Opinions from around the country

About 1,300 people have given notice they may sue New York City for a total of $7.18 billion over damages caused by the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack. A vast majority are firefighters who say the city did not provide them with adequate respiratory protection from the contaminants at the World Trade Center site.

There have been extensive complaints of a similar nature, as recovery workers, police officers and firefighters have expressed fear that serious ailments will result. Asbestos and other contaminants have been detected in the Ground Zero ruins.

People are getting sick, some fear serious ailments as a result stemming from the conditions of Ground Zero. But should these people receive money from the federal government? Should these people, who are doing their jobs, be able to sue a city?

As tragic as it sounds, things happen. The World Trade Center attacks caused a lot of damage to a lot of people, firefighters included. But these firefighters risk injury every day they wake up for the job.

One firefighter, Palmer Doyle, filed notice of a $10 million suit, claiming he worked two 12-hour days without a respirator. If Doyle had worked two 12-hour days without a respirator at a fire that didn’t just happen to be the most tragic event of our time, would he be filing a $10 million suit? Probably not.

The consequences of Sept. 11 go far beyond Manhattan. The federal government is already shelling out billions upon billions of dollars to compensate Sept. 11 victims and their families.

How many tragic deaths occur in our nation every day?

And how many families receive federal money to aid in the recovery?

Tragedy is tragedy.

The death of a little-known murder victim in downtown New York City is just as tragic as the death of a victim who was in the second tower and didn’t make it out alive.

The date — Sept. 11, our day of infamy — should not play a part in how the government gives money to victims.

As hard as it is to say, firefighters, police officers and recovery workers should not sue the city when they know the potential dangers that can result from helping in a dangerous situation.

This editorial comes from the Iowa State Daily at Iowa State University.
This column was distributed by U-Wire.

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002