As another anniversary of 9/11 approaches there are sure to be a horde of specials featuring all sorts of “never before seen footage.” September 11 really did change the way Americans live and think, and it should be remembered every year lest we forget what happened that fateful day.
But, during this sobering time I have found something a little different to watch on TV. It still has to do with 9/11, but more about what happened years later to a specific group of people. Those people are the widows that were left behind after their husbands were killed in the attacks.
9/11: Millionaire Widows, that will be airing on WE TV September 9, tells a story of how the government figured out a way to compensate for the deaths that occurred in the World Trade Center buildings that day. A fund was set up by Congress and doled out to remaining family members on a scale of how much that person would’ve made had they worked for the rest of their lives.
Overall, 7 billion dollars—part of the money came from the government, the other part from generous donations from normal people—was split up between only about 3,000 people. Since this is a WE TV channel exclusive, this special focuses on the wives and partners that were left behind when their husbands or boyfriends (in one case girlfriend) were killed in the attacks.
What’s interesting about the special is how it shows the effect money can have on people even after such a traumatic experience. People so easily forget what just happened to their loved ones, and quickly try and use the money to buy their happiness back. Some blew all their money in a matter of months, while others seemingly used it to lure away husbands from their friends.
Take Mrs. Ciri for example. After her husband died, she didn't want any of the money. Accepting the money meant that she would enter into an agreement to not sue the U.S. government or the World Trade Center. She felt that the money was "blood money." But, after her stepchildren took her to court she was forced to take the money. Her family was torn apart, and now none of them talk to each other.
Article comments
1 - ean
I am just watching the TV show 9/11 millionaire widows so I hadn't kept up with that aspect of 9/11 and I do not understand this compensation thing. Its a wonderful thing our country did but do you mean to tell me that if there was a big attack on our country victims could sue? Its ridiculous. I feel sorry for anybody else that might have died that day and didn't have the good fortune to be close to the twin towers. I'm sure there were other police and firefighters around the country who may have even died on duty. It was an act of terrorism never before seen-how do you consider sueing anybody but those who committed the act?
And though it is sad, there is a lesson from some of these stories...get MARRIED, you have a child-you should be MARRIED. And then the widows had problems with the STEPchildren, not much surprise there.