December 2004 Tsunami

What you do to the least of your brothers, that you do unto me. – Jesus Christ
I feel like we've already been donating. The government's paying something to the victims and we pay taxes. I donate to my church and for local stuff. – a rancher who lives near Hobbs, N.M., who doesn't plan to donate

The tsunami that struck southeast Asia rendered destruction that simply cannot be imagined by those of us who have not seen it. Families destroyed in an instant, approximately to 250,000 people killed initially and in the subsequent months. While this seems to have happened so long ago, the suffering continues.

In particular, if you are from the United States please consider a generous contribution. Why? Because the United States government, a government supposedly of the people, has spent upwards of $250,000,000,000 (250 billion) dollars on its invasion of Iraq yet had only pledged $350,000,000 (350 million) to help those areas unfortunate enough to have been caught in the tsunami. We agreed to contribute less than one percent to help ease the suffering of these people compared to what we have spent invading another country. If the US is truly interested in helping people around the world, it would spend its vast economic resources on addressing real tragedies like this rather than imagined threats of nations like Iraq.

As of Jan. 7, 2005, it was estimated that Americans had donated $342 million. (Lost the reference – sorry.) That's nice but it is miniscule in comparison with what we've spent on Iraq. Even combined with the Bush administration's pledge of $350 million, it is still unbelievably less than one percent of that outlay.

Update 11/4/2005

The world was hit by two more tragedies: The hurricanes that hit the US and the earthquakes in Pakistan.

Additionally, the effects of the tsunami are not over. The first baby was born that was from the stricken area and conceived after the tsunami struck. However, the mother was so malnourished that she was unable to breast feed.

On a more positive note, your donations helped stave off the deaths feared in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami due to disease. This is proof that we have the ability to have a positive impact on the lives of people on the other side of the world. We just have to care enough to do it.

Well-known organizations in need of donations: