Do other countries come to our need?
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): Do other countries come to our need?
With the tsunami last year, the U.S. donated billions. Now, I'm NOT saying that Katrina is just as bad...but do other countries help out just the same?
Just curious...
Well, I've been watching CNN news since this started, so haven't heard much local news. I was watching Vancouver news last night, though, and they were talking about the rescue workers that would be heading down to help. I'm sure they're not the only Canadians that will be there.
Well we are the richest country in the world. If we can't help our own that is sad.
That was a third world countries that were effected by the tsumami. I know a missionary that went to Jakara... He said it was very corrupt and they couldn't wait to take our money and kick us out. Actually they wanted bribes to let the missionaries work. The missionaries had to race out of town to do their work. Actually my husband said they were risking their lives going into the country. I know other people who worked in Jakara before the disaster. They could hire help for pratically no money at all. They were poor but could hire a cook - baby sitter - anyone for very very little money.
Though it certainly is nice that Canada sent some relief workers. I wasn't expecting that from anybody.
The whole world seem to hate americans, that is why I like to vacation in the USA now. You know they call us the ugly fat americans.
I used to like to think about traveling the world. Lately I just want to be safe and spend my vacation money in my own country.
We spent a day in Columbia were we walked from the cruise ship to town. (Silly silly) I saw children pulling heavy wood carts like horses and got verbally assaulted and chased by drunk taxi drivers dying to make a fare.
Some people just hate americans because they are americans. Werid. I sort of lost the view that the whole world is safe and loving. From what I heard later it was lucky we weren't abducted and held ransom. Even Mexico there is warnings from the american government that it isn't safe for American Tourists anymore. I forget if it is abductions or something else.
But you are right. Seems we give money to other disaster to try to buy some good will from other countries. Not out of true charity.
Venezuela has offered to help us, and I think that is amazing after the things our country has accused Hugo Chavez of. Third world or not, natural disasters are natural disasters. Chavez offered emergency food, water, manpower, and fuel, all things that we could really use right now. Feona, we haven't been able to help out our own in a long time, disasters or just day to day operations.
Because we aren't a third world country, we stand alone? We're always expected to give, but are ignored in our needs? I don't think so. I know that if this disaster is ignored by the rest of the world, my donations to aid others will certainly be affected. I'm sick of being considered the rich sucker.
I doubt we'll get any help. We're so easy to help and give to others but when we're in need others are no where to be found. It's sickening IMO. I just wish for once the US would spare some of the money for it's own instead of helping others who obviously just take us for granted.
Ditto Bea.
Okay well lets put this in terms that we can understand. Single mom, office worker (makes 20k), her house burns down. What do you do? If you can afford to you help. Walmart may donate something, friends, churches etc. Big CEO, big house, lots of insurance make 250k, has a fat savings account. Who helps? He doesn't need the financial aide, but emotional support and some elbow work. Well when it comes to the US the main thing we provide for other is financial. Yes we send some people, but really they could do that themselves. We have had a disaster, we have the money, we have the man power, we just need to mobilize. We are not NEEDY, we are in crisis and need to respond. There is a huge difference. I do know that thousands of people have lost their homes, but of those a lot were probably insured, yes there are deaths, but not anything close to the tsunami. We were prepared and most evacuated, all should of. But honestly when you put americans on the scale of the rest of the world you learn that if you have clothes, food and a roof over our head, which each one of us on the INTERNET does! Then we are in the top 15th percent of rich. We are ALL rich by the world standards. I think it is time for family to take care of our family and not worry about others, because honestly we dont' need them.
That being said, it is nice to offer, but I think we shouldn't take ANY money.
Ditto Kaye.
I guess I'm cynical in my old age but I tend to feel more like Bea said on most days. I don't want to espouse an isolationist viewpoint but it's hard not to feel bitter when we give so much to other countries yet we're still villianized in so many foreigners' eyes.
Unfortunately there is anti-US sentiment worldwide. There were people in other countries, foreign leaders in France and others, who were glad when 9/11 hit. Yet when ever there is a disaster or tragedy anywhere we send whatever aid we can, regardless of what they think of us- because it's the right thing to do.
