Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Katrina and World Support?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167791,00.html

Somehow I'd like to discuss this issue constructively. That being how many American's feel the rest of the world always expects us to give but that we never receive anything when times are tough for us (Katrina). I'm pretty much in the boat agreeing with the article above.

I was thinking the very same thing last night watching some of the coverage on New Orleans. Wow ! I think this might be the first time I have ever agreed with something I've heard on Fox.
oz

Dead Center on Target...

{Sound of crickets chirping}

WhatFurrer

Exactly right!

Yes, interesting indeed. One point that probably should be made is that we are, as the aricle states, in fact a wealthy country; well, at least about two thirds of us are. And guess what group a lot, maybe most, of the people who are suffering the most fall under? And when I say "suffering" I don't mean loss of profits, I mean their personal lives and wellfare. I see no diference between a tsunami sufferer and a hurricane victim if they both come from the same economic classification. Their lives are at the same state of frailty and they are just as deserving of the entire Worlds attention.

There is a lot of debate in Canada about this. In theory we have offered a whole whack of support and been told "not yet" -- most people up here feel we should be heading down anyways even if we are not wanted, although part of the reason is that we don't trust our governments to tell us the truth about ANYTHING any more...

EDIT - For the record, I do feel this is as big a disaster (in the making at least; the real problems haven't started yet) as any in the world, and every bit as deserving of support. There over 500,000 homeless people in one place and they are going to need a huge amount of rushed in infrastructure to stay healthy.

On the lighter side, part of the problem is that all us other countries rely on USAF transport planes to move our search & rescue stuff around unless we charter from the Russians

The link doesn't seem to be working anymore. A new article took it's place, and they haven't updated the archive link. I think from your original message I have a pretty good idea of what the article would say though. Although help from elsewhere would be nice, I think the part about us being a wealthy country is correct. The 3rd world countries get the help during disasters, but the 1st world ones are expected to fend for themselves for the most part. That's just the way it works.

I also find it staggering that New Orleans will be pretty much closed for 3 months.

Here's the link again...It's called "The Silence is Deafening..."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168045,00.html

Zarak is correct although there are a number of 1st World Countries the US has helped out in the past...

I still hear only crickets...

WhatFurrer

I can't agree with everything in this article.

Our (Canadian) news stations this morning were advising people to contact the Red Cross and make cash donations. Food and clothing are not needed at this time there is no infrastructure to handle it. Hydro teams may go to assist and I believe some offers have already been made.

I can state for a fact that Canadians have already donated money to the cause. As much as Fox would like to believe otherwise; you are not alone on this one.