Tsunami Aid Teaches Us All.... (763 hits)
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Submitted by Donne Fan (View user info) at 2005-01-04 13:36:07 EST
I have learned a great deal from the response to the disaster in Southeast Asia. I will try to state what I have learned succintly because I want to hear what you feel you have learned from this.
The U.N. is even more worthless than I could have imagined...The oil for food scandal is not over, and it has shown that many of the top officials at the U.N. are corrupt money grubbing whores, selling themselves and abusing measures designed to ease the suffering of people.
Scant time after a top U.N. official Jan Egeland called the U.S. "stingy" he backed away from the statement. This could be because he got a memo from an underling that we bankroll the U.N. in large measure and always have, that we paid more than any other nation for the reconstruction and recovery of Europe under the Marshall plan, that we also rebuilt Japan which was decimated by its own aggression and which attacked us, and that we give more aid than any other country in the world.
Jan is Norwegian and the fact remains that by many measures his country is one of the most generous in the world and he said this, "There are several donors who are less generous than before in a growing world economy," he said, adding that politicians in the United States and Europe "believe that they are really burdening the taxpayers too much, and the taxpayers want to give less. It's not true. They want to give more." http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041228-122330-7268r.htm I guess what he is saying is that he does not think people are able to give money unless the goverment takes it from them and gives it for them. That is a dim view of humanity. Our private giving currently is almost 10 times the amount of governmental aid initially announced. This is before the planned telethons etc. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1896&u=/nm/20050104/us_nm/
quake_hollywood_dc_5&printer=1 which I am confident will demonstrate the generosity of America and will establish us as the biggest donors in this disaster.
The fact that Kofi Annan was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming skiing with his family and did not leave his vacation until 3 days after the tsunami would make a much more scathing piece of attack than Bush reading to the children on 9/11, but it will probably be ignored.
China has also been interesting to observe. Japan, perhaps the greatest success of the Marshall plan (a people who seem happy and peaceful and democratic and generous after a devastating war ravaged their nation and most of the people had been committed to a militaristic empire bent on world domination) has temporarily eclipsed America as the greatest donor of aid, yet with all the money being poured in China, their response has been measly http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/01/03/news/beijing.html
Perhaps they were too busy killing people in Sudan or crushing those who seek democracy, or persecuting religious groups like falun gong or evangelical christians. This response should serve to remind Asia that America and Japan are very different in our approach to them than China and as China seeks to become a superpower on par with those nations they will have to take the responsibility that comes with it or they will never be loved.
The final thing that this disaster has made clear is that the much of the Muslim world cannot be bothered to help anyone through charitable giving unless that giving is to the family of murdering terrorists or to set up schools that spread hatred of jews. The excuse currently being offered for why the nations of the middle east which have many more resources per capita than the U.S. are not doing much at all to help is that their charities are closed because of possible ties to terrorists. This is a bold lie, given that Red Crescent has never come under suspicion and remains the largest Muslim relief organization. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/04/international/worldspecial4/
04arab.html?ei=5006&en=5ee3e8783fb13da3&ex=1105419600&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=
This link is too long to paste whole, but if you put up both parts you should get an interesting story from the NYT about the lack of aid in the middle east.
Why should Kuwait be giving much more than the U.S.? Those reasons were stated brilliantly by Waleed al-Nusif, the editor in chief of Al Qabas, who said in a telephone interview in the aformentioned story. "The price of oil doubled, so we have no excuse."
The story continued:
"After the paper's editorial appeared, the Kuwaiti cabinet raised its announced donation on Sunday to $10 million, from $2 million, having previously doubled it.
"Kuwait is expected to run a budget surplus this year of roughly $10 billion, and Mr. Nusif noted that the government had just distributed an estimated $700 million to the Kuwaiti people themselves, the public share of the unanticipated revenue.
He said Kuwait should give a minimum of $100 million, not least because many of the country's 1.29 million foreigners of a total population of 2.25 million come from the devastated regions."
America has very little connection the region, but then again America also had very little connection to the Muslims who were being killed in the former country of Yugoslavia, yet we were the nation that stopped the genocide there. In fact America has done more for the Muslim world than any nation in the last twenty years, ending the Taliban in Afghanistan and freeing those people, liberating Iraq from a brutal genocidal dictator, and continuing to provide relief.
If you disagree with me please explain why America should bear the brunt of rebuilding after the worlds natural disasters (which cannot be blamed on us unlike most other things that go wrong) especially in areas where we have little or no connection and less to give than the rich Muslim nations which do nothing to help their stricken brothers and sisters in submission to Allah.
