America Saves the World- Again

Larry,

Why the title making out that America is 'saving the world'? This tragedy has affected the world and the all nations are rising to the cause, not just America. I think a little humilty in this terrible time would be a good thing.

Peace to you too,

Maso

yeah, aren't we great? let's pat america on the back some more...

*moment of silence*

Although I admire your patriotism and self-gratification on being a citizen, I must point out that 'America' is doing less than it should or can. The globe is pouring out resources, donations, aid workers, and time. It just so happens to be the United States, with her gushing coffers, mighty military, and poor global relations that has no option but to help (strategically speaking). I'm afraid your article smacks of elitism, and, as 'dynamaso' so poignantly stated: "I think a little humility in this terrible time would be a good thing." Even though I donated through Church towards the relief, I'm still driving to school and work, I still saw my family through the holidays, and I eat three square meals a day. So you will not ever hear me brag about my contributions, because I'm in good shape, and hundreds of thousands are without family, friends, businesses, food, water, etc. They deserve compassion, not bragging rights.

I think the point is that the US does a lot, even for Muslims, who it supposedly is waging war against.

I think the point is that the US does a lot, even for Muslims, who it supposedly is waging war against.

What the... I thought America, and the other countries in the Coalition of the Willing, were waging war against Terrorism? So, when does America plan on taking on Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and other Muslim countries? I had no idea this was the agenda...

Just for the record, the point of humanitarian aide is to help those less fortunate than you, REGARDLESS of the their political or religious beliefs.

Cheers,

Maso

America deserves this pat on the back, you treasonous whores.

Pat America! NOW!

lol myrrander. yeah, it' could have been a touchdown for the us, but at least bush finally did the right thing. so, did everybody donate a little?

You guys make a good point. As liberals and the UN have pointed out, the US is stingy and selfish and doesn't do enough for the world.

Messybuu, I respect a lot of what you say, but you have clearly pointed out the tragic 'spin' that has caught the U.S. in a dizzy spell; we are not at war with Islam. This is not a Crusade, and we aren't waging war with Allah. We are waging war (supposedly) with terrorism, which includes groups from FARC in Columbia, the Taliban and Al Qaeda, the Basque revolutionaries in Spain, and ELF (the environmental liberation front in the United States). I'm not trying to kill a dead squirrel here, but those groups contain people from the Roman Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church, atheists, agnostics, protestants, Shintoists, and even wiccans. Personally, I would like to say that I wish people would set fire to Wal-Mart and McDonald's, but that would be illegal according to the Patriot Act. But in all seriousness, please don't think we are at war with Muslims, because if that's the case, I have a couple of friends I need to be informed that I have to kill or capture them next time I see them when they return from deployment.

I never said I thought the US was at war with Islam. Others, however, apparently do, including Muslims themselves.

Messybuu,

I don't mean to be pedantic, but the following is exactly what you said:

"Reply #4 By: messybuu - 1/3/2005 10:38:45 PM
I think the point is that the US does a lot, even for Muslims, who it supposedly is waging war against."

the US is stingy and selfish and doesn't do enough for the world

This is a matter of personal opinion and should matter to nobody except for Americans themselves. What they give is a matter for them and them alone. Any aid is a bonus not a right. Personally I don't believe this to be true and the UN made clear that people have read something into statements that was not there. Certain individuals (especially in the US, as well as abroard) were critical of America's initial $35M pledge and the delay in sending US ships to the region, but the US has since compensated for that admirally.

It's sad though how people on both sides try to use such humanitarian disasters to score political points against others. The whole 'We give more than you' mentality is awful.

Paul.

I don't mean to be pedantic, but the following is exactly what you said:

"Reply #4 By: messybuu - 1/3/2005 10:38:45 PM
I think the point is that the US does a lot, even for Muslims, who it supposedly is waging war against." You aren't being pedantic you are being dim.  Did you not read the word "supposedly" which meant that other sources have inferred that our war is against Muslims.  Poi Dog said we are "supposedly" at war with terrorism.  That tells me that "some claim we are warring against terrorism but I question that."



Paul, I couldn't agree more. It is very sad that we just can't look at all people as fellow human beings and help those who need it and simply be grateful for help we receive.



