Hey Congress, Put Your Medal Where Your Mouth Is

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By By Ken Schram

Summary

You'd think bestowing the people on board Flight 93 with a high medal would be a no-brainer, but sometimes we find politicians with no brains.

Story Published: Sep 12, 2002 at 12:57 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 12:48 AM PDT

Hey Congress, Put Your Medal Where Your Mouth Is
SEATTLE - Not to be confused with the Medal of Honor, the Congressional Gold Medal is meant to serve as the ultimate form of recognition and appreciation that Congress can bestow for achievement and contribution.

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector thinks it should be awarded to every person who was on board Flight 93.

He believes, and evidence shows, that the people on that plane forced it to crash rather then let terrorists fly it into the Capitol or the White House last year.

In the world of politics, you'd think this would be a no-brainer. But sometimes we find politicians with no brains.

290 members of the House of Representatives are needed to co-sponsor awarding of the medal.

And there's the rub.

Some House members are debating whether everyone on the plane deserves it.

Some House members suggest the U.S. Attorney General should determine who on the plane is truly worthy of the medal, perhaps reviewing cell phone conversations and what can be heard on the plane's voice recorder.

How easily the word "Hero" can roll off a politician's tongue one day, only to have it stick in their throats the next when asked to give the word meaning.

Arlen Spector is right: If one person on Flight 93 deserves the Congressional Gold Medal, EVERY person deserves it.

Yet in the big picture of 9-11, we find small-minded people engaged in petty political bickering over putting a medal where their mouth is.

Note: If you'd like to 'sign' a petition urging Congress to award the Gold Medal to those who died on Flight 93, you can log on to www.petitiononline.com and do so.

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com