100,000 Dead??

[wannabethintoo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

You're missing my point. Of course we are rich enough to do it alone. However, we gave $$ billions to relief efforts during the last Tsunami and to some 'leaders' we didn't give enough or react quickly enough for them.

I know what you're saying Perry. It's the thought right? I was surprised hearing on the news today that our Prime Minister Paul Martin is going to call President Bush TODAY and ask what we can do to help. Why did it take so long to ask?

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

I agree with you guys. And I'm hearing that we haven't asked for help, why should we have to ask, shouldn't it just be offered...do we wait until we're asked? I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

http://www.davesdaily.com/videoclips...ompilation.htm

[sadie147]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

I know what you're saying Perry. It's the thought right? I was surprised hearing on the news today that our Prime Minister Paul Martin is going to call President Bush TODAY and ask what we can do to help. Why did it take so long to ask?

Actually Wannabe If you look on page one at my post we did offer help on Tuesday, don't forget this has progressively got worse since the storm. From the news reports i hear the PM is calling to offer support, we have offered our help. We have red cross volunteers and a vancouver search and rescue team on their way down.

I really don't think we can compare this to the tsunami (I hear alot of this onthe tv), which was completely unpredicted and hit a third world country.
they are both horrific disasters,and both were unavoidable, but they are completely different scenarios.

I'm still with finelly on this one

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Wow. I'm surprised to hear that human compassion is deserved more by some than by others simply based on their location! It almost sounds like some folks are taking the attitude that they deserve to suffer because they were in the U.S.!

And for the record, if you had ever been to New Orleans you would know what a poor section of this country it really was. Alot of those people had nothing before the hurricane, so if it is possible to have less than nothing, that is what they now have, less than nothing!

[sadie147]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Wow. I'm surprised to hear that human compassion is deserved more by some than by others simply based on their location! It almost sounds like some folks are taking the attitude that they deserve to suffer because they were in the U.S.!

And for the record, if you had ever been to New Orleans you would know what a poor section of this country it really was. Alot of those people had nothing before the hurricane, so if it is possible to have less than nothing, that is what they now have, less than nothing!

I don't mean it like that at all...and no human life, no matter where it is means any less than any other (rich, poor, US or not). BUT, third world countrys don't have FEMA, billions of dollars, thousands of buses, hundreds (thousands) of airplanes etc. the US, like canada, is an organized country that has the capacity to plan, provide etc. I'm not saying they are any less deserving of help..i think it would be awful to NOT help. but they need to asseses the situation themselves first, and they have the plans in place (well FEMA is supposed to but i'm really wondering about that from what i see on tv? how prepared are they?). I would also like to know where the huge US corporations are right now? i heard about fedex and southwest possibly providing planes. have they? is greycoach sending busses? where are the water/food companies? i've yet to hear much about them running to help the cause..only a couple of 'will be sending'.. it is their country too!


I do think they're completely different situations, and actually i think our govt (canadian) reacted slower to the tsunami actually (which is embarrassing ).

If you ask me...CNN should take all the money their making from all the advertising $$'s their getting from this coverage and send it to the victims.

[rybread]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Finally heard from the friend who evacuated at the last possible second. They got to Baton Rouge, and no hotels could take them - all full. SO they managed to get a last minute flight to Houston, where they then got a flight to Eugene, OR, where they plan to live with her husband's family, and hopefully find work, until they can maybe someday head back to their home.

Of course, now they are completely broke from spending their little savings and credit cards on flights, but at least they're safe, with a roof over their heads.

Sorry guys, I just can't argue politics & semantics when I'm hearing the stories my friend told me today. I just can't.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Finally heard from the friend who evacuated at the last possible second. They got to Baton Rouge, and no hotels could take them - all full. SO they managed to get a last minute flight to Houston, where they then got a flight to Eugene, OR, where they plan to live with her husband's family, and hopefully find work, until they can maybe someday head back to their home.

Of course, now they are completely broke from spending their little savings and credit cards on flights, but at least they're safe, with a roof over their heads.

Sorry guys, I just can't argue politics & semantics when I'm hearing the stories my friend told me today. I just can't.

I'm so glad they made it out! I hope they will be able to pick up the pieces and start over! Thankfully they at least had family to turn too!

[Bugaboo]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Personally, I think we should all put politics aside for the moment and do what we can to help those in need. I plan on donating to the Red Cross, a church of a certain member here who's church is going to Mississippi and I'm looking for agencies in my area that need donations of goods. As an American I see other citizens in need and that will be my first priority. Just what I'm thinking, for what it's worth.

rybread...I'm glad your friends made it out of there. They're about 80 miles from me, Eugene is a nice town, this time of year they should be able to find a temporary job. I'll pray for them.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

I would also like to know where the huge US corporations are right now? i heard about fedex and southwest possibly providing planes. have they? is greycoach sending busses? where are the water/food companies? i've yet to hear much about them running to help the cause..only a couple of 'will be sending'.. it is their country too!

I am positive that alot of corporations are doing alot of things to help in this situation, you're just not going to hear about it in the news. My own company has many activities going on, both corporate and volunteer, to organize aid where possible. But to make a publicity scene about such things will just look wrong.