Also, as Larry pointed out, the Red Cross site is overwhelmed with people trying to donate. This is partly due to some dispicable charaters posing as collectors of relief donations who are actually thieves. Argh!! How scummy can you get?!

Wow, don't know what the heck happened with that comment!  I can't edit it either so please know I didn't mean for it to look like that.  I highlighted the quotation and commented as I always do.  Don't know how it got underlined and crazy like that.

You aren't being pedantic you are being dim

JillUser, you waded into this discussion insulting me. Good on you. I mean, what better way to hold an open, adult discussion. What is up with this behaviour? Messybuu wrote what he or she did and I responded, okay? Just for the record, here is another definition for you:

supposedly
adv : believed or reputed to be the case [syn: purportedly]
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

As you can plainly see, the definition doesn't follow on to say 'from other sources'.

Maso, I apologize.  I still find your argument on this thread frustrating since it is so obvious to me (but apparently not to you) that messybuu is pointing out that many around the world have accused the US of being anti-muslim and that our efforts should show that we aren't anti-anyone.  The US is extrordinarily humanitarian and it irks many of us to no end when our efforts are responded to with "not fast enough" "not giving enough" or some other negativity.  We not only give in monetary numbers but we rebuild and maintain infrastructures in places we gain nothing from.  We do all these things because they are the right thing to do not to gain appreciation because history shows that ain't gonna happen.  We don't need a pat on the back, we just ask that we stop getting the kicks in the shins.

 

Thank you all for commenting. Let me offer some recent facts. My source is here: http://www.freep.com/news/nw/quake4e_20050104.htm (although you can find corroboration elsewhere on the web.)

"Although the United States was not among the first at the scene after the Dec. 26 tsunami thousands of miles from U.S. shores, it is now spearheading the international relief effort and delivering more supplies than any other nation.

In Indonesia, U.S. helicopters flew at least 30 sorties, delivering 60,000 pounds of water and supplies, from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln along a 120-mile stretch of Sumatra island's ravaged coastline."

At this time, the US is the major player in providing relief supplies.

Here is a breakdown of committed aid by country (major contributors):

"Japan is the biggest donor among 44 countries that have promised aid, pledging $500 million. The other big donors: Britain, $96 million; Sweden, $75 million; Canada, $80 million; China, $60 million, and Taiwan, $50 million. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia each pledged $10 million. The United Arab Emirates is promising $20 million. And East Timor, one of the world's poorest nations, pledged to send $50,000 to Indonesia, its neighbor. Indonesia ruled East Timor for 24 years, often brutally.

Corporate America also opened its wallet. Among the donors: FedEx said it will ship 200,000 pounds of medical supplies; Pfizer is donating $35 million in cash and medicine; Starbucks said it will donate $2 for every pound of Sumatra coffee it sells this month, and Citigroup is giving $3 million to charities."

So, in summary, the US is providing the most immediate aid. Food and medical supplies are urgently needed NOW and the US is the major provider. The US government is the second leading contributor in future financial aid, if you add the costs of the current efforts to the future commitment and add the contributions of US based corporations and private citizens.....well, I stand by the headline.

Now, one might ask why Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are contributing so little by comparison....but perhaps that is for a future blog.

Jill, apology accepted. The point I was trying to make to Messybuu is that America is not at war with Muslims, but this is obviously a confusing issue for some people. I KNOW America is not anti-Muslim. I am also aware of the humanitarian resources America has put into play around the world. I wasn't kicking America in the shins either (not that you accused me of this).

America has committed $350 million in aid to the survivors of the tsunami in Asia, becoming the second largest financial donor. (Japan, bless it's generosity, has committed $500 million in aid.)

I think I was a little bit taken back by the conceit of Larry's title when he quite clearly points out in his first sentance that both America AND Japan have made considerable financial committments to helping the Tsunami survivors as have many other nations of the world.

The point I was trying to make to Messybuu is that America is not at war with Muslims, but this is obviously a confusing issue for some people.

Apparently it's confusing to you anyway. Messybu knows America is not at war with Muslims. Sarcasm, which JilllUser and others understood was missed by you.  His point was that many Muslims try to argue that America is at war with them which is patently untrue and this incident is just another illustration of the US helping Muslims.

