Opinion

If like me, you have something to say about a news story please email them to us and they will be posted here.

04.30.03

What is a Victim?

Usually there is a simple answer to the question. But in regards to September 11, 2001 , there are no easy answers. We are dealing with Federal bureaucracy, red tape, and people that have a different thought pattern than the average man or woman on the street. They can take the simplest question and give you the most complicated answer.

In the case of 9/11 the word "Victim" first of all points directly to those that lost their lives. There is not a day that goes by that I think of people that never came home after a day at the office or those that selfishly put aside their own safety on pursuit of the safe keeping of others.

What we fail to realize is that there were many more victims of that day no matter where the attacks happened. People were physically and mentally injured. Are they classed as victims? Do we know much about these people, the ones I call the 'Silent Victims'?

The difference seems to be that the Dept of Justice and all the other agencies have widening interpretations of what a victim is. They have clearly stated that they cannot make any accommodation for mental, psychological or emotional trauma without any explanation. Psychological injuries simply cannot be calculated, at least in terms of September 11, 2001, though there have been countless court cases in the past far removed from 9/11 and with no bearing on that day that settle and reward parties for psychological damage" and "trauma."  There are dozens of people who cannot go back to the World Trade Center area, to work, to their homes, they cannot get on a plane. That definitely sounds like a victim to me. 

This is the ramification of terrorist attacks that go unreported.   The events of that day disrupted normal, regular lives. Those that orchestrated and performed the attacks of terror have completed what they wanted to do - terrify the population to the point of dysfunction.

There is also the argument concerning physical injury and the rules that the Special Master of the VCF has said will stand. For non-rescue workers; if an injury had taken place then the injured person would have gone to hospital and had to have stayed there for at least 24 hours. For rescue workers the Special Master will exercise his own discretion.

I have never professed to be a doctor or an attorney anywhere in this website. In fact I am, or was, a very accomplished and successful sales manager. But I am intelligent enough to be able to give my opinion and interpretation of what I see is going on around me.

My main argument is that not all physical injuries can be realized straight away as the rules have stated. The Special Master is treating people like machines!  It's ironic that the New York Workers Compensation Board had recently stated that they are leaving a two year window of opportunity for filing claims. Their reason was for 'realization of injury'. Read that as you like, in my opinion they are clearly stating that they are allowing the fact that not all injuries can be realized at once. Have I said that before somewhere?

I know there has to be a cut-off point, but these were extraordinary circumstances.  Now too many people are disabled, have no income and have lost everything they have worked for, and thus can and should rightly be termed and treated as victims.

When are those in power going to open their eyes and see what are right in front of them?  Are we as a nation going to do what we have done before, sweep issues that are to difficult under the carpet and hope they go away? 

The Special Master admits other terrorist attacks will not be handled in a way similar to September 11. What about the victims of future terrorist acts, on US soil or against US citizens and military overseas?  We are told time and time again that terrorism is an on-going battle, and that it will not end with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .  What if there are more victims?  I fear for those whose futures may be damaged, like mine, and will be treated with disdain by the government.  I pray for the well-being of ALL victims of terrorism, that their plights, their physical and psychological injuries will be recognized and treated by the United States that claims it seeks to protect all its citizenry.

-DRS