Remember Especially the Aftermath for those who Survived

First, of course, we should remember and honor the lives of all who died in that tragedy, the victims as well as the heroes who died that day and in that rememberance, let us also remember the living who were left behind. And let us remember as we wave our American flags and declare the pledge of allegiance how this Republican Administration has treated them:

From a February 26, 2008 Article by Mike Hall:
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/26/911-first-responders-protest-bush-health-care-funding-cuts/

“Today, three weeks after President Bush cut health care funding by 77 percent for Sept. 11 first responders, many of whom are developing serious and deadly illnesses because of their work at Ground Zero, some 200 9/11 workers rallied on Capitol Hill this morning, calling on Congress to restore the health care money.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates the cost of treating Ground Zero workers is about $218 million year and is expected to grow as the workers’ illnesses worsen and as more firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and rescue and recovery workers develop Ground Zero-related diseases.

Last year, Congress appropriated $108 million toward health care for 9/11 workers, but in his fiscal 2009 budget, Bush cut that by 77 percent—to $25 million. Also last year, as part of an emergency spending bill, Congress approved an additional $50 million for first responder health care.

Shortly before Bush’s cuts were announced, a White House spokesman told reporters the president’s budget would “reflect his continued commitment to World Trade Center workers.” Interpret that as you wish–but I have one word for it: Republican newspeak. If you want more of the same: Vote for McCain and Palin.

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And let us remember as we wave our American flags and declare the pledge of allegiance just exactly how cynically this Republican Administration has used this tragedy as a cause Célèbre to promote their own brand of right-wing ideology and hate–not only against the people of the United States, but against the people of the world.

Instead of labeling this horrid incident for what it was–a group of misguided thugs who committed a dastardly deed against innocent citizens of the United States of America, they fanned the fires of hatred and prejudice by declaring war against an entire religous sect of the world and lumping them all into the same category of these thugs. It would be the equivalent of saying that all Methodists are a “nation” and that because Timothy McVie (had he been a Methodist) blew up the Federal Center in Oklahoma City that we now label all Methodists as “terrorists” and declare war against them. This is EXACTLY what we have allowed this Republican Administration to do and all Americans should be ashamed for it. It is a wrong that needs to be righted.

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And let us remember as we wave our American flags and the pledge of allegiance the full extent that this Republican Administration has used 9/11 as a cause Célèbre to start a horrible war in a nation that had nothing whatsoever to do with this horrible attack. And, let us remember how this Republican Administration’s irresponsible response to this horrible attack has emboldened right-wing mililary governments such as those of President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia as an excuse to murder people in his country who opposed the entrenchment of multinational corporations in their country.

The aftermath of 9/11 has been brutal for Colombian unions and social organizations. Right-wing paramilitary groups, emboldened by the Bush administration’s “declaration of war on terrorists” gave the courage to broaden the definition of “terrorist” to include anyone who stood in their way. On October 19, only a month after 9/11, Colombian security agents conducted raids aroudn the country, targeting the leadership of the United Union of Workers (USO).

In his acceptance speech, John McCain vowed, among other things, to “fight union leaders.”

Union leaders may be Senator McCain’s “enemy” and the enemy of multinational corporations, but workers of the world would disagreee.

MORE OF THE SAME REPUBLICAN RIGHT-WING STORY?
OR SHALL WE NOT ONLY TURN THE PAGE, BUT PUT THAT BOOK DOWN--for our sakes and for the sakes of those who come after us.