Posted on 08/31/2005 10:09:41 AM PDT by quidnunc
London – If British Prime Minister Tony Blair had not been vacationing in the Caribbean yesterday, it seems a safe bet he would have announced to the world that Britain feels deep sympathy for its freshly wounded ally, the United States.
He might have been wrong.
In fact, to judge by the reaction of some Londoners yesterday to Katrina's rising death toll, Britons seem to feel the United States is overdrawn on sympathy.
In an online discussion group set up by The Guardian newspaper, for example, one man sneered that George W. Bush will "blame global warming, or 'ecological terrorism' for this extreme weather event." Another said the disaster will be all the worse because the National Guard, which so often helps in relief operations, "is in Iraq to provide for the comfort of U.S. occupation forces."
And there was much snickering over which wing nut televangelist will attribute the devastation of New Orleans to Genesis 6:13, in which God, about to flood the sinful Earth, tells Noah: "The end of all flesh is come before me … behold, I will destroy them with the Earth."
When bombers struck London's transport system on July 7, Mr. Bush stood respectfully behind Mr. Blair for a news conference at the G8 summit in Scotland. It was a pose that spoke to the special relationship the countries share as fiercely principled allies in an unpopular war.
In the days that followed, the floral tributes that piled up in Tavistock Square and King's Cross came in large part from tourists, especially Americans. The scene was much the same that day at the British embassy in Washington, D.C., where one man carried a sign saying, "Today We Are All British."
And yet yesterday, as London's afternoon tabloids told of 55 dead and counting — almost exactly the July 7 death toll — there was not a tribute to be found.
-snip-
Stingy.
Boy but aren't they a cynical bunch?
How would memorials help, anyway?
I have serious reservations that this ass-monkey speaks for the British people.
And to think I've always liked the British...
What do you think? Is this true?
Terrrorism and natural disasters are two different animals. Hurricane deaths and destruction don't merit international weeping and moaning.
It would at least be some indication of solidarity, if nothing else..
"I have serious reservations that this ass-monkey speaks for the British people."
I tend to agree. I don't think the British know exactly how devastating this hurricane was to New Orleans. I don't want to jump to conclusions and I have a strong suspicion that this article is meant to drive a wedge between the British and Americans.
This is the thanks we get for bailing them out of two wars. This is the thanks we get from the Germans for our brave pilots and air crews keeping them from starving during the Berlin Airlift. This is the thanks we get from a continent that would be under a jackboot but for 400,000 American dead, trillions in aid and military spending,and one damned favor after another. And which is the ONLY major country to offer help? Vladimir Putin's Russia, which was also the first to offer help after 9/11.
That is an affront to ass-monkeys.
People, look at where the writer of this has gotten his remarks and comments from: a UK Guardian discussion board. Hardly pro-US source. Please keep that in mind.
I don't read too much into this stuff. I think the rest of the world realizes that America can take care of herself.
FWIW, I think prayers and well-wishes would go a long way.
Another "anti-Brit" article eh? :-)
Folks, please keep in mind this article is referring to the Guardian chat board. That's like the DemocraticUnderground of the UK.
Please! I'm sure the Brits are as upset as anyone else in the US not directly affected by the hurricane.
What was the British response to the tsunami?
This should be no different.
In other words, it would not help at all. "Solidarity" doesn't shoot looters or get the electricity back on.
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