Thousands stranded beyond hope (100,000 people on island near epicenter still unaccounted for)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | December 29, 2004 | Lindsay Murdoch in Banda Aceh and Sean Nicholls

[Sea2ShiningSea]

I gave to http://www.worldvision.org. I hear they are very reputable. I don't know if you are a Hugh Hewitt fan, but he also recommends them.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

See post #59.

Have you ever read any line by line audit of how, where and who got the aid? There is ZERO accountability, and that is why we have the "Oil for Food" example.

If you wish to throw money down a black hole, or if you wish to give money that may well end up helping to build a bomb to kill Americans, that is your problem.

I say it is idiotic to give one cent to any international charity. If every American gave nothing, the government will STILL take our tax dollars and give it to terrorists, who were supposed to give it to the needy.

Let me ask you this: let's say an earthquake struck Iraq. You then give money to the Red Cross. The Red Cross gives money that gets to the Sunni Triangle "leaders". No matter how much death and destruction you see in Iraq, this "humanitarian assistance" $$$ would be used to build more roadside bombs that will kill more American soldiers. It would NOT be used for Iraqi homeless.

Do you think those running Sri Lanka will do anything different? What about in Indonesia? There are more terrorists in Indonesia than there are in Iraq.

It is your money. If you want to fund terrorists or line the pockets of dictators, that is your choice.

[William Tell]

Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 said: "Giving to charity will rise if the rape and pillage of American taxpayers stops."

Attacks on the Boy Scouts and the increase in anti-gun laws caused me to divert almost a thousand dollars a year from charitable contributions to direct support for organizations which share and can help protect my values.

If Arnold wants to help survivors of this disaster, I propose that he shut down the gun registry in Kalifornia and divert the money saved anywhere he chooses. Until that happens, I will continue to use my resources to protect my own survival.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

I saw a piece by a writer just today who asked "why is it that we gave Floridians low interest loans after the hurricanes, but we give cash dollar grants to foreigners after this tsunami?"

As to your second point, it is not "punishing" the victims if you fail to give to charity. The money you give will not get to the victims. You need to understand this. It will feed dictators Swiss bank accounts, but it will not get to the victims.

This writer also stated that "Indonesia said that they are unable to reach many islands in remote areas. How is it that your dollars can reach these people if the Indonesian government can't even reach them?"

Think!

[rwfromkansas]

Floridians should be used to hurricanes. Hence, no freebies for them.

This disaster is hitting people in which you don't expect an 9.0 earthquake every year.

That is the difference.

[cwiz24]

I don't see it as actually giving money to the people in Indonesia. I would give my money to the Red Cross or some other organization, that organization would buy food and other supplies, or send medical personnel over there. The money is spent here--the goods bought by my money are sent there.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Thanks for some sound logic. Nice to see an open thinker and a right thinker here.

You would get a kick out of post #65 (in response to post #64). Ckeck out that "logic" for a good laugh.

[cwiz24]

In my opinion, there is nothing "right-thinking" about selfish behavior. I sure hope your family is never devastated by a natural disaster and then you need charitable assistance. I have plenty of money--I can share it with organizations that have the ability to go over there and help. I cannot physically go over there so I will do the next best thing--send someone in my place with goods and services that I have paid for.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

You think so. You sound like a good person at heart, so you want to believe that your money will directly help some victims.

People like you who continue to feed charities make it possible for the American government to continue to give away over $1 trillion dollars in "charity" every year.

The waste and corruption will go on as long as "good hearts" like you continue to be suckered.

[cwiz24]

So I suppose we are to ignore the devastation in Southeast Asia? I AM a good person at heart and will donate what I have excess of to people who need it immediately for such a horrific disaster. I will NOT donate my money to people who can and should help themselves. This is not that type of situation. However, I will do my research first.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

In my opinion, there is nothing "right-thinking" about selfish behavior.

Your "thinking" is twisted, cwiz24.

It is not "selfish", it is the ability to see through the smokescreen.

I resent the annual $1 trillion dollars of forced "charitiable" giving (wealth transfer of taxpayers to nontaxpayers). THis money could be used to fund disaster relief--instead, it is wasted.

