and that's all caps, baby.
Over the last few days, I've grown tired of seeing comments like this float up like the fecal matter they are, over and over again, by people desperately looking for a scapegoat to hang the blame on.
"That was a BS post, US help was so slow, so slow to act compaired to the actions that where taken for the victums of the tsunami over sea's. "
HELLO! Aid is coming, and has been arriving as much as is possible for an impossible situation. But there's not a rescue or aid worker in the world that enjoys being cussed out, shot at, abused in the media, and blamed for the foolish choices of many, they're out there laying it on the line to help a lot of people that made bad, bad choices, starting with where they live, and continuing with staying put for the storm.
Furthermore where are people getting the idea that tsunami aid was so quick in getting to Indonesia and the other nations surrounding the Indian Ocean. May I quote my good friend the wikipedia? I'll look up the news sources too if ya like, but it's a decent source to start with.
"On 3 January, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the donor nations to ensure that their pledges will be fully honoured, pointing to previous cases where "we got lots of pledges, but we did not receive all the money."
Hmmm about one week later, how 'bout 3 months?
"In mid-March, the Asian Development Bank reported that over USD 4 billion in aid promised by government was behind schedule. Sri Lanka criticised the nations and organisations that clamoured to pledge donations, “Not a penny had come through yet."
If you like this, start looking at the material goods, you'll see teams sent, planes sent, blankets, teddy bears, rice. Everybody sent something, even Kim Jong Il. But when did they start going? Middle of January, beginning of February. One week after, two weeks after, six weeks after. The big stuff didn't start arriving for a week at least, and mostly two or three weeks later.
New Orleans got what was around as soon as the storm lifted enough to send people end. Big help started arriving in less than two days. It's a week now, and FEMA's there, the Army's there, the Coast Guard's there, the National Guard's there. Shit. In a few days I'll be there to help my sister, and if I can find a place to help, I might stick around for a few days.
Moreover, communities in all the surrounding states have opened their arms to take in refugees. How long was it before Texas promised the AstroDome to the refugees? I live in a tiny city in central Texas near Killeen, and I know of at least 600 refugees are being taken care of by the community as of two days ago. People are opening their homes and their churches to strangers.
Aid arrived fast, and more is arriving every day. Contrary to what I've been seeing time and again, as far as speed goes, the tsunami aid had absolutely nothing on the aid that arrived and continues to arrive in New Orleans.
For crying out loud, stop looking for people to blame, and start looking for ways to help."