Hard to Ignore

The news is filled with coverage of the disaster in South Asia. The death toll has gone from initial estimates of 10,000 to the current estimate of 140,000 with another 150,000 survivors in imminent danger of death by disease and starvation. The graphics are mind-boggling. The numbers are incomprehensible.

The headlines are filled with politicians elbowing each other to get to a media microphone to show their heartfelt horror and support for the dead, dying and those left to mourn. Partisans are doing everything they can to show that the opponents are cheap bastards or pinko commies, giving your hard earned money away. The most absurd statement was uttered by pea-brained Sean Hannity. "I didn't see the Indonesians rushing to help us after 9/11."

The US Public Relations guys are doing circus contortions to explain the almost daily revisions in the monetary commitment of our government. I find this to be a silly waste of time. The US citizenry may be accused of a lot of faults, but there is no nation in the world that has tried to do more to help others have better lives. It is true that we are usually so wrapped-up in our own selfish concerns that we seem to ignore the world - especially the third world. But when adversity strikes, we are at our best. Generous. Caring. Willing to help.

There was an earthquake in Iran a few months ago. The US was quick to offer aid - and with no expectation of benefit. Many of our critics in the UN and in Hollywood are dishonest not to acknowledge that the Iraq situation was an attempt to bring peace to the region. You may judge iot to be a failed strategy, and bad execution, but the the intent behind our occupation of that country was to give Iraqis a chance at democracy. I do not believe we went there to control the oil, despite what all the Bush haters say. I think the US is still the only country to win a war and not keep the spoils. Your welcome Europe, Japan, Bosnia, Granada, Panama.

Yesterday at lunch, my anti-Bush companion asserted that the Bush administration was big on promises but they still have not made good on monetary pledges of aid to Africa. This sort of nitpicking does not help. Jon Stewart, fake newscaster of the Daily Show showed a clip of Star Jones on The View (ABC) was discussing the near-miss she had experienced. "I was just there last month," she said, referring to her honeymoon visit to one of the posh beach resorts that was destroyed by the Tsunami. "God blesses." she pronounced, apparently referring to the fact that God held back until SHE was home safe, before going ahead and killing hundreds of thousands of people. Jon Stewart wondered how far up your own ass must your head be to make a statement like that.

To those who denigrate the US, just check the news. Oil Rich and Muslim countries Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were initially reported to be ante-ing up a mere $10million to help the victims. Saudi officials announced yesterday that they were adding another $20 mill. This will actually be paid by the US in the form of higher oil prices.

We are the champions of the world. Don't you forget it.