I am appalled we give money to the PLO terrorists and terrorists of many nations.

I know dman well that money for tsunami "victims" will not reach the "victims". Most will go to corrupt officials or be lost in "administrative expense".

I know clearly that much "charitable giving" gets into the hands of terrorists who build bombs that kill Americans.

I (we) am/are not "selfish". We are astute observers of reality. You are in lala land.

[Ciexyz]

I'd recommend giving to faith-based charity groups where the largest percentage of your dollar is put to direct, practical use.

For instance, in my local area, the Rotary Club collected for flood victims of the September flooding. They promised that 100% of our donations would go to help flood victims, because all relief efforts were directed and delivered by volunteers.

[Coldwater Creek]

Why are you donating to an organization that has turned their backs on our military for many years, and charged them for simple things such as coffee and donuts? My husband has been the victim of the Red Cross, so I am not just repeating rumors.

[cwiz24]

I'm so glad you live in a vacuum. It must be lonely.

Fine, if gave money to some random organization in Indonesia, maybe it would be put to poor or dangerous use. But I never said I was going to do that. I would give to a reputable organization in the United States, like the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. You are acting like boxes and boxes of money are sent over to South Asia. Not true. Also, since you are so knowledgeable about charities , maybe you should discover something called an Annual Report. It's where, among other things, the organization reports the percentages of its money that gets spent on different items. Some money HAS to be spent administratively, but you pick the organization with the best track record and the least amount spent on administrative and salary costs. It's quite simple.

www.charitynavigator.org

It's called compassion. Look into it. I may be in lala land, but you are in lonely, curmudgeon, selfish land. Guess where I would rather be.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

I know you are a good person--you just do not have the ability to reason and be rational over this issue.

Florida hurricane victims (AMERICANS) were offered low interest loans, but foreigners in Sri Lanks will be given cash grants--that SHOULD appall you but it doesn't.

America and other governments will assist these people whether you give money or not. If you think your giving to a charity will somehow help, you are wrong. You do not understand the depth of corruption that is in most charities.

If you can rest easy knowing that some Americans have been killed by weapons and terrorists attacks funded through various "charities", then go ahead. I feel sorry for you.

You place blind trust that all these people in these charities are saints. There are no checks, there are no audits, there is no report on how the money was distrubuted. The level of skimming and corruption in internatioanl relief agencies would shock you--it does not shock me.

[cwiz24]

Go ahead. Feel sorry for me. I couldn't care less.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

No, I feel much better that I will not contribute to organizations that are anti-American.

Annual Report? Ha! I would love to see the Annual Report for the "Food for Oil" Program.

Remember, the United Nations ran the Food for Oil. Are you saying you trust the Red Cross Auditors any better than you trust the United Nations? The Red Cross (International Red Cross) can be as anti-American as any organization.

You miss the big picture in Posts #59 and #62. You have no answer for the key points raised.

Go ahead and throw you money away, or worse, have your money used to kill Americans.

[William Tell]

cwiz24 said: "I will NOT donate my money to people who can and should help themselves. "

From whence comes the helplessness of the people in that part of the world? How much did that part of the world send to help in Florida?

The rest of the world is allowed to behave like American liberals, blaming the evils of the world on American freedom and excusing themselves from the necessity to plan for the future and take responsibility.

I consider myself to be at war with liberals here in Kalifornia and I have nothing to spare for other battles. My right to keep and bear arms is under attack. Won't you send me some cash to fight? Or don't you care enough about my freedom?

[cwiz24]

Are you accusing me of giving money to terrorists?

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

I couldn't care less.

Really?

You could care less that Florida hurricane victims were offered "low interest rate loans" after their natural disaster, but foreigners will be given cash grants???

You could care less that the people in charge who will be responsible for distributing this money are thugs and dictators?

You have not responsed to Sri Lanka's demand that Israel relief workers not show up on their soil!!! Yet, you think money going to these people will be used properly?

And you don't want me to feel sorry for you? But I do! I feel real sorry for an Amerian who helps feed international terrorists but somehow thinks that is being "good-hearted".