I agree with Bea too. Lending a helping hand shouldn't matter how much money you do or do not have.
Ditto Bea.
Kaye, I beg to differ. We send more than money, we send food, supplies, and lots of manpower, as well as protection via our military. (We have troops stationed in Korea at all times, what are they doing? Protecting.) When a disaster happens elsewhere, we pitch in not only $$, but manpower and emergency supplies. So far, not many of the other "rich" countries are doing that. That's why I made my point about Venezuela, we've badmouthed their president up and down, but he was the first to say "We're here for you, we'll help." We rally for everyone else, but where are our reinforcements?
So who are the other rich countries?
Ditto, Bea. Sadly, everyone cries to us when there is trouble, but no one comes to help us when we need it. I really think the US, for one year should stop sending aid to foreign countries, especially those that have nothing nice to say about us. We should use that money to build up the poor in our own nation. (off topic, kinda)
We pulled Kuwait's tail out of Saddam's grubby little hands. Now, the least they could do is send us some oil to say thank you - but that will never happen ...
Ame
England, France, Italy, Germany, Japan... there are lots of countries with wealth, we're not the only one.
I am on the board of our schools foundation. Each year we send letters out to everyone in our community asking them to help support the school. I am always the most touched when we receive a donation for $5 or $10 with a note that says, "I wish I could send more, but it's all I can afford. Good luck."
I think the other countries should do the right thing and step up and offer something when our country needs help, whether they are wealthy or not. And no, I won't stop making donations when other countries are in need. Nor do I think our country should stop. I want to do the right thing, regardless.
America won't be rich for long if we have to keep spending our money to help out the world and ourselves at the same time with nothing in return.
I also feel for Houston and Baton Rouge, to name the two cities which are taking in NO "refugees". These cities are in for a huge change. These people will be set up in "temporary housing" which will be in the communities for YEARS.
Schools will have to accomadate them, fields will be leveled to make room for trailers. etc. These facilities are better than some of these people are accustomed to in the past. They have no money, no place to go, are already on public assistance. Many of them did not have jobs before, now what are they going to do?
They are going to get more federal aid and live in a new FEMA trailer. I know first hand on this since Ivan. Our elem school had to open up
every room available and also bring in temp. trailers. This is also due to our state passing a classroom size limit.
This will also hinder football season. This will be a good thing. Maybe those Amercans with BILLIONS will help their own countrymen.
I will say one interesting thing, we in houston have been in hot debate of what to do with the astrodome. this is a huge structure that wasn't being used, people have talked about leveling it, on occasion it is used for an event, but mostly it just sits. WELL it is being used now...how COOL! The astrodome is now home to 25,000 people, across the street from six flags and this weekend six flags is opening up for free to all those from LA nd TN with an id...very cool.
Actually I saw that red cross is taking donations minimun is $5.00. If everyone gave $5.00 in New York City alone that would be
$50 million dollars.
There are LOTS of rich countries...to add more...
Israel has LOTS of money, China, and to be honest, Canada has really been the one to step in it seems.
I haven't heard about Venezuela...that IS neat.
We get most of our oil from Venezuela...I wouldn't mess with them. 
I can't believe that there is a minimum amount to donate, if all you can do is 50 cents then at least you are trying!
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I think you can send them a check for 50 cents. I think just that by credit card they have a minimun. I know it cost money to process a payment, but I don't know how much money. I guess if you talk to someone on the phone they have to pay the person's salary. Something like that. Maybe they are trying to get the larger donations first. Their website can't handle all the traffic. People must be feeling very generous in the face of the death and distruction.
I just saw this: Ratio of volunteer Red Cross workers to paid staff is almost 36 to one. Really a great organization. The red cross helped my husband's family when their house burned down. No insurance - no saving. They paid for motel, food vouchers, got them clothes - untill they got an apartment.
Actually, other countries are offering to help:
France:
News Day AP wire
Germany
Expatica Germany
Netherlands
Expatica Netherlands
20 Other Countries
Reuters 20 Other Countries
We already turned down an offer from Russia:
Russia
Thank you John for sharing those articles. I bet the victims that are still stranded would have appreciated the Russian Rescue plane.
