A most difficult thread- helping a friend, Bill Hedin

[Peter_Spaeth]

Even if other people feel like Peter Ullman, I doubt many are going to say it, but I think his point of view is legitimate and well-stated and with due regard for the obvious sensitivities of the situation. As previously stated, the issue is not Bill's baseball card purchases. Nobody is judging him for that, or should. The issue, and there is no way to say this delicately, is whether the premise behind Leon's and Barry's very thoughtful fundraising -- Bill's statement that he would have to sell his collection to finance his wife's funeral -- was true. Nobody except Bill knows, but Leon was certainly right to inform people that the slew of ebay purchases at least raised a question. Many people might have contributed even if they had not thought it was a matter of dire need, but I suspect that others would not have.