Wednesday, November 14, 2001

There are factors O'Reilly overlooked

By DAVE HAMRICK
Editor-at-large

I'm sorry, but I just can't get my boxers into too much of a bunch over this whole New York relief funds uproar.

Fox News curmudgeon Bill O'Reilly fairly leapt atop his high horse and assumed the mantle of protector of all that is holy when it comes to charitable donations, accusing the Red Cross and like groups, along with the celebrities who helped them raise money, of everything from incompetence to outright duplicity in the handling of the money.

And reporter types all across this great land immediately began asking every volunteer within a microphone's reach what is being done to ensure that all the money goes to the victims.

Would it be too much to ask for a little perspective?

I know that in that one big telethon they made a great deal of emphasizing that every dollar raised would be going straight to the victims.

But other than that, I don't know of any promises made or implied that every dollar of relief money would go to those who lost loved ones or were injured or were monetarily damaged in some way from the events of Sept. 11.

And why should it?

There are plenty of disasters the world over. There is much good that can be done. And to be absolutely honest, the American people have opened their hearts and their wallets and donated far more money than is needed to make sure that the victims of this particular disaster don't suffer financial hardship.

First of all, you have to assume that most of them had life insurance. On top of that, maybe an education fund for the kids would be nice, and a special fund in case some people's medical bills exceed the insurance. Something like that couldn't hurt.

But I hope this doesn't sound callous at some point there has to be a limit. And there are others hurting just as much, but who had the unmitigated misfortune to have been involved in a disaster that happened somewhere else, on another day.

The Red Cross is a fine organization. If people rise up in indignation and insist on it, this organization will probably take every dollar of 9/11 donations and put it into the hands of someone who was harmed in this disaster.

But if that does happen, then when the next disaster comes around, I hope those same indignant folks will be ready to open their pocketbooks again. And I'm counting on Bill O'Reilly to lead the campaign.

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