PrintSeptember 17, 2005
How not to help with tsunami relief
It took MoveOn.org five days to realize they could exploit the tsunami tragedy to once again condemn George Bush.
Donate to relief agencies, they commendably urge. Tell Congress and the President to give US aid, they suggest, cleverly directing members to the MoveOn site.
Well, du—u—h! Within hours of the disaster, the US government began planning relief and rescue as did organizations in the field. All the media quickly assembled e mail and snail mail addresses and phone numbers of reputable relief and collection agencies and are repeatedly publicizing them.
But MoveOn has another,more important, mission——to embarrass Bush. They join the whining chorus that the $35 million offered is too low, not realizing, or more probably, not willing to admit that this was an initial figure and will increase.
And then MoveOn reveals its real objective. We want to be known as a nation that leads the world with compassion, generosity, and community —— not with disastrous foreign military adventures. . . .
The $35 million offered by the Bush administration seems like a lot of money, but it's insignificant compared to what's needed in a disaster relief effort than spans continents and is expected to be the most expensive in history. To put it in perspective, we're spending $35 million in Iraq every 7 hours. (The Bush administration is about to ask for another $80 billion (sic) to cover the next installment of this tragic occupation.)
No that's not putting it in perspective, it's an ad hominem, diversionary argument that has nothing to do with the task at hand. And if they must link the two, freedom and safety from terrorism in the Midlde East is more expensive and more dangerous than a natural disaster.
Ethel C. Fenig 12 31 04
