Both at a government and a personal level, we spend billions in helping out grief the world over, for which all too many people take our money with one hand and flip us off with the other. Thank you for renewing my faith in humankind that there are actually people out there whom we help and who are grateful. God bless you.
To Rubyliu..I heartily endorse all the messages my fellow Americans have posted here regarding the beautiful people of China. We grieve and pray with you each day as we see and hear the reports of this terrible disaster. When I see the beautiful Chinese daughters in our nation, born in the hearts of their adoptive parents, I know we have an eternal bond with the people of China. Our hope and prayer is for continued healing, hope and friendship between our nations and our people. Please let us know how you are doing.
I agree for the most part with your comments, but, we DID after all take over the Philippines for 50 years (and put down a very bloody revolt in their South while we were at it.) Yet, our rule must not have been TOO tyrannical: The Filipinos (and Filipinas) fought alongside us* in the Philippines “tooth and nail” in WW2, and, in the end, we did the right thing and gave them their freedom.
*Few know it, but Philippine resistance fighters and a few U.S. personnel who managed to stay free from Japanese patrols were able to deny large parts of the Philippines from Japanese control, by the time MacArthur returned. (MacArthur helped the resistance with submarine runs and air drops of supplies.) Some think the excellent sci-fi story “The Tuvela” was loosely based on this bit of history.
(If you are a FReeper, and an individualist, you should read “The Tuvela”.)
Anyway, got off topic there... It IS nice to see that someone does appreciate our thoughts and prayers. It is also nice to see this discussion not degenerate into the garbage found on some other forums. (Thanks, FReepers & Mods!)