Southeast Asia - What to do??

threefates wrote: You guys are truly pathetic... You turn tragedy into a joke, an attack on Bush, an attack on me, and an attack on a country that will probably end up paying for most of the medical care and food and clean up for this tragedy. Reed, you don't know the meaning of self righteous... nor do you have a clue what it means to be a racist or what its like growing up in the South around racists.  You can spout your views anyway you like, but lets be honest... you're just really a small man looking for a lot of attention... and right now I just don't have the urge to give it to you!

I for one have no problem with the contribution the US will inevitably make. I salute your countries generosity!! But at a time like this your leader needs to show compassion and modesty. WHY would he want to emphasise Americas generosity? Why would he percieve a need to do this?? All he needs to do is pledge the support that he is going to anyway.

My point is why does he have to turn the drama into an opportunity to blow Americas trumpet? He's just won an election - f**k knows how! - he can come off the campaign trail now and just do his job!

Blacksword wrote: threefates wrote: You guys are truly pathetic... You turn tragedy into a joke, an attack on Bush, an attack on me, and an attack on a country that will probably end up paying for most of the medical care and food and clean up for this tragedy. Reed, you don't know the meaning of self righteous... nor do you have a clue what it means to be a racist or what its like growing up in the South around racists.  You can spout your views anyway you like, but lets be honest... you're just really a small man looking for a lot of attention... and right now I just don't have the urge to give it to you!   I for one have no problem with the contribution the US will inevitably make. I salute your countries generosity!! But at a time like this your leader needs to show compassion and modesty. WHY would he want to emphasise Americas generosity? Why would he percieve a need to do this?? All he needs to do is pledge the support that he is going to anyway. My point is why does he have to turn the drama into an opportunity to blow Americas trumpet? He's just won an election - f**k knows how! - he can come off the campaign trail now and just do his job!

Or in another way to look at it  may be a backhanded complement to the American People to get out your checkbooks and contribute.  It may have been more of a motivating factor rather than a "look at us we are wonderful" stance. Just something to think about.

I don't care what he said or how he said it the proof is in the donation and helping. 

Here is a link to organizations that you can contact:

http://www.disasterrelief.org/Links/#agencies

gdub..

I've quit whining now. Sorry for purpetuating the ill feeling on threefates well intentioned thread. Think I'm too easily wound up.

I have donated, and I'm very impressed to see the number of shops in my town who are running collections. There is certainly a sense of everyone pulling together.

I think the first thing to do before donating to any charity, is to check its charity rating first.  I prefer to know just how much of my money is being used for the charity .. and how much is being used for business operations... and if a specific  agency is rated low... or high...

Anyway you're probably always be okay donating to the Red Cross.  I prefer this time to donate to the Doctors without Borders charity, because I think those countries are gonna need more medical care than support this first  week afterwards...

Anyway you can scroll down on this page and check your charity of choice...

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/c atid/38/cpid/227.htm

Probably just for UK members here but I've just noticed that HSBC bank have set up a way to donate to the Tsunami aid fun on their internet banking front page.

http://www.ukpersonal.hsbc.co.uk/public/ukpersonal/internet_ banking/en/logon.jhtml

If you use internet banking at all, the the process is easy to set up and donate. Just like any bank transfer.

S.