Ken's Commentary: Callous Indifference To 9/11's Living Heroes

Ken's Commentary: Callous Indifference To 9/11's Living Heroes

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Story Published: Sep 11, 2006 at 12:32 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:37 AM PDT

By Ken Schram

SEATTLE - They were there to honor the dead.

But they don't seem to give a damn for the living, many of whom may also be dying.

There was a whole host of hypocritical politicians gathered in New York to mark the 5th anniversary of 9/11.

It was a stunning display of callous indifference to the men and women once hailed as heroes.

Last week a definitive medical study told it all.

It found that 70 percent of the emergency workers at Ground Zero five years ago have developed new, or worsening, respiratory problems from breathing the highly toxic air.

For weeks and months on end, some 16,000 people toiled in the hole of what once was the World Trade Center.

They searched first for survivors, and then for bodies.

In the process, they sucked pulverized drano-type dust into their lungs; asbestos, trillions and trillions of glass shards.

Yet despite the respiratory problems they now have; despite the expected wave of cancers in the years to come, not a single Ground Zero worker has been compensated.

In fact, the City of New York has spent tens of millions of dollars fighting their claims, and indications are they will spend millions more to do legal battle against yesterday's heroes.

If politicians are so intent on honoring the dead victims of 9/11, maybe they can start by taking care of those who are living in the shadow of death.

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