Yes every ruler has supporters, but even in america there was 52% for bush re-election and 48% contra, so that still means that almost the half of that population doesn't really agree, and you have to count those that don't care and don't vote.
Does that mean that the entire nation agrees with them? No that doesn't. And why is everyone so mad at Europe and France especially? Because they doubted the reasons for the war in Iraq?
But if you are big then you always have people that hate you or that envie you, you see it in music, movies so why not against countries? if you cannot put yourself over that then you are just being childish. No we will not help you because in 1843 a farmer from your country was angry at our country so now we will not help. You got to learn to look past that. because the governement doesn't want help doesn't means that the people don't need it.
But now some good news, a lot of organizations are giving more and more money, people are donating like never before (record in england by the way). Amercia has sent five ships to aid the people. And more help is on the way.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
I'm an American recently moved to the U.K. I live in the meanest place in England, Leicester. Even locals agree. I'm 26 and I've been here about 2 years now. I'm not a student, I'm a wife. People immediately assume I am student. All applications for work were turned down, though I'm overqualified and qualified to work. So I stopped applying and went from being an office girl to a housewife. There are many Hindus & Muslims in Leicester, in the majority. I'm not anti-religious. I say worship whatever or whoever you want. Who cares as long as no one gets hurt, right? It is hard to understand their Engrish on the phone, and I have recently discovered there is no actual national language here. Whole city blocks may have perhaps a single white household in one flat, like mine on Uppingham Road. I accept all this. It's a nice change being around all this culture. It's different when I go out. When I go out, dressed in my obviously American way, and being a giant at 5'8" among all the short men & women for the most part, I feel weird and out-of-place. Everyone wears strange robe-like clothing and there is a healthy population of Sikhs here as well, which wear turbans. It looks cool. I think it is interesting and colorful. I don't think they're terrorists, I've nothing to fear. That doesn't mean there aren't any here. I understand some terrorists were captured here in Leicester, though I only knew when I read the local paper shortly after moving here. Terrorists in connection with Al Qaida fund-raising with a credit card scam and building bombs (which were found in a couple homes).
I couldn't believe the bias and opinions on the European news and those expressed in the newspapers. I only read American press now, in which bias and unsupported facts are forbidden (Journalism 101, ppl). Every time I step outside people bump into me on the street, cut in front of me at the grocery store line or walking into a store, glare lingeringly at me or actually physically lift noses high into the air and pointedly look rigidly ahead. Less on my street lately that in say, West of town center where it happens all the time. I am told that Hindus are largely racist and anti-religious against religions not Hindu. They have been nice enough to me, though. I am told that Muslims are usually NOT extremists, that the terrorist extremists are no different than the Greenpeacers who try to stop necessary aid shipments to protest wars, only they use guns & go to merc camps. It is the same as the liberal extremist who opposes forward momentum in the world's development for a cause that is protected already by other organizations. It is like Nazi propaganda, Hitler Youth, people will believe the worst things. I hear that Americans are supposedly all Christian fanatics. Of course that is a double standard and a half. Like usual. I'm an atheist, btw. Now, I happen to love the ideal of the masses, the individual is amusing. On tv people will say a load of crap about Americans based on what they are told, but not shown. They never question the falsified photos of American soldiers molesting and beating to death Arab Muslims (I don't know anyone that would be stupid enough to photograph it unless they would set it up for the press themselves (can soldiers even carry cameras? I think it isn't allowed...)), they never question the Anti-American sentiment, they say America didn't volunteer in WWII and never came to the rescue, was never instrumental in ending the Cold War. They disgrace Bush and Reagan. They criticize the foreign policy, but never get specific. And now the European Union criticizes America and places further limitations on sending products to European countries. Absolute limitations, with no means of getting around, due to a single isolated cow in Minnesota that had Mad Cow Disease (it never left the cow it was put down, not butchered). The media tells me we're Yanks (Apparently the European ignorance doesn't allow for a brief history lesson in cultural slurs -Yankees were Northerners in the American Civil War, a Southerner might poke out your eyes for calling them a Yank), my ignorant In-Laws spout 'bloody yanks' when they don't realize I'm there. I asked and they told me they didn't know what a Yank was. They assumed Yankee, but didn't know what that was either. Every European asked about it that I've read or seen in the news seems to disgrace America or Bush or judge each individual American by Bush's actions using ignorant blanket statements about an entire humongous culture. America is a huge country, you can't judge an individual by the politics. Generally,judging an individual by politics is pretty ignorant in itself. In California, many think foreigners should be able to become president, other states disagree. Arizona wants marajuana legalized, the people of California want legal gay marriage largely enough that certain judges oppose them in the very same state in such a way that is unconstitutional. It is all different as England and France, Germany and Italy. Only people who are not informed would spout ignorant blanket statements about Americans or any culture. A lot of Americans, who get shown by their media what you say, who keep informed by looking on the web and international television channels (oh yes, we get satellite tv with German news, British news, Korean news, Chinese news, Mexican news, the list goes on and on, we DO see what is said and Closed Captioning translates it, and the local and national news broadcasts press statements from Europe's leaders, we see it all) and the Associated Press' releases in the papers. We know how resented we are and we are becoming jaded to the needs of hateful masses. Many Americans do feel it is stupid and doesn't deserve an acknowledgement, because European, African, & Middle Eastern (commonwealth & former commonwealth areas particularly & those places that deal with Europe most like India, Egypt, etc.) always criticize and would obviously wage war on America, given half a chance. They don't know that those sentiments don't matter in the United States, where everyone is diverse and from other cultures.How can we be racist? Don't you know those days are long gone for America? Racism is looked down on there. How can we be anti-cultural? We're all from different cultures! My mom is Mexican-American-Apache and my dad is Irish Cherokee! Anti-religious? Every city has a mosque! Every religion is recognized in America except Paganism & Satanism! And don't even start on the innocent civilian children we are supposedly murdering! Our soldiers speak enough of the Arab languages to say 'get down!' 'drop your weapon!', etc. What the hell is a child doing running through Fallujah or through the middle of a battle on the streets of Baghdad anyway?! It's a sick ploy by sick parents and sick ignoramuses don't realize a lot of the time THE CHILDREN ARE HOLDING THE GUNS. Now when our boys are out there dying, and we hear some couch critic idiot who has never contributed to anything in their life say that our soldiers are killing "innocent civilians" because their LOCAL European news told them so knowing what Americans know about what is really going on out there, then you'd understand why some of us would rather drop a bomb in the festering little hate pool Europe appears to be to us. I have heard Americans referred to as people who constantly try to sell themselves, people who are self-inflating, egotistical, etc. I find this humorous because they obviously never met an American in their life. If you try too hard to impress people, you look desperate, and that is the hallmark of an under 10 child. I've seen grown men behave that way in England, you shouldn't judge other cultures based on what you see in your own. People are less rude and are usually more mature in America. I think anyone who argues has never been to America (come on now, New York for a week doesn't count, try anywhere else, New Englanders are notorious for being big mouthed), or Leicester for any significant amount of time. Another mark of extreme ignorance is in the differeniation of local accents and grammar. If it is a foreign word, you pronounce it correctly. It is not 'Tack-O', 'Tor-till-ah', 'Gare-Age', 'Pitt-a bread', 'Mitch-igan', or 'Worster'. This is prevalent in Europe, this place is steeped in ignorance. It's cute in an ignorant sort of way. I woke up today wishing I'd never come here and my BRITISH, Royal Air Force brat, husband and I decided then and there that we are moving to London. If it woud be easier for us, we'd already be back in America now. I've never met so many jerks in my life. So many catty, embarrassing, rude, older women; so many men who get hostile whenever someone disgrees with them. This place even allows Communists to live here. The mindset is very Communist, and I'm surprised it just doesn't call itself that. Britain is very racist as well. Anyone from here that says otherwise is lying to you or trying to sell you something (or never visited Leicester).
Fact is, not everyone is the same.Because the press only shows the bigots being anti-cultural and anti-American (like they even know what an American is), doesn't mean they are all like that. The governments DON'T want us to be friends, they control the presses here. Don't believe a word Prime Minister Tony Blair says about being our friends, I remember on 9/11 when he said it was about time we tasted some local terrorism on a scale like that. What a jerk. I remember Putin, however, crying. Strange days we live in. So to my American brothers and sisters: Not all Europeans are the same, even the ignorant ones can be nice enough to Americans even if they talk bollocks. And remember, not all Europeans talk bollocks or even care about politics. Like in America, some consider it a lost cause. There are Europeans that are just as interested in learning about other cultures, just as intrigued.
To the Europeans rankling at this post: Newsflash -Americans aren't all the same. It would be nice to hear some thanks or perhaps even positive statements about America. I did once see a forum with a Scottish guy bitching out an English loudmouth teen who said no American volunteers helped in the Pale in WW II, not sure what that was about but this Scottish guy was very angry, apparently his family was from the area there for a few generations and he was a grateful man. Even in the Leicester paper, there would be the occassional defender from the ignorant blanket statements from British men & women and otherwise.
Who gives a damn what the press want us to believe about each other? We're people, we're smart, let's try to form our own opinions for a bloody change rather than follow the leader.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
You just say that every nation of the US is different and we have to accept that and then you say that the entire of Europe's media and information is based upon ignorance and that we are steeped in ignorance and that we all see to americans full of hate. Then why do we know Amercian students here that have a good time.
I think you must realise that there are very different quarters and places in one country, every town/city has its notorious places that are known to be dangerous or where it is not very pleasant for white people to walk around. i live in antwerp and there is "borgerhout" (kind of ghetto) where only marrocans/africans live or people on welfare and you are not advised to walk around late at night because that is the place where the most crime happens.
The photos of soldiers molesting people are false? some may be false but definately not all, but these things happen in every war (rape/torture/...) but trying to say that they didn't happen is stupid.