What we are seeing is a logistics nightmare. Trying to evacuate huge numbers of people when there is no easy transportation system or even communication system to do so (flooded streets, no phone, no power, even cell phones not working), in addition to dealing with fires, damage, and violence, has to be nearly impossible and will take time.

The government and volunteers are doing what they can as fast they can, as best as they can, it is just going to take time and later, we can look back and think about what we all could have done better. And we can still plan and prepare for things like this as best as we can, and it still wont' be enough, as we're seeing right now. An entire major city being flooded and destroyed (among many other small cities and towns etc) is something we as a country have never really faced before, not in these extremes.

Everyone, not matter where they live, needs to help out, in whatever way they can, from money to even conserving gas, or volunteering in aid organizations, fund raiders, etc.

[Hotflats]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

This makes me sad....

I don't think that LA, MISS, and AL getting basically wiped off the planet had anything to do with a political discusion about who isn't doing what for who...do you?

I know that these conversations happen...even in the midst of tragedy...but the US...the President....Canada....Iraq....Australia....Englan d and so forth and so on is not the issue here.....

I have been glued to my television for days...listening to the on line reports at work...teary eyed...heart broken....exhausted....and yet at the same time oblivious. YES oblivious...and striken with guilt.

Here I am watching all this on TV horrified by what I am seeing and hearing like some kind of "Accident Junkie" it is on my mind all the time like an obsession....yet I catch my self...during my break....driving in my car....walking across the parking lot...chatting with friend about low carbing......living my life ~ when all of a sudden it will hit me!

Oh my god...here I am drinking more water than any SANE person needs in one day....eating all this food....laughing....worrying about my hydrangea plant....if I fed the cat this am....and I FORGOT ABOUT THEM! For just a moment I forgot them! Them ~ 1,000's ~ that are dying from dehydration...starving....petrified...mortified... .homeless....confused, uncertain about life....HOW COULD I FORGET...HOW DARE I GET ON WITH MY LIFE.

But, we have to don't we? Just like they will....eventually....

And guys? Everyone...all over the world will help in their own way...when they can, how they can...as soon as they can. Remember no one is more worried about when help is coming then they in the gulf coast!

My prayers are with them ALL!

[shawnee]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to free up funds to pay for the Iraq war.
- the intro to an article by Sidney Blumenthal entitled No One Can Say They Didn't See It Coming available online at Salon.

Link to Article Here

I'm watching here in Sinagpore too on Fox ( we get it)

Let me ask a question how come the US military jumped in the Tsunami relief right away over here committing troops, planees, ships & swinging into actiom imediately but right in our own country 4 days later where are the military resources? Why havent they been committed? Are our own citizens not as important as Aceh Indonesia?

By the way over 30% of the entire National Guard from the three states affected; men & women who signed up to protect their country and their way of life who are now sitting helplessly in a complete quagmire on the other side of the world (Iraq) while they watch on Fox News their houses getting looted and their neighbors being shot at.

This administration will have a lot to answer for in the coming days, weeks, months.

[psigna]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

I live in Mississippi about 5 hours from the coast. To date, we have about 200 refugees in our convention center and the number is expected to grow to around 5000 if they told it right in my daughter's school today.

They are planning to turn our old school into a shelter as well.

We took items out there today. My hospital is taking up things as well, but I wanted my children to experience this, to be thankful.

They have a 5 day old baby out there. All of our local businesses are pitching in. Even the local movie theater is providing them with entertainment. They were signing up to go to the movie when we were out there dropping off our supplies.

I have relatives on the coast as well., Some went to Houston before it hit, and my sister in law that lives in Mobile stayed. She is OK, thankfully.

My sister lives in the middle of the state, and she just got her power back today. This has affected the entire state of Missisissippi.

[rybread]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Here I am watching all this on TV horrified by what I am seeing and hearing like some kind of "Accident Junkie" it is on my mind all the time like an obsession....yet I catch my self...during my break....driving in my car....walking across the parking lot...chatting with friend about low carbing......living my life ~ when all of a sudden it will hit me!

Oh my god...here I am drinking more water than any SANE person needs in one day....eating all this food....laughing....worrying about my hydrangea plant....if I fed the cat this am....and I FORGOT ABOUT THEM! For just a moment I forgot them! Them ~ 1,000's ~ that are dying from dehydration...starving....petrified...mortified... .homeless....confused, uncertain about life....HOW COULD I FORGET...HOW DARE I GET ON WITH MY LIFE.

You hit the nail right on the head. This is exacly how I've been feeling. You articulated it *perfectly.*

[Finelly]

Re: 100,000 Dead??

Given the wealth in this country, both government and private, I would prefer that other nations contribute to places like Darfur and other locations where people are starving and dying.

Wouldn't it be awful if they gave to us and then had nothing to give to those places...........

We are giving money, but we refuse to give to the Red Cross because of the International Red Cross' position on Israel. We are giving blood. I am sure that churches, synagogues, schools, clubs, and other institutions will begin major efforts to raise funds and support in the next week or so.

Yes, it is awful what is going on, and I am glued to the television. Now is not the time to place blame or second-guess, but to DO. And DOING means we do not stop our lives, or feel guilty that we are ok. It means making sure that those whose lives HAVE stopped, who are NOT ok, have the wherewithall, long-term, to become like us.