Oh that is nice. John works for a a news station so he sees all the news.
It's been a couple days, and yes, some other countries are offering to help. How could we turn down offers? What's wrong with us?? Especially when we just helped Russia retrieve that submarine. I'm pretty sure the mothers carrying their babies through waste deep flood water don't care that Russians are our best friends, as long as they get out of there. I'm so disappointed with our government right now. Disgusted, actually.
Kaye, I'm also excited that the dome once again is being put to great use. In fact it's being used for what I felt all along it should be used for helping those in need. I've always shuttered at the thought of it being torn down and have always thought it should be turned into some sort of shelter place for Houston's homeless or down on their luck. FINALLY it's being used for something and helping others.
What part of Houston are you in? Have you seen many things going on for those evacuated? I'm in Deer Park and have saw alot in just being out today, tomorrow I'll be across town and I'm keeping an eye out.
So why would we turn down help? control maybe. We have lots of rescue helicopters and they are being shot at. It is not our gvt I am disgusted with, but it is AMERICANS who are looting, shooting and in general behaving like @sses. We are the most greedy selfish people sometimes. There are grateful people who will take any help, but there are also just a whole lot of bitter angry people. I think we do have the resources to pull this off (maybe we need to pull our troops back home to help out). I don't know, it is all just tragic and sad.
Christi I am in clear lake, yes I have seen a lot. We have big red cross shelters here, it all very very sad, this is so NOT the norm. Kids are enrolling in school, our schools are pretty overcrowded, it will be a very difficult challenge to house an extra 30-50 thousand people. I think it is the right thing to do, but hope that we can restore normalcy sooner rather than later. Quite honestly my fear right now is running out of gas, our supplies are limited, running out of food. Hopefully we can keep up with supply and demand.
US sending "Mixed signals" about aid from abroad
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/02/ us_sends_mixed_signals_on_accepting_aid_from_abroad
But some of the offers have additional political connotations:
"Perhaps the most unusual offer came from Hugo Chavez, the socialist leader of Venezuela who is openly hostile to the US government. On Wednesday, Chavez offered drinking water, food, and oil to the United States.
Later, Chavez told Venezuelan television that Bush was a ''cowboy" and the ''king of vacations" who had failed to evacuate the population of New Orleans before the hurricane hit."
John, I broke up your link to stop the thread from being so wide. Anyone who wants to review the article should paste the title in their address window and remove the space after 02/ Ginny
Good grief!
I just heard the governer ask why the grey hound buses aren't coming in to get those poor people out of the superdone? Good question. It is like there isn't any buses in the usa?
What about the Air Planes???? They are still running commercial flights... All commercial flights should stop and those planes should be flown into the surrounding areas (Florida, upper LA, Upper Miss, Texas) They need to stop the commercial bus routes and send them down to the edges of this disaster. They need to call up our National Guard (not just a handful of them) and get them in route. They can load up semi's with people... Send the semi's in...... They can do something, yet they do next to nothing for five days........... Here in the town I live, We have hotels that sit nearly empty... We have a huge building on the fair grounds empty.... We have apartments and houses for rent sitting empty. We have buildings (stores and businesses) that have closed down and could be set up as shelters sitting empty. We have an air port, we have open roads.. Yet they bring no one to us. They say they are working on it, I say work faster........ They said we were prepared for another assault (after 9/11) but we weren't........ This is unacceptable.... We have hospitals, we have so much we as a state can offer yet they aren't coming.... Why??? because they are seen as poor, the under belly??? Not a concern????? It took them all of three hours to find Fats Domino they said today on the news. Three hours??? What about the others???? There are people still trapped on the roofs of their houses, in their attics, on the street.. They said they can't go in because the areas aren't secure. HARRY CONNICK, JR. can make it.. He can walk down the streets but our armed soldiers can't make it in?????? We can rush in and stick our noses in every situation we should stay out of but when we should help we as a nation sit on our hands..... Our soldiers are dying at least 5 I have heard of in the past two days...... Bush says he won't even bring them home for this. Our people are killing each other, others lay in the street dead from the storm, we need our soldiers HERE yet he says they won't be coming to aid our own. The very