One issue that people choose to ignore - writing a check is easy. Delivering aid is not.  You want to take food to displaced residents of the Indian Ocean? How ya going to get there? Canada's military, for instance, cannot even get there which is why they've sent no troops.

The US military, which costs hundreds of billions per year, is the only existing infrastructure that can actually deliver all this international aid to the people who need it on a moment's notice.

The $350 million the US pledged is chicken feed compared to the BILLIONS spent to provide what is essentially the world's fire department/rescue team force.  And it's frustrating to see some guy in say Denmark or diplomat in Norway complain that the US doesn't spend enough when it ignores the amount of real money being spent annually. 

I sometimes think some people think that international aid gets delivered by magic fairies or something.

No confusion here, Draginol. And incidentally, I understand sarcasm perfectly, when I hear it...

Canada's military, for instance, cannot even get there which is why they've sent no troops.

The following is a cut and paste directly from CTV.ca news:

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DART team ready for 'non-traditional' mission
--CTV.ca News Staff

Canada's DART team is ready to depart for its "non-traditional" mission in Sri Lanka, a Canadian Forces officer says.

Col. Pat Stogran told reporters at 8 Wing in Trenton, Ont. Tuesday that normally, DART is deployed quickly, to provide aid before non-governmental aid agencies arrive on the scene.

It also has focused on providing help to a devastated city, not a vast region, he said.

"This team is going to go in close to an existing hospital and provide support to the people who are already there," CTV's Rosemary Thompson told Newsnet.

The location for the team to deploy has been picked.

"As it stands right now, based on the reconnaissance done up until now, the Disaster Assistance Response Team will deploy into the Ampara region of Sri Lanka," Stogran said.

That is near the southeast coast of Sri Lanka. An estimated 10,000 people were killed in the area and another 105,000 were left homeless.

Sri Lanka was chosen because the government wanted the help and because the recognizance team, which left Dec. 30, identified a need, he said.

A usual DART deployment is about 40 days, but Stogran said he didn't know yet how long this mission would last.

The team will have four water purifiers with it, each capable of producing 50,000 litres of clean water per day, he said.

It will focus on producing clean water for the local hospital, he said.

The 43-member medical team will have a limited capability. It won't be capable of handling trauma or surgical cases, Stogran said.

However, its health focus will be on providing primary health care to fight the secondary infections that might come as a result of a breakdown in sanitation, he said.

The unit's 200 people and 300 tonnes of equipment will ship out from Trenton, Ont. starting Thursday.

However, 20 more members of an advance team are heading out today, he said.

They will fly into Colombo, the capital city, which is on the west coast.

The team is being transported by two Russian-built Antonov heavy-lift aircraft. Moving the team will take a total of four flights.

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No confusion here, Draginol. And incidentally, I understand sarcasm perfectly, when I hear it...

Then why did you insist that Messybu thought that we were at war with Islam? You clearly thought that was what he meant so you apparently do have issues understanding sarcasm.

UBoB: 1) What Canada may do in the future has no bearing of what they've done so far. and 2) Did you read it carefully? They're sending 200 guys. That's less than half my high school class was.

First rate article; I especially found the sentiment in your title very fitting. I only wish we could do more to help the poor souls so tragically affected by this tragedy. It would seem that those on the left should show some humility and thank the American military for their efforts. Their acts and the good will there from will make us Americans safer. The Mike Moore types, on the other hand, who vilify America and project this self-loathing image of America aboard, on the movie screens of hundreds of theaters, give the very bullets used by the likes of Bin-Laden.

UBoB: 1) What Canada may do in the future has no bearing of what they've done so far. and 2) Did you read it carefully? They're sending 200 guys. That's less than half my high school class was.

Well, they are sending people and they are getting there under their own power (remember, these are highly trained people, trained specifically for this kind of thing. I don't think that the half of your high school class you mentioned could accomplish what these people are trained to do). We are a small country, population wise and money wise, and so our response cannot be as quick as the US. However it does come.

And if you had read the whole article you would've known that a recon. team was sent a week ago and also the first 20 members of an advanced team were deployed today.

Canada has been burned way too many times in the past to rush headlong into anything. The limited military has to be sure to deploy resources where they are absolutely needed. I mean, there's no use duplicating something that's already being done by some other country, say, oh, the US for example.

Anyway. People are getting the help they need and that is good. Ultimately, that's what matters.