Tsunami stuff

[pdiggitydogg]

So...why is it that we all jumped on this "help the tsunami victims" thing?
Is it only because the rest of the world wants to help some fat, rich people with their future vacations?

It can't seriously be to help the actual residents of these areas. If that were the case, why not help all those people in other areas of the world just the same?

Gee, maybe if we pulled a shit load and a half of our Iraq forces and put them where they could be of use we’d be better off and not so...“stretched” on military forces.


Why is it that this idea is only now really starting to show up in the news and in people minds? Am I the only one that's thought this all along?

[V8killimports]

Sorry but the in the hell are you talking about? I find it funny that we get critisized for not helping enough (even though we are basically running relief aid operations and even deployed a small military force there) by the same people who said "the rest of the worlds problems are not ours". Democrats seem to never be happy about anything..

[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by V8killimports
Sorry but the in the hell are you talking about? I find it funny that we get critisized for not helping enough (even though we are basically running relief aid operations and even deployed a small military force there) by the same people who said "the rest of the worlds problems are not ours". Democrats seem to never be happy about anything..

Not sure how political affiliations tie into this...especially when both sides of that table are morons...but I get what Pat's saying. We got criticized early on because we pledged $15M in support. Some private companies were pledging twice that (Pfizer pledged $35M alone). Then we pledged $35M. That buys you 4 hours in Iraq. I think we're doing a great job now with the military, but I do agree with Pat in the sense that where the fuck were we all along when these people's lives were so shitty before? I'm also kind of pissed that most of the attention is focused on Thailand even though 2/3 of of the dead are in Sumatra...most likely because all of the white folks were on vacation in Phuket rather than Sumatra. And I can't be the only one sick of seeing that slut/supermodel Petra on TV after surviving that thing. Where's the profile of some 12 year old named Boontang (or whatever....but don't laugh, that's a Thai name) who survived the same ordeal? Surely the world is a better place because some dumbass supermodel was spared! Fucking pisses me off. A little OT at the end there, but aren't I always?

[pdiggitydogg]

Yes, I think we should leave the rest of the world alone...by not policing the damn thing.
Aid is different.

And exactly, Steve, my point is the whole thing about selective aid. What makes this tsunami thing more important than the rest of the world's problems? Because its new? Because it has money behind it? Because it makes us feel better about it being the result of a natural disaster?
Its fine and good to have an entire telethon for this, but we can't do that for the 'save the children' foundation?

[Wren57]

It is "more important" because it killed 150,000+ people in less than an hour. Name one thing in the world that even comes close to the scope and magnitude of the tsunami.

As for why we are helping thailand... well... remember the deal with them and China... connect the dots.

[pdiggitydogg]

and millions of starving children who are still alive are less important?

[Wren57]

No; hence the quotes. But it is easier to "ignore" the millions of starving children because there has always been millions of starving children; it isn't a new problem... it is an old problem that we help with some, but realize WE CAN NOT feed millions of children; it is simply impossible. We CAN, however, help with the new problem, the tsunami.

[GT40FIED]

No one's problems are more important than anothers...especially if you're the person with the problem. My guess is that this'll be a lot like what happened after 9/11. A bunch of telethons and events to raise money (I swear the stage for the tsunami relief thing was even the same one they used after 9/11) and then people will start forgetting. Remember how after 9/11 people had this profound respect for cops all of a sudden? Yeah...look how long that lasted. I think a lot of people are just rushing to help the victims of the one disaster they didn't actually help cause.

[MissJDM]

Originally posted by highlander
No; hence the quotes. But it is easier to "ignore" the millions of starving children because there has always been millions of starving children; it isn't a new problem... it is an old problem that we help with some, but realize WE CAN NOT feed millions of children; it is simply impossible. We CAN, however, help with the new problem, the tsunami.

We realize that we can't help the millions of children..so we don't exphasize in it..because we KNOW it just won't happen. Right?
What makes people think they can help EVERYONE in the tsunami disaster? They can't. So, what's the difference in that theory of yours?

[Wren57]

It is much easier to feed/clothe 150,000 people "until they get back on their feet" than it is to feed/clothe millions of people indefinately. Geez you try hard to find flaws.

[MissJDM]

If I didn't try, what was it then?

Do you think that one outfit per person and a jug of water will help get them back on their feet much sooner?

[pdiggitydogg]

No, I find it interesting that people all jump on this whole thing and never give the rest of the starving world a second thought. I guarantee that if it were in the news and some celebrities jumped on it the rest of the population would follow like lemmings

[Wren57]

I don't even understand the first question...

I can tell you this much; if I had nothing, and I mean nothing, I would be DAMN glad if someone gave me a jug of water and an outfit. But, of course, you exaggerated a fact to fit your theory that we aren't helping enough instead of creating a theory from fact. Typical. We are doing more than giving 1 outfit and water. Look it up if you don't believe me. What do you want us to do, rebuild cities and buy everyone's essentials for a year or two? Do you know how much money that would cost (not just in the items themselves but in paid salaries of supervisors, staff, etc).