same situations we are over there supposed to be protecting those people from are happening right here...... These people are expendable casualties. They are of no use and no concern... And instead of saying they should of, we should put ourselves in the shoes of those poor people... And realize, like children, we should have been there to protect them. We should have been on the ready and we weren't. We knew it was coming in and we knew it was a Cat 4 and it was going to be bad. We knew for days prior and now five days out there are people that haven't had water, there are people still trapped in their homes. We have people that can help, we can help and we need to get someone in charge (someone outside of the disaster area) that has the intelligence to get some control. Because the people in charge now are following typical American protocol and passing the buck and running around trying to stay PC and in the mean time people die. Blame someone else and sleep at night... Justify, cow tail and pretend that it is everyone else's fault. Mean while people die. I don't care how many have guns, I don't care how many thugs are looting (many are stealing because there is no word when there will be help, for five days they have had no word about what is to happen next, they have no clue what the world (the world doesn't know what it is doing in the first place) is doing they can just see that they are dying and that their is no one there to help and the people that are there seem to be ignoring the people in need according to the news reports.) There are millions of innocent people that are just being forsaken. What if this had been another attack?????? What if this had been another bombing??????? This is unacceptable and we as a nation should be ashamed and become proactive not sit there trying to blame the victims. Because we, every single one of us could be the victims. We could be holding our dying child, we could be standing by the dead bodies of our loved ones and we could be looting just trying to survive. And I doubt there is one of you in this group that could say after a day of no water you would not break into the nearest store to get some water for your family, forget five days out.... You may not live where disasters like this are typical but who knows were the next bombing could occur... We are structurally vulnerable right now, who do you think might be plotting to take advantage of the fact that millions of our military are deployed and that we as a nation are running around with our heads up our rears. Keep in mind that our commander and chief can't control a situation he knew was going to happen, what happens when something we don't know about happens??? I am just sick over all this...
And last night I was changing channels on the TV and came across a football game. A football game? While our nation screams out in pain they can play a game????? Business as usual.. What a waste of time, money, and man power........... Those people can't get help five days out but those people can play a game that amounts to NOTHING and cost millions to run. I am so disgusted and sick over all this.....
My sisters unit has still to be called up by the way, she called in and got herself on a list of volunteers but her CO said he is chomping at the bits to go and they have yet to receive word........ They are going to try to get this under control with as little as help as they can, once again in typical American fashion I believe that money is a major factor here........ We are paying military to be over seas and we can't afford to call up more than we have to here......... The lives of those people have a price tag on them and you can bet that. They will let them all die because they are expendable casualties...... We all are, don't kid yourself by thinking that you aren't.
DITTO BOBBIE
What we must look like to other countries.
Wow, Bobbie. And Amen, sister, Amen!
DITTO BOBBIE! It seems like Iraq is a lot more important that New Orleans and it's driving me nuts! He is the president of the US, not Iraq!
Ditto Bobbie! DH said last night "They are shooting!! If we go in, we'd better be taking force, but if return fire we'll be criticized. The military can't win!" I disagree, we should be sending available troops in with non-lethal force, the sheer show of manpower in riot gear will help get the situation under control. Then it was a matter of us rushing into Iraq to "help" them without them asking, but our OWN PEOPLE are ASKING for help and being ignored. We're willing to let soldiers die in the name of Iraq, but to risk soldiers to save thousands of our own countrymen, that's not worth it! I wonder why people have no respect for government, look how they get screwed!!
This is just crazy. I cannot believe people are dying in our shelters.
Crys, I think that just the show of force would get things under control quickly. Those people are acting out because they have no clue what is going on... They feel like they have been forsaken and are on their own. They are in the middle of this and don't realize how far reaching this has been. Send in protection, someone in charge and people will work with them. Right now it is just survival mode.
