Devastation in America

[oldrider]

I can't help wondering about the contrast in reaction to the Tsunami victims and the poor bloody victims currently in USA. I can't hear the screams of urgency to provide aid this time. Will the oil rich Muslim nations spring to the aid of Americans? Will America be condemned for reacting too slowly? Will the rest of the world rush to Americas aid? I doubt it. I think we will all just sit and watch while the poor old yanks are left to sort themselves out. Such is the curse of generous nation. The lord helps thems who help themselves. Can't help feeling very cynical about this. I hope I'm wrong. Cheers John.

[Warren]

well in terms of deaths

Katrina
116 direct, 19 indirect

2005 European floods
42

Tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, that had a magnitude between 9.1 and 9.3, triggered a series of lethal tsunamis on 26 December 2004 that killed over 310,000 people (more than 220,000 in Indonesia alone)

That is the reason for the difference in reaction

[Motu]

The Yanks can do it all in house,they are really,really good at this sort of thing.Argentina has offered aid,including fuel.I know Telecom workers who took extended leave to get Florida phone systems up afer a hurricane about 10 yrs ago...they were paid well for it,but they went there to help,not fleece them...

[MacD]

well in terms of deaths

Katrina
116 direct, 19 indirect

2005 European floods
42

Tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, that had a magnitude between 9.1 and 9.3, triggered a series of lethal tsunamis on 26 December 2004 that killed over 310,000 people (more than 220,000 in Indonesia alone)

That is the reason for the difference in reaction

Not to mention Bangladesh:

2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

and so on...

Or 20,000+ civilian deaths in Iraq

[Velox]

Yeah but help was offered for tsunami-hit countries cause they needed outside help. There piles of other states in the US that are loaded and can easily help.

[Waylander]

Things like this the States are better off left alone. Take care of thier own and such. You'll notice that they often don't ask for help at such times, 'least never that I've heard of.h

[Pathos]

I think the biggest difference in attitudes is because USA have a first world medical system and plenty of resources (National guard of 19 states have been activated).

But my prayers still go out to those who passed away.

[SPORK]

I think the biggest difference in attitudes is because USA have a first world medical system

Pah, in a real life test between Cuba, America and Canada, Cuba came first, Canada second and America last.

But the plot thickens. These results weren't allowed to be seen of TV, so they had to change it to Canada first, America second and Cuba third.

One of the reasons I don't trust the news any more..

[SARGE]

Pah, in a real life test between Cuba, America and Canada, Cuba came first, Canada second and America last.

But the plot thickens. These results weren't allowed to be seen of TV, so they had to change it to Canada first, America second and Cuba third.

One of the reasons I don't trust the news any more..

eh?.. real life test of what?..you lost me after "pah"

incidentally.. the US goes through this 4-5 times a year.. i remember the mess Huricane Andrew made of South Florida in '92 ( http://www.sptimes.com/2002/webspecials02/andrew/) ..
we have the plans in place to deal with this type of disaster.. the medical/relief/recovery infrastructure is world class in the Gulf and east coasts.. i, myself have been in about 1/2 dozen tornados, a couple hurricanes, countless crippling blizzards and one earthquake.. Civil defence was right on top of it before shit stopped hitting the ground

[Lou Girardin]

BTW. 800 people died yesterday in Bagdhad.

[SARGE]

BTW. 800 people died yesterday in Bagdhad.

yea Lou.. its a war zone .. they should think about moving..instead of food and medical supplies.. the Mighty UN should supply Moving Vans ( how many of those 800 were killed by Iraqi Suicide bombers targeting thier own people?)

check out this :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071300336.html

how many US troops deliberatly target kids?..

none

quit talking out of your ass and get a reality check

[MSTRS:Me]

At the risk of appearing cynical and not caring......I am helping. I'm donating 11.5c/l every time I buy petrol now.

[Lou Girardin]

yea Lou.. its a war zone .. they should think about moving..instead of food and medical supplies.. the Mighty UN should supply Moving Vans ( how many of those 800 were killed by Iraqi Suicide bombers targeting thier own people?)

check out this :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071300336.html

how many US troops deliberatly target kids?..

none

quit talking out of your ass and get a reality check

Nothing to do with the invasion or Merkins in general. It was a crowd stampede at a religeous festival after a rumour of an attack.
Reality check?

[ManDownUnder]

Nothing to do with the invasion or Merkins in general. It was a crowd stampede at a religeous festival after a rumour of an attack.
Reality check?

I think it's a simple balance between the magnitude of the disaster (how many innocents are caught up in the thing), and the ability to deal with it.

Gross generalisation time, but America is good at looking after it's own, and is a reasonably resource rich country. It won't happen overnight - but they'll recover better than a number of other countries would have if faced with the same scenario

Re the tsunami - lots of innocents hurt - and the resources and infrastructure were not as strong as those in the US, and the years of war and unrest had left the civilian population well below strength and somewhat impoverished anyway.

In my opinion the tsnuami is in greater need of help.

Nothing against the Americans, or anyone else for that matter.

I think Lou raises a good point though - and I'll happily paraphrase (correct me if I miss that point Lou) what about the 100's of people dying and suffering on a daily basis that we never hear about - most likely because their news agencies are either controlled (Mugabi style) or simply don't exist through a lack of funding/infrastructure?

MDU

[WRT]

Sarge - that was a pretty heavy handed reply to Lou's comment. You link points to another event, not the one Lou is commenting on.

One thing that upset me was the comment on the news today that in the states there have been comments comparing this current natural disaster to the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. Ok, so there will be some disease around during the clean up period in America, however, can you really compare this to the fallout effects of a nuclear bomb? In particular one that the nation making the comparison itself dropped onto non-military targets?