You know if you are going to live in the meanest part of England that's not smart and saying that England hates americans is stupid because they are the biggest supporters in Europe. Hindus are not very friendly against other religions but that's nothing new, there were large racial riots before the war in Iraq and they will still have problems there even in ten years, it has nothing to do with nationality but with religion. The Sikh just attacked a theatre a few days ago because they didn't agree with that what was said in the piece that they were playing.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
Originally posted by Foxly Who gives a damn what the press want us to believe about each other? We're people, we're smart, let's try to form our own opinions for a bloody change rather than follow the leader.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
I agree with this, I really hope that all this hate between nations will end because it doesn't help anything. Just learn to know each other, you can't generalise people because you have seen an image of them on the late night news screaming something that shoks you. But that's what the media want, they want to keep the attention to their network, no point in seeing people living together without any problem.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
Originally posted by Regus Yes every ruler has supporters, but even in america there was 52% for bush re-election and 48% contra, so that still means that almost the half of that population doesn't really agree, and you have to count those that don't care and don't vote. Does that mean that the entire nation agrees with them? No that doesn't. And why is everyone so mad at Europe and France especially? Because they doubted the reasons for the war in Iraq? But if you are big then you always have people that hate you or that envie you, you see it in music, movies so why not against countries? if you cannot put yourself over that then you are just being childish. No we will not help you because in 1843 a farmer from your country was angry at our country so now we will not help. You got to learn to look past that. because the governement doesn't want help doesn't means that the people don't need it. But now some good news, a lot of organizations are giving more and more money, people are donating like never before (record in england by the way). Amercia has sent five ships to aid the people. And more help is on the way.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
What is this effluence? Such bigotry to assume that anticulturalism is acceptable. I would say typical, but I'm not prone to anticultural blanket statements. And the example was a damned poor one. Farmers in 1843? You need to read up on your politics before you bicker and try to seem informed. France spoke against America on 9/11 stating that we deserved it, but without any supporting reason. A terrorist attack of such scale, but we deserved it? Why? Resentment likely back to WWII. Resentment for the peace on American soil. Europe gets a negative reaction because Europe is resentful and cruel to America. Exhibit A: You. Every international move America makes, Europe second-guesses, criticizes, and prohibits as much as possible.
You obviously don't get the purpose of voting for a President. The principle is, whether the person you vote for wins or not, we all stand together behind whomever the winner is.
'One nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty & justice for all'. 'United we stand, divided we fall.'
Bush was right about Iraq, but that is my opinion. People who disagree with me have a right to their opinion. And I don't think that gives you, a Belgian, the right to say America is divided (a far flung assumption) simply because a normal Presidential election took place & different people were voted for (as is usually the case when people are given free choice.) And why is it any concern of yours who we vote for? You obviously have no love for the American people. Besides, most people will not agree; in large masses there will always be differences. Especially in a country as populated as America. Why criticize ALL of America because you disagreed with one person's statement? I'm tired of excuses. Envy (as you put it) or no envy, your statements are empty and unsupported by facts. I don't buy into the envy-hate bs. Your post didn't deserve the attention I gave it. It is inexcusable to claim that countries are hated because of their size and that it happens so it is acceptable. Australia isn't hated. I can't stand anticultural bigots.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
Originally posted by Regus You just say that every nation of the US is different Every "nation" of America? Which America are we talking about? You mean the STATES of America? Very ignorant. and we have to accept that and then you say that the entire of Europe's media and information is based upon ignorance and that we are steeped in ignorance and that we all see to americans full of hate. Then why do we know Amercian students here that have a good time. Actually, I didn't say ALL of Europe or ALL Europeans. And don't act like the antiAmerican sentiment isn't rampant in the media in Europe. I live here. And how the hell do you know if those students are having a good time? Because they participated in a foreign exchange program to see what it's like there without knowing how much they are hated and resented? I found out only after moving here too. No doubt the news showed them different and not a soul said such things to their faces. I think you must realise that there are very different quarters and places in one country, Which is why I said LEICESTER, not all of England. I even said I was moving to LONDON. Obviously, NOT THE SAME. Anyone with a brain cell would have understood that. Now you're just being opportunistic to flame me. every town/city has its notorious places that are known to be dangerous or where it is not very pleasant for white people to walk around. i live in antwerp and there is "borgerhout" (kind of ghetto) where only marrocans/africans live or people on welfare and you are not advised to walk around late at night because that is the place where the most crime happens. Yes, like South Central L.A. What's your point? The photos of soldiers molesting people are false? some may be false but definately not all, but these things happen in every war (rape/torture/...) but trying to say that they didn't happen is stupid. Uh, yeah, the London Times uncovered that they are FALSE. Months ago. Don't you watch the news? It's been at least a year. You know if you are going to live in the meanest part of England that's not smart Yes, my ENGLISH Mother-In-Law picked this place for us to move because her mother and brother live in the nicer area of town here. She simply didn't know what it was like. Leicester has changed a lot in the last 10 years I am told. I didn't know enough about Leicester to call it a bad idea, having never visited before moving to the U.K. Are you satisfied? and saying that England hates americans is stupid because they are the biggest supporters in Europe. So you say, but that is not what I saw on the news on in the paper, on the net, and from one of my brothers-in-law (which aren't from Leicester). Europe hates Americans largely, I doubt absolutely. Absolutes are only made by idiots. Britain does too, but Britain also fights Europe with the American relations tool. Europe makes demands on Britain (like 'reduce the size of your bananas to our new standards' and 'you pay 2.5% more Value Added Tax than most other EU countries'.) and being friends with America is a thorn in the EU's side. If I were in charge of Britain, I'd do the same thing. Hindus are not very friendly against other religions but that's nothing new, I have yet to meet one that isn't friendly. I have only heard that before. Hell, my Nanny was a Hindu woman. there were large racial riots before the war in Iraq and they will still have problems there even in ten years it has nothing to do with nationality but with religion. Yes, I am aware of this. Your point? The Sikh just attacked a theatre a few days ago because they didn't agree with that what was said in the piece that they were playing. That is an extremist reaction, not all Sikhs promote terrorism. I hope you aren't trying to indicate that they do. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4124583.stm The national body of Sikh organisations said in a statement it did not support any form of threat to the author. "We unequivocally appeal to anyone who may have made these threats to withdraw them. They have no endorsement from the Sikh community,"
One day all will die, surely you but never I. Says it all.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
Absolutely tragic. ATM the numbers are 92000 confirmed. I am appalled by the media concentrating on the 27 tourists killed instead of the other 92000 odd people in India, Sri-Lanka, INdonesia and all other seriously affected places.
