Tsunami Death Toll Tops 80,000 - (Could reach 100,000)

cnn.com ^ | Wednesday, December 29, 2004 | cnn

[crushelits]

Officials just reaching hardest hit areas in Indonesia.

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (CNN) -- The latest death toll from the Asian tsunami has increased to more than 80,000 as relief workers and supplies begin to reach some of the most devastated areas.

The dramatic rise of the number of deaths came Wednesday as officials were finally able to reach remote regions -- like Indonesia's Aceh province, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Maldives.

More than half of those deaths were reported in Indonesia, the nearest land mass to Sunday's undersea earthquake that triggered the deadly waves and flooding in about a dozen countries, from Thailand to East Africa.

Four days after the quake, Indonesian authorities said they had found mass destruction in Aceh. The capital of Banda Aceh, which was closest to epicenter of the quake, was described as largely destroyed.

Red Cross: Tsunami Toll Could Top 100,000
GENEVA (AP) - The international Red Cross said Wednesday that the death toll from this week's earthquake and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean could rise to more than 100,000. ``We're facing a disaster of unprecedented proportion in nature,'' said Simon Missiri, Asia Pacific chief at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. More »

[Jon Alvarez]

and that's your opinion. You're entitled to it.

[dfrussell]

and that's your opinion. You're entitled to it.

Not to worry: I wasn't going to ask permission :-)

[Paridel]

I don't know you, but you are entitled to your opinion. I find it to be very annoying when people hiding behind internet anonymity lash out at others for sharing their opinion. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, I too get really irritated with anonymity. People who believe that their thoughts and ideas are more important in a public arena than their social status or position in life.

For example, when Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote The Federalist Papers under the pen name of Publius. Seriously what where they thinking.

Sorry, just a little friend joshing. If someone is attacking your personally and hiding behind anonymity then sure, but even if you don't know their identity their thoughts are there, exposed for all to see.

When someone posts often the reputation of their screen name is important to them, perhaps no quite as important as their real name, but its integrity is still something to be guarded.

-paridel

[Paridel]

Hmm, my paragraph got jumbled somewhere between my brain and the keyboard.

Sorry, just a little friendly joshing. If someone is attacking your personally and hiding behind anonymity then sure, you should be upset, but otherwise even if you don't know their identity their thoughts are there, exposed for all to see.

-paridel

[Jon Alvarez]

I understand...but often we are seeing extreme expressions made which are emboldened by anonymity.

Just my 2 cents...I've nothing to hide

[Paridel]

we are seeing extreme expressions made which are emboldened by anonymity

Well that may be true, personally I say nothing on Free Republic that I would not (or have not) said in public in real life, but sadly some people may lack the courage of conviction to do the same.

If someone honestly believes what they write than I would encourage them to say the same things in public, but if the are not comfortable doing so I wouldn't want them to stop posting here honestly with semi-anonymity. However (and this is possibly what you are talking about?) I do get irritated with individuals who posts things they do not really believe just to get a rise out of someone.

-paridel

[tuffydoodle]

"I understand...but often we are seeing extreme expressions made which are emboldened by anonymity"



It's happening more and more. Also, when you see someone with a differing opinion from yours ping all of their buddies, it's time to get the heck out of Dodge because the lynch mob is coming!

[Jon Alvarez]

tar and feathers...wonder how brave the DUers would be if forced to use their real names...I've nothing to hide.

[tuffydoodle]

Nor do I.