He is the president of the rich man, the men with power are the ones in his concern. We the little man are of no regard. IF this had happened in a wealthy part of our nation he would have stayed up for days and pulled out all stops to prevent this from happening. You think you matter but unless you have a big pay check you don't matter for squat. THEY are expendable, as I said before. THEY aren't going to make the nation richer individually. Speaking of rich. WE are not a rich nation... There are rich people that live here but we as a whole we ARE NOT RICH. We live pay check to pay check. We are debt poor.. And that is they way our nation wants us. dependent on bad wages to make them money... Gouged of all our funds to keep them in vacations and big houses. People are oppressed and kept poor so they can be controlled. We know that what is going on isn't right yet there is nothing we can do because we as a nation have no say.. Our men and women, innocent women and children die in Iraq daily and we say it isn't right and we are ignored. People here die daily and we have no say.. We are pons in a sick game (no different than a foot ball game). Bush is the team owner, he is telling the coaches to go into the game with no back up players. They are not only saying win but he is saying doing it at all cost (the cost of life). They turn the players against themselves so that they instead of playing as a team draws lines in the sand and attack each other and keep each other down. (poor against rich, white against black, women against men, nations against nations) They make players working toward the same goal into enemies and dependent only on them so they can control them. We are no different than IRAQ, or any other third world country. We are given the false impression that what we think matters. But it doesn't. We are the sacrificial lamb. WE are nothing.. Someone said let a lady that makes 20K has her house burn down.. It isn't the government that steps in... It is the citizens that come in and save the woman and her children. Her neighbors, give her cash, give her clothes, give her a home NOT our government.......... Wake up... The government doesn't do a thing for you. the welfare system isn't set up to help you up it is set up to hold you down. The taxes, we give until we can barely survive yet we are told NO funds for schools, no funds for medical insurance assistance, NO FUNDS!!!!!!!! Bush can take a month off of work..... He can make millions a year in salary.... We have the money to support paid vacations to foreign nations so we can show off our wears.. But we the working class we the people are left to suffer to die... They take our money, they take our lives (military). We can fight to save Iraq but we allow drugs, child abuse, murders by gangs, we give our criminals more rights then their victims. We go to other nations and we tell them they should live like such..... Give me a break.......... They go to save a nation that doesn't want to be saved. We are over there allowing our men to die because they (the government) says so BUT we don't help our own......... This is just another prime example of the fact that our governmental system sucks!!!!!
People here (prior) to the storm were homeless, jobless and hopeless. Now we have millions more. And Bush let our jobs go over seas. What are we going to do now?????? this isn't just about those people down there, this is going to have a huge ripple effect...... You may not feel the waves yet but it is going to be far reaching.. You better get your life jackets on because unless someone steps up and takes control the ship is going to go down.........
I just pray that the other nations do not take this as an open invite to invade us because if they had planned to this would be the time to do it. Seeings that our government has no clue what they are doing and this just proves it...
If this had been a surprise attack we would be in a world of hurt........ We knew it was coming and we did nothing. Kind of like 9/11 all over again. They knew they were coming and did nothing... Only difference is this wasn't a human that bore down on us. This isn't a Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama issue this should be YOUR issue..... this is your tax payer dollars at work......... Welcome to America... Where criminals run free and the poor bear the brunt... AMEN.
Interesting comments. Personally I feel like we are working and working hard. I don't see a person in houston that hasn't done SOMETHING. Our red cross shelters are turning away donations and send people to other donation sites because they have too much stuff at some locations. We are feeding thousands of people every meal. There isn't an easy answer. Honestly if we pull all our miliary out of iraq it will take at least a month to get them all home. It is like trying to fight a war in a swimming pool, there is only so much we can do. You can't have copters flying too close together, so there can only be so many. We do have bus and after bus loading the people on dry land somewhere, but WHERE? Okay houston has taken 10k people into the dome, they are full, They are having to pat people down and check for guns, there are several arrests daily. People want to be with their family. What I don't think people are getting is these people are without a home forever really. 70% of those in the dome will remain houston citizens, they are looking for jobs and are just going to stay here. Texas is okay, but come on, how far away from your home do you really want to go. These people are looking for tempory shelter, those who are left are changing their lives. It is a dicey situation, people want their whole family in the dome and are mad that they won't let so and so in. Well, i understand, but I also see where people are just stuck. What is happening in Houston is just amazing, I have seen great help, great resources, our police are all working their offduty shift. We have small business that are adopting families for 6 months, providing a job, house and bill for 6 months. We are trying. But it take time.