If almost everyone here in the uk who could afford £5, about 50m of em, then we would raise £250m. If everyone thought tactically and together as a whole, not individually, then I am sure we would do alot to help those in need.
EVERYONE PLEASE DONATE £5 OR EQUIVALENT TO HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Originally posted by Tomo2109 Absolutely tragic. ATM the numbers are 92000 confirmed. I am appalled by the media concentrating on the 27 tourists killed instead of the other 92000 odd people in India, Sri-Lanka, INdonesia and all other seriously affected places. If almost everyone here in the uk who could afford £5, about 50m of em, then we would raise £250m. If everyone thought tactically and together as a whole, not individually, then I am sure we would do alot to help those in need. EVERYONE PLEASE DONATE £5 OR EQUIVALENT TO HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Michael Angelo Batio Kicks Ass
I agree, oh, about the numbers involved, BBC.co.uk states:
A slow start to relief efforts may worsen the effects of Sunday's wave disaster, now known to have killed 84,000
The US is sending two aircraft carriers and other ships to the region. It is also using its spy satellites to assess damage to roads, bridges, ports and airfields.
The head of the World Health Organization's crisis team, David Nabarro, said as many as five million people cannot get water, food or adequate sanitation.
International aid is beginning to arrive at some of the worst-hit areas along Sri Lanka's southern and eastern coast, says the BBC's Gina Wilkinson in Galle.
The priority is to prevent an outbreak of water-borne disease amid the hot and humid conditions. '
'The Disasters Emergency Committee - www.dec.org.uk - is an umbrella group of UK aid organisations - including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam - working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands. To call from the UK dial 0870 60 60 900. '
The United Nations World Food Programme - www.wfp.org - is seeking donations to feed victims of the earthquake.
Medecins Sans Frontieres - www.msf.org - is sending aid workers to the region, focusing on medical care for survivors and displaced people after the rescue operations.
Islamic Relief - www.islamic-relief.com - has also launched an appeal to provide medical supplies, tents and sanitation facilities for those affected.
The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef - www.unicef.org.uk - is working to meet the "urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people" affected by the tsunami disaster.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR - www.unhcr.ch - which has been helping victims of conflicts in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, is delivering relief supplies to tsunami survivors in both countries.
Save the Children - www.savethechildren.org.uk - has already flown a plane out to Sri Lanka carrying plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, tents to run children's services from, and essentials such as clothing and cooking utensils.
Anti-poverty organisation Care International - www.care.org - has already provided food for thousands of affected people in Sri Lanka.
Cafod, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development - www.cafod.org.uk - is working with partners across Asia to provide shelter, food aid and medical assistance, and assessing what further relief is needed.
The Red Cross, and its sister charity the Red Crescent, is supplying blankets, cooking utensils and other crucial goods. It has had to set up a new site - www.ifrc.org - because of the unprecedented demand from people wanting to make donations.
Christian Aid - www.christianaid.org.uk - has already allocated £250,000 from its emergency fund to help the victims of this disaster but says more money is needed.
Christian charity Tearfund - www.tearfund.org - and its partners in Sri Lanka and India are helping devastated fishing communities and coastal villages get back on their feet.
The Islamic Aid Emergency Relief Fund - www.islamicaid.org.uk - aims to provide immediate relief and long-term support to people in the affected areas.
Another Islamic charity, Muslim Hands - www.muslimhands.org- is collecting money and sending volunteers to help in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Medair - www.medair.org - is providing emergency support to agencies with a long term presence in Sri Lanka and its medical experts are assessing the likelihood of malaria and diarrhoea.
World Vision - www.worldvision.org.uk - has also launched an appeal and has already delivered relief goods to thousands.
Concern - www.concern.net - is working with local partners to meet the needs of families in the devastated coastal villages of Tamil Nadu, the worst affected state in India.
The International Rescue Committee - www.theirc.org - is providing emergency supplies and materials to "people most affected by the crisis".
The Salvation Army - www.salvationarmy.org.uk has local teams working in a number of affected areas and is sending a team from its international headquarters on Wednesday evening.
Muslim Aid - www.muslimaid.org - has already donated £100,000 towards the purchase of food, clothing and medicine in the region but wants to raise more.
Action Aid - www.actionaid.org - is the biggest charity working in south India. It is focusing its relief work on the coast of Tamil Nadu, where 7,000 people died. It is working on providing medical assistance and sanitation for the survivors.
Asia Quake Relief Appeal UK, a UK-based Sri Lankan organisation, is also raising money and can be emailed at asia-quakerelief@europe.com
You can donate to all the campaigns via their websites.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
The USA has also announced that thats only the tip of what they plan on doing. They are currently sending marines and more aid. I feel sorry for all the people that died or lost loved ones in this disaster. I'm sorry if i get bent out of shape when people attack the character of the greatest nation on the planet. Theres good people everywhere and theres bad people everywhere. We shouldnt at this time get caught up in a he said she said fight. We should and are helping the people in need. Lets just hope it proves to the rest of the world that we are a righteous nation.
does anyone else notice the lackluster donations by the other islamic nations? I mean we all know that the arab oil nations have alot of money. WTF is up with that?
