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Path: utzoo!utcs!wagner
From: wagner@utcs.uucp (Michael Wagner)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Space Shuttle Children's Fund
Message-ID: <1077@utcs.uucp>
Date: Mon, 3-Feb-86 13:28:32 EST
Article-I.D.: utcs.1077
Posted: Mon Feb  3 13:28:32 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Feb-86 13:32:37 EST
References: <221@hadron.UUCP> <387@watmum.UUCP>
Reply-To: wagner@utcs.UUCP (Michael Wagner)
Organization: University of Toronto - General Purpose UNIX
Lines: 19
Summary: 

In article <387@watmum.UUCP> tjsmedley@watmum.UUCP (Trevor J. Smedley) writes:
	(discussion of financial assistance package for children of 7)
>I don't understand why this fund was set up. Don't get me wrong, 
>I feel very sorry for those families, and all involved with the 
>disaster, but I would be more inclined to send my money somewhere 
>where it can really help. These kids don't need money. If it were 
>me I think I would be insulted by people thinking that they can in
>some way make up for the loss of a parent with money.  

I must admit I basically agree with Trevor here.  However, I'm not sure
how he knows that "the kids don't need money".  Perhaps I just don't know
enough about pensions/benefits for families of astronauts.  The canadian
system is somewhat different, I expect.  Can someone who knows comment?
Do they really need the money?  Has the government/armed forces left them
high and dry?  Or is it really just knee-jerk sentimentality (in which case,
were I in their shoes, I would object to the money as a lousy replacement
for a parent)?

Michael