I heard that the firemen were given the Purple Heart for being killed during service to their country. Everyone speaks of the Firemen and Police who helped in New York as "heroes". What about these mailmen? They work for the government, and put their lives at risk in the line of duty while our country is at war. Two of them have died, and others are ill. Shouldn't they get the Purple Heart, and also be put on the posters of "Heroes" that are being printed up?

-- (they are @ heroes. too), October 25, 2001

Answers

Illustration by Tom Palmer appears in book "Heroes," created by some of the biggest names in comics. "Heroes" honors the police officers, firefighters, rescue workers and everyday people who've helped in the recovery efforts since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Wholesale proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Twin Towers Fund. (AP Photo/Msrvel Comics)

-- Cliff Clavin (where's the @ friggin. mailman?), October 25, 2001.

I will tell you how they are awarded, I can speak with authority, since I worked as a postman for twenty five years. Simply because I also retired from twenty years of military service, I was awarded with half my social security benefits being taken from me. They steal from $350 to $400 from me each and every month, and have been doing it since I retired Dec of 95. I am penalized, not awarded. Come back at me with the DOUBLE-DIPPING bit, and prove that this is such a sin. Why should I be penalized for this? I paid in my full social security the same as every body else, yet I get only half of the benefits, while all else draw their full amounts. I suffered in the military in Viet Nam when all the rest of you stayed home safe and sound. I suffered in the post office with their top heavy supervision, I suffered the dogs, the heat and cold. The heavy traffic, the sneers, the working every week end, while every body else stayed home and enjoyed their holidays, free from the worries of the mail. Why should I be penalized for this? yet I am by having half my benefits taken from me, causing undue hardships in my retirement years. Forty five years of government bullying and harrassment, and I am penalized for it. This is how the postal, and the governmental service 'AWARDS.'

-- UR FRIENDLY MAILMAN (Fsur439@aol.com), October 26, 2001.

At the very least, I think the asshole who did that illustration should remove one of the cops and put in a letter carrier.

-- (too@many.cops), October 26, 2001.