Posted on 09/02/2005 1:34:49 AM PDT by ChristianDefender
Do you want to know what the definition of ungrateful is? It is being clearly spelled out for us in the world's response – or rather, its lack of response – to the carnage wrought by Hurricane Katrina earlier this week.
Though much of the U.S. Gulf Coast, including a healthy portion of our oil and gas production and refining capability – 30 percent of which resides in the Gulf of Mexico region – lies in ruins; though tens of billions of dollars in damage has been done; though hundreds of American citizens have been killed; though millions could be without power for up to a month; offers of international aid and assistance to help us get back on our feet are not exactly pouring in.
As of this writing, I've seen exactly two offers of assistance. The first comes from Venezuela, whose left-wing leader, President Hugo Chavez, is simply pulling a public-relations stunt and using our misfortune to jab a stick in the eye of the Bush administration, which opposes his anti-U.S. regime.
The second comes from Ontario, Canada. Yes, that's right – just that lone province, not the whole of the Canadian central government.
Excuse me if I don't exactly get misty-eyed from all of this generosity.
Meanwhile, as our rescue teams, military, and emergency management agencies work to save lives and restore some semblance of order and sanity to the stricken areas, the cost estimates for physical damages (the cost in human lives can never be measured) is in the scores of billions of dollars. One estimate puts the estimated price tag of Katrina in insurance claims alone at around $25 billion.
These figures are paltry to a country with a $10 trillion economy, but let's look at the bigger picture: It's the thought that counts, and right now it sure doesn't look like our "friends" and "allies" are giving our problems much thought. Truth be told, some of our buddies are probably even laughing about our misfortune, in a sneering "you-got-what-you-deserved" kind of way.
Yet, even as our own people suffer, die and otherwise watch their lives and dreams wash away before their eyes, our leaders are giving away taxpayer dollars to help other countries at present.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the United States spent a record $18.7 billion on foreign aid in 2003 – a figure which has risen substantially since President Bush took first took office in January 2001. That figure alone would take a huge chunk out of the price tag for Katrina.
We also spend billions more dollars abroad to help others deal with everything from AIDS prevention to stamping out anti-government militias. And let's not forget that little $1 billion donation to help the Asian tsunami victims earlier this year. Aren't we the thoughtful ones?
But it's always this way, isn't it? I mean, haven't the professional and collegiate sports clubs said it best when they reminded us this week, as they ramped up relief efforts and dug into their own pockets, that it is the American way to be generous to a fault when our neighbors are down and out?
That simply means, of course, when the chips are down we Americans know who to count on in a crisis: ourselves.
So to the rest of the world – you ungrateful leeches – I say this: When we decide "unilaterally" to defend ourselves the next time we're attacked; when we next opt to "unilaterally" battle a global evil like terrorism because no one else can or will; when we act "unilaterally" to insist global organizations like the United Nations clean up its act; now you know why. We're used to going it alone.
And one final note: Don't call us ... we'll call you.
60 replies in the face of undeniable tragedy, almost all about "coulda, woulda,shoulda and who's to blame".
I can understand why many FReepers feel animosity towards Canada, because for the mostpart, I feel the very same animosity towards Canada.
Alot of Americans are 100% justified in their anger towards us. There is no excuse for the shoddy treatment Americans have recieved from our lefties over the last few years since Bush took power.
You didn't bother to read even the first couple replies to this thread before you asked, eh?
I missed it, thanks for the info.
Well, given the interconnectedness of the world, I doubt it's wise or possible to "sort out all our problems alone". But right now the world is witnessing us floundering around like a third-rate banana republic in the face of a disaster that WE KNEW was coming.
A lot of us here have been saying that the war of terror certainly includes securing our borders, beefing up security around ports and chem and nuc plants, and maintaining vital infrustructure - the levees around NO being cited as early as 2001 as one of three most vulnerable domestic areas. The admin. has dropped the ball on all three areas.
As someone said on another thread, most other countries offering aid to us is somewhat equivalent to us offering aid to Bill Gates if his house burned down.
Yes, we are a generous country, and we can afford to be. Yes, our politicians are generous with our tax dollars whether it's a financially good move or not, and we do have the resources to do much good in the world, so I'm not really complaining. I thought our aid was from human kindness, and didn't think it had strings attached.
Since we actually do have the resources to handle this ourselves (if we can find the organization), I think it's very generous for other countries to offer to help, and I think belittling their contributions is snarky.
You're welcome to disagree, as you apparently do.
I personally don't care if anybody sends us help. We don't help out in order to get paid back, we just help out because it's the right thing to do.
WND is no different than the dems when it comes to going by the playbook: they never get facts get in the way.
It doesn't work that way. It's the responsibility that goes along with being the wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world.
Perhaps John Dougherty (just another political hack reporter) should actually learn what's happening before commenting on it. Of course, he is a reporter.
Yes, well if a small minority in New Orleans had decided to act like grown-ups, then there wouldn't be this problem. The reason why it took so long to evacuate everyone is because a bunch of thugs decided to loot the city. There's an implicit arrangement between America and its citizens; in times of national tragedy, you act with courage, not malice (like NYC). And enough people in NO broke that agreement that it led to this tragedy.
As for the "help" of the international community, I live in the greatest country on Earth, the world's only superpower, and I'll not have my country humilitated by taking foreign aid from Kofi and Kompany like it's a third world hellhole.
All the years, it never occurred to me that the US ever tried to humiliate any "third world hellhole" by offering its generous help. Vice versa, I expect friends and allies to offer help the very moment they realize that help is needed and welcomed.
Good news for the U.S...
I know this article is quite in contradict with what is happening this time. Maybe the writer was just overcome by his emotion pertaining to how some nations reacted with the tragedy... particularly some muslim nations.
But in some aspect he may be right as well.
Yep they had... but its up to the President to receive the aid...
Well i think Dubya is thinkin': "We donate most of U.N.'s fund, their financial assistance would not much help.
Well said.
I agree with you on that "responsibility thing". God has blessed United States of America with such a tremendous financial capacity, that's why it's imperative for the country to share what it has. But it think it is not proper to be so generous to the point that some American citizens itself are not enjoying the benefit of citizenship under the wealthiest country in the world.
Well, he's better than the MSM's who always find fault in the U.S.
So do you feel the same way about the 1 mil. from Venezuela?
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