Flippy - I Rant, You Read

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

late evening

Idiot of the Day - Las Vegas Review Journal Editors

This is a quote from this morning’s Review Journal editorial column. “And yet, many people around the world said the United States didn’t offer enough support in response to the tsunami. A U.N. bureaucrat went as far as calling Americans and other Westerners “stingy.” It was an insult of the highest order to the world’s most generous nation. So where is the rest of the world in our time of need? There’s nary a peep from the “global community.”

I cannot BEGIN to tell you how sick of this crap I am.  For one, we’re the richest country in the world, based on spending power.  We’re amongst the top several countries based on income.  But we’re 12th amongst the 21 richest nations overall in helping the world’s poor.  No, people, we are NOT #1.  Denmark is number one.  We’re number one in arrogance, always thinking we’re number one in regards to everything else.  Yes, sure, we have a nice country, but that doesn’t make us the be all and end all of the world.

Secondly, and most importantly, in regards to the ignorant statements of the Review Journal;  I’m going to quote a news story that was published today regarding other world leaders expressing condolences, after the RJ editorial was printed.  However, while listening to CNN yesterday afternoon, I heard with my own two ears and saw with my own two eyes, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, expressly say that we’d received calls from other countries offering help.  In addition, there was this article from Associated Press that states, “From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States” and this “Whether aid is sent, most nations did offer sympathy.  French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages of sympathy to President Bush. China’s President Hu Jintao and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II also sent messages of condolence.”  Plus, there was this from The Toronto Star -” Canadian officials have started getting ready to send whatever type of aid the United States requires to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said today.”

So, RJ editors, quit your whining and spend your time doing research instead.  A person with a modicum of common sense would just hazard a guess that other countries would offer help and aid money.  So, with that common sense, the average person would do a little research and note that, yes, aid had been offered.  Las Vegas is a big city now, we should have a big city newspaper.  Instead, the paper is full of half-truths and hyperbole.

Right now, I’m having trouble understanding why the American Red Cross needs the support of the average American.  Do we not have enough government money to help the poor victims of this disaster?  We’re spending billions in Iraq, so we surely should have enough money to help Americans get back on their feet after such a tragedy, no?  We’ve donated money to charities that are going into the affected areas to help rescue animals.  I’m assuming the US government has enough money to help people in the area.  Our donations went to Best Friends Hurricane Relief Fund and Noah’s Wish.  I expect the government to take care of its people, but I know they won’t take care of their beloved pets.