12.31.04
Still reeling from the tsunami aftermath. The death counts keep increasing by the hour. I made a small donation to the International Federation of the Red Cross Red Cresent, small in comparision to what is needed in full, but not bad, compared to what the US government is contributing per person. The more I read about the aftermath and the situation on the ground, the more helpless I feel to do anything. I think this might help explain my antsy feelings as of late.
Watching C-Span and reading some articles online, I can’t help but notice and be ashamed of the selfishness of some of my fellow citizens in their comments. Some Americans seem to think that since the countries in the region that were affected did not help people in Florida with the hurricanes, they shouldn’t expect anything from the US. And some others claim that there is simply not enough money to go around, that with the government already so bogged down in debt, there is no money left for humanitarian efforts. Nevermind that most of the deficit is being pissed away in an expensive and bloody war, and as the structual result of massive tax cuts to the upper class. One estimate I read puts the total cost of the war as $100B annually, which is a crazy amount. I maintain that if we as Americans choose to continue down this path, then we will simply have to pay the costs, in higher taxes, and in human lives. I for one do not think that this war is worth it.
The other day I was reading something by a right-wing conservative writer about liberals being part of the “Blame America First” crowd. That is that when faced with any criticism, or countering opinion on an issue, they immediately question the person’s patriotism, claiming that hey blame America for all of the worlds problems. I’m sure that these arguements might be a source of comfort for many in the economic north who do not think that the US should extend any humanitarian aid or help, and aren’t too happy about hearing any criticism from the UN. Irony is that while we were so critical of the UN, bragging that their hesitation during the march towards war that they would thus become irrelevant. Now when faced with a humanitarian disaster of historical proportions, we are quick to defer responsibility to them.
Then there is the issue of the cost of the presidential inaguration is almost as much as the total amount of Aid that we are sending to the region. I’m sorry, but facts like these just make us look like a bunch of rich kids refusing to share any of our toys.
I’m just waiting for some fundy bigot proclaim that the victims of the earthquake and tsunami deserved to die because the majority of them were not Christians. I’m sure that there is more than a handful of the faithful who are thinking this.
What a way to ring in the new year.