America is bad because our military and economic strength has made us too influential in world affairs, but
America is also bad because we didn’t react fast enough, or promise enough (how silly!) when the tsunami hit. So which is it? Should we be strong or not?
The government of Sri Lanka refused help from an emergency team which included 60 members of the Israeli military because there are no formal relations between the two countries, mainly because Sri Lanka has a large Muslim population. Yet Israel sent a large civilian team anyway. I wonder if Israel would have accepted a team from Sri Lanka if the situation were reversed? I wonder if such a team would have been offered?
The area hardest hit in Indonesia, northern Sumatra, is largely populated and ruled by Islamic extremists of the variety who apparently hate America and the rest of Western civilization. Are they refusing our aid? If a similar disaster struck the US or Europe would they put aside their hatred and come to help, or donate money to the relief effort?
The tsunami killed 125000 people (current estimate). Nearly everyone is stunned to silence by the magnitude of the catastrophe. Yet according to many, Saddam Hussain should have been left in power. He only killed 300000 of his own countrymen. So which is it? Should Saddam have been taken out or not?
Certainly none of us is perfectly consistent, but I do hope that a bit more common sense takes root in 2005. See you then.
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