lose a parent.
      While my knowledge of Social Security is dated, still the Social Security system exists, along with associated programs, and has grown over the years. The SS fund pays a monthly amount to all minor children of any deceased citizen of this country. This money is paid until the child is 18, and some get funds through college and includes medical coverage. If the mother of these children is a homemaker, with no outside income, she is given a monthly payment and medical coverage until the children are emancipated as well. And depending on income, these children can qualify for food stamps.
      Now, lets discuss private additional income. Many, but not all, in the World Trade Center had life insurance. Usually, the military and civilians at the pentagon have insurance policies, too. Albeit, not as lucrative as many at the WTC, but insurance just the same.

Ins and Outs...

      There are ins and outs of this process that I am not privy to. As I stated above, Social Security benefits and associated programs do exist and some include government monies for the minor children's college educaton. Funny how that was left out of the public relations information when the famed held their telethons to raise money for college for the children of 9-11. In some ways, because of our big heartedness, we were willingly misled by the media and the celebrities who did all the shows to raise millions.
      Again, no easy answers.
      The three groups that seem to be on the low end of this system and all the charitable give-aways may have been the police, firefighters and the passengers on the ill-fated airplanes. But, again, the police and firefighters had life insurance, as did many of the airplane passengers. And all the minor children of these people will receive benefits from the SS system.
      Guess, when you do the math, things do not always add up. But then this is America. I am not sure it ever will, because there is as there should be, a humanistic part of the calculations.
      This is still the best country in the world, and it will grow stronger and improve because of this great loss, not in spite of it.

*Rush Limbaugh Radio Show, Winter 2001, Spring 2002; World News Tonight and CBS Evening News, May 15, 2002; The Today Show and Nightline, May 16, 2002.
**Ecclesiastes 3.