In summary I have learned that America is the most generous nation on earth, which will be obvious after the money for relief is counted, even without taking into account that we are sending an amazing number of military personnel who continue to do the great work they are consistently engaged in which do not involve waging war, but helping people. I have also learned that the U.N. is incapable of helping as much as 1 nation, much less to marshalling the resources of many, and that this could be in large part due to the failure of the current leadership which is implicated in massive scandal and who ignored the problem until media attention demanded action. I have also learned that the Muslim world is not interested in using its vast wealth to help other Muslims, to rebuild Muslim nations. China is also not even close to being able to match America's willingness to help others even in their own backyard.
This disaster has made me grateful to live in a nation this generous. It has made me grateful to live in a nation that is still able to make so many decisions on our own about private aid and how and when to send it. It made me grateful for global information and the ability to pray and seek to help those who are touched by a disaster we would have not even heard of in times past. It gave me pause to be grateful for my life, and for the material comforts that I enjoy. The earthquake in Bam Iran and the one in San Francisco were of similar magnitude but had dramatically different impacts and a great deal of that can be attributed to the wealth and splendor of our nation which builds well and has great responses to tragedies. I am also grateful to see the generosity of other nations like those in Scandanavia (linked to the area through tourism), Canada, Australia, Britain etc. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4145259.stm I support the idea of debt relief being discussed in the U.K.
This post should in no way be seen as a condemnation of giving which I applaud, but rather a condemnation of the Muslim world and China for their apathetic response to this tragedy and the U.N. for its mishandling and misapprenhension of the real "stingy" people in this world.
User Reviews
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-01-11 12:07:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
We should help them because GORLON THE SOUL DESTROYER COMMANDS IT!
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-01-11 11:50:21 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I don't how you come up with these overly simplistic and vague political conclusions based on the amount of aids per country. I hope this you have some kind of hardcore political agenda because if you don't, you are retarded. In so many ways.
You're slipping, seek help.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2005-01-05 21:00:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Are you joking!@ I just saw the end of the search for the new SI model, and they eliminated 2 of the 4 prettiest. There is no suspense in these shows. Of course they will keep all of the minorities regardless of whether or not one is 30 years old and looks like a horse. Of course they will keep the girl with the asymetrical face....I am so sick of the new trend in modeling which is to keep the girl who is horse faced like julia roberts, keep the model with the crooked teeth, because the one without the crooked teeth with the perfect face and body is too perfect. That is retarded. I want advertisers to advance the highest aesthetic. I want to be appealed to by women who all are perfect looking. The degradation of standards of beauty is quite similar to the dischordant and crappy music that is being shoved down our throats. It is also similar to post modern art. In modeling at least a beautiful girl should beat a not beautiful girl, and a guy who can sing should be famous instead of a guy who cannot as a singer and artists should be people with great ability and not people who look like they threw paint on canvas randomly while tripping on mescaline and having a seizure....
ARRRGGRGRRHRHRHAH
Submitted by Spiritoso (user info) at 2005-01-04 18:38:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't agree with the article entirely it made some good points, but I don't think it is fair lambasting China and the Muslim world! The people in higher power can change the world but they live in a bubble. Unforchantly we are run by the big machine of oil, favors and clicks! We are just pawns in their chest game of life. The general population thoughout the world are caring and kind. Generous if the scales of their intellengence lets them be, only wanting peace in sharing.
One more thing I'd rather see Jimmy Carter helping out in the need of the world... other than that other guy, that lies! I never had sexual relations. LOL
Only in America can I get away with saying this, even if we still have
corners of Woodrow Wilsonism!
Here I'am come and get Me!!!!
Or I could go on about several unpopular opinions and you should thank me for not saying that!
_________________
Time is the contents of our consciousness,
reflected in our sub-consious thoughts.
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-01-04 18:03:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Most heated?
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2005-01-04 17:43:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20050104/ap_on_re_us/tsunami_americans_respond_1&printer=1
we are over 200 million now! Yay!
Sorry you are seething. I did not really have anything in my heart that was angry or spiteful this time, which may be why you didnt feel like debating me. I guess it could be the holidays. I really do not even want the muslims to keep ignoring the problem so I will feel better and superior, I hope they get their act together and start helping with the effort. I do not hold out much hope for China doing the same though, at least until those people can get a new government that more accurately represents them.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:49:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
ven if they don't get individuals galvanized, they can rake in corporate donations from their personal buddies, and that's where the $ really are.
...........
very true.
Submitted by bossk (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:45:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for actually having a thought process on something in the news.
"On a related note, I watched Clinton and Bush (sr.) on Larry King last night. How weird that they're both conspiring to raise money. I think it's a wonderful effort, but really if people have money to give and haven't donated it over a week later then is it really going to make a substantial difference?"