Yeah, hopefully they will have enough funds to rebiuld indonesia. They also need workers, so hopefully we will have more volunteers as well.
Now, for another thing.
I think world peace could only happen if we first had world tolerance. What if everybody could just tolerate everyone else? If people could just learn to live peacebly with others, the world would improve dramatically. World Tolerance is also not as hard to achieve as world peace, but it would still be hard.
------------------------------------ 768mb DDR RAM 2.60Ghz Nvidia GeForce 4 MX 440 Realtec Audio Windows XP home Edition (Emachines) "Poor thing died of starvation" -Prof. Farnsworth after inspecting Fry's brain-leech
I think it's the objective of your past self to make you cringe.
amazing how a post about the biggest natural disaster in recent memory (and hopefuly of our lifetimes) turned into a political debate... in a time like this we should forget about nations and think about people, at least for a while.
The US is sending two aircraft carriers and other ships to the region. It is also using its spy satellites to assess damage to roads, bridges, ports and airfields. The head of the World Health Organization's crisis team, David Nabarro, said as many as five million people cannot get water, food or adequate sanitation. International aid is beginning to arrive at some of the worst-hit areas along Sri Lanka's southern and eastern coast, says the BBC's Gina Wilkinson in Galle. The priority is to prevent an outbreak of water-borne disease amid the hot and humid conditions. ' FROM http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4131881.stm 10:50 GMT Dec 30
'The Disasters Emergency Committee - www.dec.org.uk - is an umbrella group of UK aid organisations - including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam - working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands. To call from the UK dial 0870 60 60 900. ' The United Nations World Food Programme - www.wfp.org - is seeking donations to feed victims of the earthquake. Medecins Sans Frontieres - www.msf.org - is sending aid workers to the region, focusing on medical care for survivors and displaced people after the rescue operations. Islamic Relief - www.islamic-relief.com - has also launched an appeal to provide medical supplies, tents and sanitation facilities for those affected. The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef - www.unicef.org.uk - is working to meet the "urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people" affected by the tsunami disaster. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR - www.unhcr.ch - which has been helping victims of conflicts in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, is delivering relief supplies to tsunami survivors in both countries. Save the Children - www.savethechildren.org.uk - has already flown a plane out to Sri Lanka carrying plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, tents to run children's services from, and essentials such as clothing and cooking utensils. Anti-poverty organisation Care International - www.care.org - has already provided food for thousands of affected people in Sri Lanka. Cafod, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development - www.cafod.org.uk - is working with partners across Asia to provide shelter, food aid and medical assistance, and assessing what further relief is needed. The Red Cross, and its sister charity the Red Crescent, is supplying blankets, cooking utensils and other crucial goods. It has had to set up a new site - www.ifrc.org - because of the unprecedented demand from people wanting to make donations. Christian Aid - www.christianaid.org.uk - has already allocated £250,000 from its emergency fund to help the victims of this disaster but says more money is needed. Christian charity Tearfund - www.tearfund.org - and its partners in Sri Lanka and India are helping devastated fishing communities and coastal villages get back on their feet. The Islamic Aid Emergency Relief Fund - www.islamicaid.org.uk - aims to provide immediate relief and long-term support to people in the affected areas. Another Islamic charity, Muslim Hands - www.muslimhands.org- is collecting money and sending volunteers to help in Indonesia and Malaysia. Medair - www.medair.org - is providing emergency support to agencies with a long term presence in Sri Lanka and its medical experts are assessing the likelihood of malaria and diarrhoea. World Vision - www.worldvision.org.uk - has also launched an appeal and has already delivered relief goods to thousands. Concern - www.concern.net - is working with local partners to meet the needs of families in the devastated coastal villages of Tamil Nadu, the worst affected state in India. The International Rescue Committee - www.theirc.org - is providing emergency supplies and materials to "people most affected by the crisis". The Salvation Army - www.salvationarmy.org.uk has local teams working in a number of affected areas and is sending a team from its international headquarters on Wednesday evening. Muslim Aid - www.muslimaid.org - has already donated £100,000 towards the purchase of food, clothing and medicine in the region but wants to raise more. Action Aid - www.actionaid.org - is the biggest charity working in south India. It is focusing its relief work on the coast of Tamil Nadu, where 7,000 people died. It is working on providing medical assistance and sanitation for the survivors. Asia Quake Relief Appeal UK, a UK-based Sri Lankan organisation, is also raising money and can be emailed at asia-quakerelief@europe.com You can donate to all the campaigns via their websites.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
Foxly, thanks for putting that info up.
Just got a report of the new death total as of 8:00am est here in the states and saw some new footage of the damage done by the tsunamis, and I think I am in shock. There are over 115,000 confirmed dead with many thousands more still missing and unaccounted for. Dysentery and certain diseases are beginning to show up among survivors much sooner than expected. The scope of the disaster, the sheer size of the area affected is making difficult for aid to get to many people which could spell that this tragedy will get worse before it gets better. The infrastructure has been so utterly demolished in some areas that the only means of getting in is by airplane or helicopter. It showed where towns with concrete and wood buildings once were, and I mean there is nothing left. Just a hint of a road way or intersection or maybe one building left standing. After seeing the videos, hearing and reading the grim news, I felt sick to my stomach.
