"Dear Mr. President"

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Originally Posted by cloud no.9

so why is new orleans in more requirement of your help than 3 million in niger? the refugees from genocide in rwanda, uganda and sudan? the government enforced starvation in zimbabwe? 30,000 children a day in africa in general even.

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And why should they be in more need of my help than New Orleans? I'll assume you think these people need more help than those on the south coast, so forgive me if this assumption is inaccurate. I don't judge or question you about who needs the help the most, I just feel glad that you have helped suffering humans (I'll also take the liberty of assuming that you have) in some way.

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because this storm catches the headlines. the people crying you can understand. they could have been your next door neighbour. you feel closer to them in that way. aside from the fact that there are greater disasters this very second this will catch the headlines first. and the headlines are what you donate money to. this tragedy as it is is pushed and pushed and pushed on the first item of the news and the headline of the paper day after day until you feel compelled to act.

it's not acting out of compassion for human suffering otherwise the niger crisis never would have happened. it is acting in the interest of what you are told to care about. and there lies the great problem.

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So because we're told about New Orleans and the rest of the south coast by the media this instantly means that the people there are not suffering and that they do not require help?

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i don't judge you for not giving to charity. i never will. but don't wear it like a badge of honour when you do.

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If you don't judge me on whether or not I donate to charity, then why are you asking if I have? Also I'd appreciate it if you could show me an example of me bragging that I had donated to charity, because I can't seem to find what you're talking about. You asked me a question and I answered it. But for the record, I don't mind if you view me as a great hero or as a sucker for giving any amount of money for charity. I've just tried to give something back.

You missed Fresnos question, Cloud.

Personally, I think youre trying too much of acting like a hypocrite, but if I'm wrong, good for you, and into helping humanity. We gotta help ourselves before we get into anybody elses business.

Question- Why is the US obligated to help EVERYBODY else when they are in need, but when we are in need, we have to support ourselves to contain the situation? Wheres our help there?

The media will provide more coverage of the hurricane's aftermath than of places like Niger because of geographical proximity. Sad as it may be, most Americans don't care what happens halfway across the world unless it involves Americans. Why do you think after every plane crash, the news will say something like "no Americans were onboard"?

If you're gonna rage against something, you may as well rage against the media instead of individuals like Rye and myself. That's futile, of course, because the media is everywhere, but hey.

sorry i did miss fresno's question. i do give money to charity. 10% of my monthly wage.

rye i didn't say you were bragging i was warning you against the trappings of doing so.

i respect anyone that gives money to charity but i will not shun those who don't.

the people in new orleans do not help. but that help cna be gained by far without the international community. the us is not a third world state like niger or sudan. it is the richest and most powerful nation on earth and what is lacking in this disaster is not money but man power and organisation. you can't buy those. food, water, might and money america has plenty of.

hawkeye. it is not solely america's reponsibilty to help. it is all first world nations' duty to end injustice, starvation, suffering and pain in the third world. not the other way around. the us is rich and powerful enough to take car of itself. i doubt uganda is.

fresno is the media not a reflection on society?

the way i figure it is if u dont live close enough to where its happened u aint gotta complain about it, us people in houston have to take care of all these people. theres rival gangs shooting at eatchother down-town, people roaming at nite, its weird.
a lot of the people r coming to our schools too.

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Originally Posted by Rye

The blame game doesn't actually do anything to help anyone so why play it?

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Exactly.

thats exactly the way i see it, if u aint or cant do a better job then someone else then y complain? thats a big problem in America we all complain about our president or the war, when most if not all the soldiers believe in what their fighting for. we just need to support not make things worse.

that's something i would have thought i would hear in nazi germany.

don't criticise. fall in line. you need to support your country. your either for us or against us.

it's not true.

establishing blame prevents repeats of this. that's why we need it.

ok u dont live here, trust me it doesnt help at all. we were doin this years ago and it hasnt helped.

why is pointing out that your country is flawed a bad thing? it's anti-american? un-patriotic?

what???

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Originally Posted by Cloud No.9

why is pointing out that your country is flawed a bad thing? it's anti-american? un-patriotic?

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You're not an American, so I don't see how it could be either.

How about we're sick of others bitching about how screwed up our country is? It's our country, we know it's screwed up, so sod off back to England and work with your own government.

well first of all i'm not english. never lived in england. probably never will.

no need to be so agsressive.

people dont talk about us because were screwed up, even though were not, i speak the truth when i say alot of people just hate on America because we kick major butt.

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Originally Posted by Cloud No.9

well first of all i'm not english. never lived in england. probably never will.

no need to be so agsressive.

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Fine. Will you please tell me where the hell you do live so that I can stop getting it wrong?!

And, yes, there is a reason to be so agressive. We don't tell you how to run your country, so don't tell us how to run ours.