I think yes. These two guys are masters at raising money - even if they don't get individuals galvanized, they can rake in corporate donations from their personal buddies, and that's where the $ really are.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:33:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
or not, because I can't really find anything I disagree with. Is it possible that I'm too tired to think? Or just that I think that America has done TOO much.
On a related note, I watched Clinton and Bush (sr.) on Larry King last night. How weird that they're both conspiring to raise money. I think it's a wonderful effort, but really if people have money to give and haven't donated it over a week later then is it really going to make a substantial difference?
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:30:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
oh well, I'll continue to comment. because it's the end of the day and I have nothing better to do ... let me re-read it real quick and pick a fight with smoky. This shit'll be on the most heated before you know it ...
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:29:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I guess people are sapped out from the shitty posts on this subject.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:29:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
this should've gotten way more responses.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:28:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-04 14:01:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
We should help them. Do you know how much oil is in Indonesia and Burma? That's why Japan invaded them way back when.
*realizes microphone is on*
Just kidding. We need to shower them with hugs and puppies.
-------------------
Best comment ever.
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:27:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"The final thing that this disaster has made clear is that the much of the Muslim world cannot be bothered to help anyone through charitable giving unless that giving is to the family of murdering terrorists or to set up schools that spread hatred of jews."
Amazing that only you could say something like this and get away with it. Unfortunately I agree.
This post made me incredibly mad. Mostly because it was logical, well thought out, and mostly accurate. But nonetheless I'm seething. Is that how you spell "seething"? Anyway, well done you bastard.
Submitted by the_mysterious_stranger (user info) at 2005-01-04 16:08:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I just learned that an UN Official condemned the relief efforts of the German government (ca. 20.000.000$) as "embarassing", stating that giving only 0.25$ per capita is far too little. The balls on these guys...
Submitted by congo (user info) at 2005-01-04 15:52:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2005-01-04 14:40:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I am going to assume that the person who claims we are doing this for workers is not that dumb. None of our industrial hubs for outsourced labor were substantially damaged. Sometimes people make me angry with their ignorance. Start reading more...
I accidentally posted the first time before I had included China, which is one of the main things this has taught me about.
Loki, "Christian" Nations are giving a great deal more than nations that follow any other religion despite the fact that those impacted be the disaster are almost exclusively of different religions. Furthermore there are studies if you care to research this which strongly correlate church attendance and giving to relief efforts such as this one. Secularists tend to give to science, to the arts etc. but it should be no surprise that those who follow the dictates of a book that commands taking care of the poor give more than folks who can take the in my opinion defensible position given their worldview that they have no long term reward from giving to help.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-04 14:01:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We should help them. Do you know how much oil is in Indonesia and Burma? That's why Japan invaded them way back when.
*realizes microphone is on*
Just kidding. We need to shower them with hugs and puppies.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:59:37 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You are an ignorant fuck. Period.
Submitted by SAECULUM.AUREUM (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:55:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What exactly might be the political interests in giving aide to this region?
If you ask me, it would seem to be a great counter balance for American interests in the region.
Submitted by riggyrow (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:50:38 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Submitted by riggyrow (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:41:09 (#)
Ranking: -1
"In fact America has done more for the Muslim world than any nation in the last twenty years, ending the Taliban in Afghanistan and freeing those people, liberating Iraq from a brutal genocidal dictator, and continuing to provide relief."
Considering America's role in the Taliban's coming into control of Afghanistan and America's propping up and supporting Hussein in Iraq for 20 years... don't break your arm patting yourself on the back there buddy.
And I think American business interests were clamoring for aid to Southeast Asia, since that's where a ton of jobs have been relocated. All those dead Asians = work stoppage for a lot of American companies.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:48:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Maybe we should be helping those people out because "it's the Christian thing to do" and we keep claiming over and fucking over that we're a christian nation.
prove it
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:45:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
what the hell man if they are comin at you , means they want somthin ,more better you look after them and care for them ,than they get on the street uh?
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:45:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Little or no connection to Southeast Asia? Start checking clothing labels on brands like Gap/Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren. An overwhelming amount will read "Made in Sri Lanka", or India, or Indonesia.
Southeast Asia is where we're outsourcing all our labor to, and all the aid we send and rebuilding we do there ultimately serves to secure our new labor force.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:42:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Re-post, re-review!
It's a harsh lesson, kids, but it's one we all eventually learn: The UN, like all other government and para-government organizations, exists solely to maintain the economic status quo. Love it, hate it, try as you might to fight it, that's how it is and how it will always be. That is, until the anarchists take over (the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned).
It's like that line from "Vanilla Sky":
- What's the answer to 99 out of 100 questions? Money.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:40:36 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
just post ONE TIME, dumbass
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:39:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2005-01-04 13:38:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
My roommate is on Abraham Lincoln, running the relief operations in Indonesia right now.
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WTF repost?