How about how our govt is handing things. Well hmmm we didn't shut down the planes, okay, well they can't very well land just anywhere. And then where do they go? We are trucking supplies in as fast as we can, but it is dangerous there, their is threat of disease, the saftey in the water and now people rioting and shooting at the copters. I think bush had no reason to be there, it isn't like he is going to get his hands dirty and start pulling people out of house, heck he could get shot. What are our tax dollars doing, hmmmm I think feeding, sheltering and caravaning 30k people is pretty impressive.
As far as govt help, it is neighbors helping here just like if the house burnt down. I don't want to live in a govt where they handle all our finances and all our money. Yes we pay a lot in taxes, well at least we get most of our money we get to spend it as we see fit. America is far from perfect, but I certainly pick to live here.
No in comparision to the US these people are not rich, but in comparison to the world, every single one of these people had a home, ate most of their meals, probably went to McD on occasion. On those standards we are RICH, all of us compared to the world. It is time for us to dig deep and help our neighbors. Have you donated money? Have you donated time? Are you willing to house someone? Because this is what they are asking houston residents to do, and we are responding just as quickly as we can manage. This is a terrible tragedy, but they happen. This was NOT forseeable. Yes we knew there was a hurricane, yes there were evactuation orders, but a lot of people didn't or couldn't do so. You just can't go in and force people out of their homes if they don't want to leave (well you can, but should we?). Should we have evacuated publically on buses only, well okay, how would you feel if you got out, but on a bus you can't take your stuff, your pet, etc? Also where do you start evacuating? We would have only evacuated NO, well the problem turns out to be much worse in other places. There isn't an easy answer. Getting mad at our govt is not the answer either. The answer is do something, if everyone helps and does something we can lick this. It isn't the govts job to clean up all the messes. It is our jobs as FREE americans to help others. My taxes have done a great job building hwys, paying for security, building red cross shelters. I pick to live here over any where else in the world, the conditions are bad, but so much better than if this had happened anywhere else. We are so spoiled, we are not used to tragedy on such a large scale, other countries have been dealing with huge issues for a long time.
As far as why shouldn't we be invaded? Honeslty there just aren't enough countries with the man power and the resources to come over here and have a true war. They would have to band together and you know what, we would win, because we would fight the meanest.
Again, well said Bobbie. Your words are harsh and difficult to accept, but I think they are correct. I actually wanted to cry reading your post, the situation feels so helpless.
Kaye, your taxes have built roads and provided some security, but there are substandard school, no healthcare, etc. So, we'll all be able to drive on pavement, but our children will barely be able to read the road signs.
Kaye, 9/11 would never have happened is there wasn't the ability to attack us. And they did it with our very own planes......
Houston is not our Government. Those are the very same people that helped that woman that made 20k and got burnt out of her home. You say, "What are our tax dollars doing, hmmmm I think feeding, sheltering and caravaning 30k people is pretty impressive." this is false. The citizens are paying for their care not our tax dollars. The taxes will come out on top of the money they have given already..
I want you to look at the irony of your comment, when you judge mine. You say, "We are trucking supplies in as fast as we can, but it is dangerous there, their is threat of disease, the safety in the water and now people rioting and shooting at the copters." So was Iraq secure before we went in????
Here are some facts on the War in Iraq I found with a simple google search...
Congress approved the Bush Administration April 2005 request of $80 billion more for a third year of US spending, bringing total US expenditures through 2006 to almost $300 billion for war efforts in Iraq.
Troops on the ground Total 161,500, including 138,500 from the US, 8,000 from the UK, and 15,000 from all other nations (other than Iraq)
US Troop Causalities 1,869 US troops; 98% male. 90% non-officers; 76% active duty, 14% National Guard; 73% white, 11% African-American, 11% Latino. 35% killed by unidentified causes; 19% killed by non-hostile causes.
Non-US Troop Casualties Total 194, with 93 from the UK.
