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Originally Posted by the
There's a few things about the 9/11 tragedy that I don't understand.
For ex., I know a family who had 2 family members killed in 9/11. Terrible, for sure. But they got something like $2 million each, close to $4 million, from the govt because of it.
I've never asked about it, but I wondered what that money was for. Does the govt provide life insurance to everyone who flies on a commercial plane? Why were the payments made, it doesn't seem like it's for life insurance, b/c in the case I know, the people who were killed were elderly and didn't financially support anyone other than themselves.
Was it because they were the victims of something that is classified as some act of war? That would seem odd, b/c what does a killed soldier's family get?
Was it just like a sympathy gift from the U.S. govt? If so, that's a heck of a floral arrangement.
Was the payment made as a "settlement" for something the govt was accused of doing wrong?
Did the govt pay that kind of money to similar victims, for ex. all the people killed in OK City by McVeigh?
As far as a memorial, I guess I can see that, but in a way not, because the victims weren't really "heros," like a soldier fighting a war. They were just unlucky people, in the wrong place at the wrong time. On the one hand they aren't too much different than anyone else killed in an unfortunate accident or murder. But on the other hand, I can see how they are symbolic of an attack against all of us, as Americans.
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The money was for not suing anyone else. If you accepted the payment, you gave up the right to sue the airline, the maker of the aircraft, the security firm at the airport, etc....
The flight that didn't hit it's target did so because the people on board the plane killed the terrorists. (Or the plane went down as the passengers fought the terrorists in the cockpit.) They knew what had happened to the first three planes hijacked that day and decided not to let it happen to their flight. On that flight, they were more than passive victims.
I still don't see how the unfortunate circumstances entitles the families of these people to land and money from the government (and by extension, the rest of us).