[pdiggitydogg]

Rebuild cities and stay for more than a year or two? Why does that sound familiar? Oh wait...Iraq.

There are HUGE payoffs for construction workers there now. I only do part-time work in it and even I was offered $200k to go there and build. Where is that for tsunami aid? Where the hell is this money coming from? Maybe from the same place as the $millions inauguration bash

[MissJDM]

You make it sound like I read your posts to look for flaws in an attempt to make a pun and bring you down. Uh, no. Secondly, I still believe that no matter how much we help this tsunami cause, it won't completely recover as far as family health goes. My point being is that either situations is a loss on our end. Don't think I'm cold-hearted and think that we shouldn't be helping; my parents donated $1000 with $300 each from my savings and my brother's savings. The point being, Highlander, is that everyone conforms and in situations like this, it's quite obvious. Pat has a very valid point about celebrities' donations. I can't picture even YOU disagreeing with that. By the way, my previous post was not an exaggeration to prove anything, but it was exaggerted enough to see my side of the limb. I guess you can say, expanded. As for the one outfits, how much food and clothes do you think we're giving them? Do you think that will completely turn things around? No, but it's something, right? Well, why can't you donate to those children..you can't get em all, but it's something. A little bit of everything helps.

[MissJDM]

It's a fxcking bandwagon.

[pdiggitydogg]

Originally posted by MissJDM
It's a fxcking bandwagon.

Thank god someone said it! Thank you Lyna

[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by highlander
It is much easier to feed/clothe 150,000 people "until they get back on their feet" than it is to feed/clothe millions of people indefinately.

What?! Of course it's easier to feed and clothe 150K people, but don't pretend it's so hard to help other people. Think about it...if we stepped up and gave $100M to help starving people and we got...say...5 other wealthy countries to do the same. You'd be amazed how much you could irrigate, farm, feed, clothe, educate, and immunize for $600M. But hey...fuck them, right? They didn't get hit by a big wave. No doubt it's important to help victims, but the problem will be there long after Sheryl Crow, Leonardo Di Caprio, and your next door neighbor have forgetten about it. That's the problem with bandwagons...they don't last too long.

[Mischief]

Originally posted by GT40FIED
What?! Of course it's easier to feed and clothe 150K people, but don't pretend it's so hard to help other people. Think about it...if we stepped up and gave $100M to help starving people and we got...say...5 other wealthy countries to do the same. You'd be amazed how much you could irrigate, farm, feed, clothe, educate, and immunize for $600M. But hey...fuck them, right? They didn't get hit by a big wave. No doubt it's important to help victims, but the problem will be there long after Sheryl Crow, Leonardo Di Caprio, and your next door neighbor have forgetten about it. That's the problem with bandwagons...they don't last too long.

please name five other countries that would do that. ty.

[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by Mischief
please name five other countries that would do that. ty.

You'd be suprised. Hell...Japan stepped up BIG TIME for tsunami aid. $500M when we were still stuck at $35M. Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but if Bono put his name on it you bet people would sign up for it. Off the top of my head....I bet you could get money from England, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and probably at least one of the bigger Asian countries.

[thermal]

wow... another great topic. I'll keep my opinion to myself tho.....

Although I didnt know that some people can get $200k for being in Iraq. Shit, If they give me $200k.... or even just half of that.... each time I deploy there, I'll be a one pimpin' muthartrucker...

.... continue on.....

[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by thermalfi'd16
wow... another great topic. I'll keep my opinion to myself tho.....

Although I didnt know that some people can get $200k for being in Iraq. Shit, If they give me $200k.... or even just half of that.... each time I deploy there, I'll be a one pimpin' muthartrucker...

.... continue on.....

I've got a cousin in Iraq as a "civilian contractor" (he was 5 years in the Army...3 years special ops) as an aircraft mechanic. I don't know how much he's getting paid, but he figured after 2 years there he'd be able to kick back and not work for a good while. Shit...give me some heavy equipment/diesel training and I'll go fix Hummers for that much.

[IALuder]

i with thermal. im not going to address my opinion becuase i would end up like wren. everyone would try to bring my veiw down.

[Wren57]

Hah, it is cool, I'm not worried about it. But when I say things, don't attack me for what I'm saying. You ask why we aren't helping; I answer. I don't agree with it, and think we SHOULD be helping, I just see to the reason we aren't. I wish we would help the starving children, but yes, the tsunami thing made news and is a bandwagon; it is a talking piece at work or with the family; "how much did you give?"

And yes, everyone is conforming to giving; but at least they are giving something to someone... better than conforming to something else like buying pre-faded jeans or pre-torn shirts (man I hate that shit).

[IALuder]

i havent givin shit. nor will i.