US Troops Wounded 14,021
Iraqi Military and Police Casualties 2,945
Iraqi Civilians Killed, Estimated 32,300 to 65,800
Iraqi Insurgents Killed, Estimated 45,470
Non-Iraqi Contractors Killed 300
Non-Iraqi Kidnapped 228, including 41 killed, 113 released, 3 escaped, 3 rescued and 68 status unknown.
US Military Helicopters Downed in Iraq 39
Estimated insurgents, June 2003 5,000
Estimated insurgents, July 2005 20,000, including 1,000 foreign nationals
Daily insurgent attacks, Feb 2004 14 attacks
Daily insurgent attacks, July 2005 70 attacks
Trained Iraqi Troops Needed by July 2006 272,600
Trained Iraqi Troops, Per General Richard Meyers in March 2005 40,000
Iraqi Unemployment Rate 27 to 40%
Average Hours Iraqi Homes Have electricity 11
Length of Gasoline Lines 1 mile
Hepatitis Outbreaks 2002, 100; 2003, 170; 2004, 200.
Car Traffic Change 500% from July 2003 to Jan 2005
Inflation 11.4% in February 2005
Children Enrolled in Primary School 2000, 3.6 million; 2004, 4.3 million
Telephone Subscribers pre-war, 833,000; August 2005, 3.9 million
And the one to make all US taxpayers gasp: World Bank and CPA Estimate of Iraq Reconstruction Needs $55,259,000,000
Yet we have been approved a whole $10.5B in aid and it took them nearly 6 days to get it there and there are still people on the roofs of their houses. But our citizens needed to be secured for the safety of our soldiers??? While OUR children die.. Hmm seems fair right??? Collateral damage (inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations) is all they are......
Actually, I donate monthly to the red cross and I volunteer weekly. Actually most of my family volunteer. They give blood, give aid through the prisons (to the inmates and to the family members of them while they are in jail), we donate cash, clothing and we donate our time. We are very involved with our local Habitat for Humanity, battered womens shelter, food pantry and soup kitchen. My children mow the grass, shovel snow and take out the trash for three of our elderly neighbors for free. I am a pro active citizen and I am raising pro active citizens. And if someone showed up on my door tonight I would move mountains to take care of them. I have been very down in my life, as low as I could go with out ending up homeless. I do everything I can to help anyone I can around me. I don't wait until the world nearly comes to an end to put myself out.
We aren't comparing apples and oranges here. We are talking American citizens compared to American citizens. Those people are poor and I don't care if they eat out or not.... If you can not afford to pay your bills and put gas in your car then you are poor. These are American citizens... If they can rush into Iraq, Asia, Korea, etc etc etc... Than they can go in and get OUR people out, Period... anything else is an excuse......
Don't worry Crys. The kids in Iraq will be able to read the signs for them.
Back to the original topic - from an article in Reuters, quoting U.S. State Department officials:
"The department said offers of help had been received from: Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, NATO, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Organization of American States, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Health Organization."
While it is hard to judge how realistic or how useful some of the offers may be, this should put to rest the complaint that the rest of the world isn't offering to help.
I want you to look at the irony of your comment, when you judge mine. You say, "We are trucking supplies in as fast as we can, but it is dangerous there, their is threat of disease, the safety in the water and now people rioting and shooting at the copters." So was Iraq secure before we went in????
Bobbie, while I get the point that you are trying to make, there is a big difference between taking in supplies and food and water to an area that you are trying to help people and bombing the heck out of the area before you go in. I don't think you can compare the two.
DITTO BOBBIE
What we must look like to other countries.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Emily, here's my impression as a foreigner,
You guys look like a country in distress. Looking at your country now I see a lot of well found outrage, courage and compassion. Where your gov't seems to have failed miserably, Americans seemed to have stepped in with money and resources and rescues. Basically, I don't see a foriegn country in trouble, I see friends and neighbours in pain and need and I know that's how many people all around the world see it as well.
That's very thoughtful, Dawn. Thank-you. ( in tears)
Thank you for those kind words Dawn!
Agreed, Ginny. And Dawn, thank you, that was a beautiful thing to say.
Dawn, I am so glad you said that.. Emily's comment is a common sentiment among American's. Thank you so much for trying to ease our concerns.
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