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O/T As true in 1973 as it is today....

653 views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  lomodyj 
#1 ·
The commentary by Gordon Sinclair

[ QUOTE ]

"The Americans"
The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany.

It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help?

The Americans did.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Misssissippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help.

Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped. The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans. I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes. Come on... let's hear it!

Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 107? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws..are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here. When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble?

I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians.

And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke. This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped.

ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND AUDIO COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD. (c) 1973 BY GORDON SINCLAIR

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#3 ·
Hey, whether the government of a nation pitches in or not, many individuals do what they can. I plan to donate money to the Red Cross or Salvation Army as I'd like to help out someone who needs it. Borders and nationalities should be put aside when a man or his family needs help.
 
#4 ·
I would like to also add that Canadian Hydro Electric workers have been sent south to help restore power and repair transmission lines. I agree with old Gordon's sentiment, that the United States have given much and received little in return, but to say its true today that no one helps you out isn't exactly getting the facts straight. I know Canadian volunteers worked at the site of the world trade centre disaster as well. I agree, more should be done than is. Its only right.
 
#5 ·
You're 100% on the money with that one. And I don't think anyone would disagree with you that one, however unfortunately most of the time all people see is what is/isn't being done by the majority (i.e. government) and not the individuals. We may poke fun at you guys up there, but we definitely appreciate you! And I'm sure it's the same on your side... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/40BEER.gif
 
#6 ·
Shameful: Only 25 Nations Offer Help to the U.S.

Stewart Stogel, NewsMax.com
Friday, Sept. 2, 2005

When the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated many nations across Asia in December, the United States rushed to the aid of victims by pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance - just as it has offered aid whenever a natural disaster strikes in another country.

Now the U.S. is facing a catastrophe of its own from Hurricane Katrina.

Though the U.N.'s own top official for disaster relief has called Katrina one of "the largest, most destructive natural disasters ever," shamefully only a handful of nations - at last count just 25 nations of the 191 countries in the United Nations - have come forward to offer assistance.

And almost none have offered what America has so often provided: money.

And the aid so far offered by foreign nations amounts to a drop in the bucket considering the anticipated multi-billion-dollar cost of dealing with the immediate crisis and the reconstruction to follow.

President Bush has urged Americans to send cash donations to private relief organizations rather than in-kind contributions such as clothing and food.

The same could be applied to foreign nations, most of which have been on the receiving end of massive financial assistance from then U.S. over the years.

President Bush told ABC-TV Thursday morning: "I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars.

"We would love help, but we're going to take care of our own business as well, and there's no doubt in my mind we'll succeed."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided that "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The American 'Tsunami'

The offers of assistance so far pale in comparison to the aid pledged by the U.S. for tsunami relief, including $346 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Defense Department for their relief efforts, $339 million for reconstruction and $168 million to help victims with food, shelter, housing and education.

In addition, a private fund-raising campaign led by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton brought in more than $1 billion for tsunami victims.

In fact, at least one-third of American households have donated money to an aid group in tsunami-hit nations.

Now the U.S. is trying to deal with the "American tsunami."

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan acknowledged the extent of the disaster, saying through a spokesman: "The damage is far worse than any of us imagined at first. The American people - who have always been the most generous in responding to disasters in other parts of the world - have now themselves suffered a grievous blow."

But he went on to add: "Of course the United States is also the country in the world best prepared to cope with such a disaster."

While Annan has not spoken directly with President Bush, he did meet with America's U.N. ambassador John Bolton to convey the U.N.'s readiness to help.

While it is true that America indeed is a wealthy nation, a sentiment of help and support would be appropriate and courteous. Apparently, most nations do not believe in courtesy.

Of the nations that have offered assistance to the U.S., few have offered money. China, for example, presented $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

Russia has offered boats and aircraft. On Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered to send a group of military special forces specializing in search and rescue to the region. That offer was rejected by the State Department.

Japan has promised tents, blankets and generators. Even France offered a fire brigade.

Germany is willing to provide communications equipment. Israel, which receives $2.2 billion in U.S. aid each year, has offered to send doctors, nurses, technicians and other experts in dealing with natural disasters, as well as field hospitals and medical kits.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the U.S., made a mocking offer to send cheap fuel and relief workers to the stricken area.

At about the same time he used the disaster as an opportunity to attack President Bush, calling him a "cowboy" who failed to manage the disaster.

Other nations that have offered some form of aid include Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Honduras, the UK, Greece, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

"They're the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world, but when something like this strikes, the poor and the vulnerable are the same all around the world," said Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Ingratitude

One nation not on the list is oil-rich Kuwait, which owes its very existence to America's liberation effort following Iraq's invasion.

In fact, a high-ranking Kuwaiti official has said Hurricane Katrina was sent by Allah, adding that "disaster will keep striking the unbelievers."

No matter how much foreign aid does arrive in the U.S., it's clear that America will have to shoulder almost all the financial burden in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The size of that burden became clear when President Bush asked Congress for an initial appropriation of $10 billion. Officials say the total cost of dealing with the reconstruction will be as high as $50 billion.

Meanwhile, the U.S. could find itself with a new security nightmare.

As the Pentagon prepares to send as many as 50,000 troops to the disaster region, the White House must also find the manpower for the U.N.'s special summit, due to convene in New York on September 12.

More than 150 heads of state are expected to attend.

One topic slated for discussion is progress in relief for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Said one U.N. official: "Now we have something new to add to the agenda."

In addition to Katrina, one topic the U.N. might include on their agenda: ingratitude.

Nations That Have Offered Katrina Hurricane Aid:

Russia
Japan
Canada
France
Honduras
Germany
Venezuela
Jamaica
Australia
UK/Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Switzerland
Greece
Hungary
Colombia
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Mexico
China
South Korea
Israel
United Arab Emirates
Taiwan
Sri Lanka
Singapore
 
#7 ·
[ QUOTE ]
I plan to donate money to the Red Cross or Salvation Army as I'd like to help out someone who needs it.

[/ QUOTE ]

We will donate to Habitat for Humanity.Many new homes will have to be buit and those helped will also have to help themselves. Please don't forget this charity.It's a good one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/applause.gif
 
#8 ·
[ QUOTE ]
Nations That Have Offered Katrina Hurricane Aid:

Russia
Japan
Canada
France
Honduras
Germany
Venezuela
Jamaica
Australia
UK/Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Switzerland
Greece
Hungary
Colombia
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Mexico
China
South Korea
Israel
United Arab Emirates
Taiwan
Sri Lanka
Singapore

[/ QUOTE ]

thats actually pretty impressive, im surprised that many volenteered,

maybe my cynicism was unwarrented this time?
 
#9 ·
Your list is missing Cuba, who offered to send help .... no word from our gov't on exceptance or "no thanks"?

Our prayers for all effected by this storm.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/RockOn.gif
 
#10 ·
[ QUOTE ]
China, for example, presented $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's nice since NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick and driver Kyle Busch donated over $250,000 of their winnings from yesterday's race in California.

Go China...showed up by a 20 year old kid.
 
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