There are a few bright spots and stories here and there. I read a story about a 20 day old baby that was found alive floating on a mattress admist all that destruction and returned to her parents. Another story of a 4 year old boy who was rescued from the top of a palm tree and reunited with his surviving family.
I feel very, very sad, but at the same time very thankful and happy to be alive.
Regardless of how much NATIONS are sending out of their tax dollars as humanitarian aid, plenty of INDIVIDUALS are sending plenty more money, food, blood and other medical aid to the disaster zone. They do it through the Red Cross and other worldwide charities, as listed above. Everyone, from schoolchildren to senior citizens, will be getting involved with the disaster relief. And that is regardless of race, nation, creed or color. All that those people around the world know or care about is that people like them have suffered a terrible calamity and need their help. And THAT is why those remaining in Indonesia will be able to rebuild.
Politics unfortunately comes into even international aid efforts, but we as people shouldn't care about the governments' wrangling. All we should focus on is that people 'over there' need help from people 'over here'. Let the politicians and the religious leaders argue and debate 'ethics'. I'm more worried about those disaster victims than what their nation's religion is.
I'm a Brit and proud of it. I'm not proud of everything my nation has done over the course of its history, but I'm proud of most of it. We made mistakes and carried on. I like American people, French people, Swedish people, German people, Belgian people, Indian people, etc, etc, blah blah. People are generally nice. It's when they group together and start up with the "us and them" bollocks that I feel the need to look for the nearest sharp implement and give way to the traditional British urge to invade their countries. People are people, but when they get together with a mob mentality they cease to be people and become right b*stards! And that goes for my countrymen as well. I'm married to an American (Hi there Foxly), and I twitch whenever I hear 'bloody yanks'. I lived over there for some months, and they don't talk about us like that! Really, people, get a clue. We can all get along if we THINK before spouting some spoonfed crap that we heard from some bloke on the telly.
Signing out, pending my campaign to run for World President...
the death is at 80,000 now, they say it can top 100,000
me- Mom... can you get me a game?
mom- you can have this instead you dirty basterd!
*mom takes cigar and puts out the light on my forearm* --------------------------------------------- Credit card declined eh? well let me just give you one of my many YAH!!! *throws hand full of credit cards in waiters face*
me- Mom... can you get me a game?
mom- you can have this instead you dirty basterd!
*mom takes cigar and puts out the light on my forearm* --------------------------------------------- Credit card declined eh? well let me just give you one of my many YAH!!! *throws hand full of credit cards in waiters face*
I think you didn't really understand what i was trying to say (my example isn't a real example it was just to show that it is stupid to remember who was against you and who not, when there are people in trouble you help, just as simple as that, but that's my opinion). I don't hate americans and i don't know anyone who does. But it is foolish to say that a country isn't divided, every country is ( there are people that are against abortion and for i don't know the exact english word, abstinence? (not having sex before you are married) and there are those who are against it, same with gay marriage,but you have that here in europe too)
European media showing all anti-american information, i think you need to reread some newspapers. Some of the photos maybe false (as i said before) but if all are false (as i understood from what you were saying) then how come soldiers are being convicted/punished (when nothing happened according to you). These americans (students) are having fun because they said so, I drove them to holland so they could see the coffeeshops and visist belgium's pride (a statue of a boy pissing ) I see them a few times a week, we go out together.
Can you show me something that said that france said that america deserved what happened on 9/11? All the world was in shock i came home from school that day and no one could believe something like that had/could happen(ed). Not one country complained about Afghanistan being invaded because they were right to do so to drive the taliban and Al-queida (or however you write it) out. Australia was hated to (they lost a lot of young people in indonesia when that dancing got blown up).
But enough of that i just read that the mortality has passed 115,000 and still rising fast because diseases are starting to spread. I have donated and am happy that no one i knew was there. My best friends girlfriend was in the Maladieven a few weeks ago.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
Regus, stay on topic, huh? This isn't the place for your personal political ideals to be showcased. I am not even going to read the rest of your post, it looked so bloated.
To everyone else, my Father-In-Law from Kent just e-mailed me this. Should be a bit insightful.
'Ta. Already contacted International Red Cross. Estimate 250,000 + when bodycount is complete. Agricultural ground and water supplies affected by tsunami will take several years to reclaim in areas where subsistence farming is practiced, so suggest look at long-term giving to support affected areas. Regards...'
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
Wow this is really one of the worst things I have ever heard of.Just sent 6 bucks all i can afford lol only 15 but think if just dedicated members here sent only 5$ ea. we could raise alot,truly a terable disaster and loss of life.=( Death count 115,000 and will raise no words to express myself.
6 bucks is more then enough, at least you donated and did your part.
Just glad i don't live there at the moment and i just don't hope they get to 250,000 because that would be very much on just a few days.
