A Slap in the Face?

As we come closer to the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it's likely that many cities and states will do something special to commemorate the day. Especially in those cities that were attacked: NYC, Washington DC, and that field in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down.

One of those events will be in NYC at the site of the original twin towers that fell. And that's what's causing this blog to be written. Check out this link, and then come back. I'll wait.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/9-11-first-responders-left-10th-anniversary-event-142149351.html

Welcome back. Is your blood boiling as much as mine? I can understand having the survivors of the victims there. But to leave out the first responders who didn't think twice about going into harm's way to try to save lives? Is it just me or something completely skrewed about this?

I've said it before, and will say again that the police as a whole have a thankless job. So do fire fighters. When the fire department shows up, it's never 'Thank God you're here!" It's more "Hurry up! What took you so long?" It takes a lot to be a first responder in a crisis like that and subject yourself to danger time after time.

Frankly, if I were a survivor of a victim of the twin towers, I'd gladly give up my ticket to give a first responder the opportunity to be present. I understand that logistically, there isn't enough room for every firefighter and police officer in NYC to be present. By the same token, surely the fire station that was first there that was the closest, and the nearest police stations could represent all the first responders!

That day 10 years ago was difficult enough for people the nation over. It doesn't need to be made worse by deliberately snubbing the very first people who rushed to help.