Sorry to those that were offended by me (didn't mean too), will stay away from discussions next time because it is to hard to think how to say it in another language sometimes and people don't understand it always because off that.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
04.12.30 A few clarifications... ? Is this an "act of god" and as such insurance companies would be off the hook or can claim no flood coverage... If it was an earthquake that spawned a tidal wave instead of a tactical nuke being tested, that has killed now over 120k in a largely muslim area, compare the offered assistance from differing political countries... the Democracies, or the family-dictatorship muslim or the largest population comunist China... is it not the Democracies that are offering personnel and material aid... yet those hardest hit muslim countries (eg, sri lanka, ect) refuse to allow the "jew" Israelaes in, like they are some-how unfit to offer their corrupt assistance, but all the rest of you guys do send in that $ and btw do not expect us to account what we do with it. America is the continent. United States is the nation / country. America is NOT only the US. Just like UK is NOT all europe. In fact I think the UK tries to hold itself apart from europe. ? Is that a result of the not too recent colonial exploit the brit and french perpetuated on the world in the last few centuries and now that "3rd world" is geting some military & political power to avenge themselves. The US better hope it's domestic natives never get that kind of power from the $ making casinos and demand back Georgia, N. Dakota, ect and the other lands we agreed to pull back from so the 'whites' could progress in their westward expansion through EVERY one of those scam treaties... G has a long history of punishing mankind. In fact most humans blame G every time something bad happens. Mayby that has some effect in keeping the many variants in organized religion popular, like, mayby if the proper sacrafice is offered (the guy on the cross, or some lamb or many daily prayers,) then mayby G will not seek vengence on mankind for its continual and ongoing transgression against Him and the world. Humans basically live till they die. (A plague on the world.) From the capitolistic US pov, we try to make it as easy and comfortable as possible. VERY few could survive w/o hot water to bath with nor shoes to walk about. We are becoming soft eating 3 and more times a day and demanding 2-ply toilet paper while much of the rest of the world is happy for 1 good meal a week with only slightly dirty water and having dung to cook their food, and mayby not dying before 40 from some disease or revolution. The world mass of ignorants can easily be lead to condemn the US for it's excess in luxaries instead of punishing their leaders that keep them in poverty while sending all culled $ to protected swiss accounts (eg. marcos, arafat, pinochet, housane... ) Also those ignorants can easily be led by religious leaders that do not allow disussion of their dogma (Catholic restricted printing of the latin bible, or Mulahs that dictate what is and is not of G.) As long as those masses are unarmed their local military can easily exterminate any that dare to speak up or refuse to follow custom. Free elections, yea right, those in power will continue to hold by any means possible.
Originally posted by punki It is very sad. And scary. Here in the USA I kind of feel safe military wise, but knowing something envoirmental wise can kill that many people. I just saw some sattelite photos and it shows such a massive wave from a birds eye. Sad.
It's also known as trillions of dollars of debt.
America can't just give money to everyone, you know.
Anyone know an address to send in monetary aid? I'd rather not use a credit card even if I had one. Is Oxfam's address the following (?):
Oxfam 274 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DZ
________________________________ The meaning of your life is not found in words but in your actions.
"Put your foot where your mouth is." - Wisdom from my grandfather "Paper or plastic? ... because I'm afraid I'll have to suffocate you unless you put this bag on your head..." - Ethnitrek AC1: Wierding from Harvestgain
04.12.30 A few clarifications... ? Is this an "act of god" and as such insurance companies would be off the hook or can claim no flood coverage... If it was an earthquake that spawned a tidal wave instead of a tactical nuke being tested, that has killed now over 120k in a largely muslim area, compare the offered assistance from differing political countries...
Ok, first things first.I honestly dont get what your post is trying to say.After reading it a few times i could get the basics of about the first ten sentences(or what i assumed where sentences since i couldnt understand it)I am only going to comment on the quote above because that it what i understand best.
If what you are indeed saying is that some country or somebody(unlikely it is "somebody" from the view of personally aquiring a nuclear weapon) that put a tactical nuke into the ocean off of Sumatra and detonated it, i have to ask: Are you on drugs? Im not trying to be rude but are you seriously on medication? And if you arnt you might want to be.Here are my reasons for why this "earthquake" in your words was really an earthquake, instead of a tactical nuke.
If it is a tactical nuke, instead of movements between two plates of the earths crust, where is the evidence? Saying that a nuke went off, there would have been alot of evidence. When a nuclear bomb goes off, atoms are split and extreme amounts of energy are released at thousands of miles an hour. With all of this energy detonated, where is the huge bulge in the oceans surface? You also would have seen large amounts of water vapor simply from the fact that all of that energy would vaporize large amounts of water. Where is the toxic cloud of gas and water vapor that would arise from this explosion and drift along?
Wouldnt the geologist's and seismic equipment detecting earthquakes have seen a different type of movement? Instead of eratic movements on the seizmic scale, they would have seen a huge bloom of movement and then simply nothing, no after shocks, and maybe a little bit of movement from the amount of earth displaced by the explosion.
With the talk of contaminated water and food supplies, dont you think radiation would show up in the contaminated examples being tested? Wouldnt people be coming down with radiation sickness from consuming contamated food supplies and simply from the amount of radiation released?
I honestly think I either didnt understand what you where saying, or you are in fact on of those semi-crazy people who think there is a conspiracy behind everything, including why donuts have holes in them. Cant an earthquake be an earthquake anymore?
Sorry for going off topic as i know this is a thread to discuss the disaster over there and not conspiracy theories. Currently the toll is topping 118,000, with estimates that there are still many thousands un-accounted for.
Comments
Yes every ruler has supporters, but even in america there was 52% for bush re-election and 48% contra, so that still means that almost the half of that population doesn't really agree, and you have to count those that don't care and don't vote.
Does that mean that the entire nation agrees with them? No that doesn't. And why is everyone so mad at Europe and France especially? Because they doubted the reasons for the war in Iraq?
But if you are big then you always have people that hate you or that envie you, you see it in music, movies so why not against countries? if you cannot put yourself over that then you are just being childish. No we will not help you because in 1843 a farmer from your country was angry at our country so now we will not help. You got to learn to look past that. because the governement doesn't want help doesn't means that the people don't need it.
But now some good news, a lot of organizations are giving more and more money, people are donating like never before (record in england by the way). Amercia has sent five ships to aid the people. And more help is on the way.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
I'm an American recently moved to the U.K. I live in the meanest place in England, Leicester. Even locals agree. I'm 26 and I've been here about 2 years now. I'm not a student, I'm a wife. People immediately assume I am student. All applications for work were turned down, though I'm overqualified and qualified to work. So I stopped applying and went from being an office girl to a housewife. There are many Hindus & Muslims in Leicester, in the majority. I'm not anti-religious. I say worship whatever or whoever you want. Who cares as long as no one gets hurt, right? It is hard to understand their Engrish on the phone, and I have recently discovered there is no actual national language here. Whole city blocks may have perhaps a single white household in one flat, like mine on Uppingham Road. I accept all this. It's a nice change being around all this culture. It's different when I go out. When I go out, dressed in my obviously American way, and being a giant at 5'8" among all the short men & women for the most part, I feel weird and out-of-place. Everyone wears strange robe-like clothing and there is a healthy population of Sikhs here as well, which wear turbans. It looks cool. I think it is interesting and colorful. I don't think they're terrorists, I've nothing to fear. That doesn't mean there aren't any here. I understand some terrorists were captured here in Leicester, though I only knew when I read the local paper shortly after moving here. Terrorists in connection with Al Qaida fund-raising with a credit card scam and building bombs (which were found in a couple homes).
I couldn't believe the bias and opinions on the European news and those expressed in the newspapers. I only read American press now, in which bias and unsupported facts are forbidden (Journalism 101, ppl). Every time I step outside people bump into me on the street, cut in front of me at the grocery store line or walking into a store, glare lingeringly at me or actually physically lift noses high into the air and pointedly look rigidly ahead. Less on my street lately that in say, West of town center where it happens all the time. I am told that Hindus are largely racist and anti-religious against religions not Hindu. They have been nice enough to me, though. I am told that Muslims are usually NOT extremists, that the terrorist extremists are no different than the Greenpeacers who try to stop necessary aid shipments to protest wars, only they use guns & go to merc camps. It is the same as the liberal extremist who opposes forward momentum in the world's development for a cause that is protected already by other organizations. It is like Nazi propaganda, Hitler Youth, people will believe the worst things. I hear that Americans are supposedly all Christian fanatics. Of course that is a double standard and a half. Like usual. I'm an atheist, btw. Now, I happen to love the ideal of the masses, the individual is amusing. On tv people will say a load of crap about Americans based on what they are told, but not shown. They never question the falsified photos of American soldiers molesting and beating to death Arab Muslims (I don't know anyone that would be stupid enough to photograph it unless they would set it up for the press themselves (can soldiers even carry cameras? I think it isn't allowed...)), they never question the Anti-American sentiment, they say America didn't volunteer in WWII and never came to the rescue, was never instrumental in ending the Cold War. They disgrace Bush and Reagan. They criticize the foreign policy, but never get specific. And now the European Union criticizes America and places further limitations on sending products to European countries. Absolute limitations, with no means of getting around, due to a single isolated cow in Minnesota that had Mad Cow Disease (it never left the cow it was put down, not butchered). The media tells me we're Yanks (Apparently the European ignorance doesn't allow for a brief history lesson in cultural slurs -Yankees were Northerners in the American Civil War, a Southerner might poke out your eyes for calling them a Yank), my ignorant In-Laws spout 'bloody yanks' when they don't realize I'm there. I asked and they told me they didn't know what a Yank was. They assumed Yankee, but didn't know what that was either. Every European asked about it that I've read or seen in the news seems to disgrace America or Bush or judge each individual American by Bush's actions using ignorant blanket statements about an entire humongous culture. America is a huge country, you can't judge an individual by the politics. Generally, judging an individual by politics is pretty ignorant in itself. In California, many think foreigners should be able to become president, other states disagree. Arizona wants marajuana legalized, the people of California want legal gay marriage largely enough that certain judges oppose them in the very same state in such a way that is unconstitutional. It is all different as England and France, Germany and Italy. Only people who are not informed would spout ignorant blanket statements about Americans or any culture. A lot of Americans, who get shown by their media what you say, who keep informed by looking on the web and international television channels (oh yes, we get satellite tv with German news, British news, Korean news, Chinese news, Mexican news, the list goes on and on, we DO see what is said and Closed Captioning translates it, and the local and national news broadcasts press statements from Europe's leaders, we see it all) and the Associated Press' releases in the papers. We know how resented we are and we are becoming jaded to the needs of hateful masses. Many Americans do feel it is stupid and doesn't deserve an acknowledgement, because European, African, & Middle Eastern (commonwealth & former commonwealth areas particularly & those places that deal with Europe most like India, Egypt, etc.) always criticize and would obviously wage war on America, given half a chance. They don't know that those sentiments don't matter in the United States, where everyone is diverse and from other cultures.How can we be racist?
Don't you know those days are long gone for America? Racism is looked down on there. How can we be anti-cultural?
We're all from different cultures! My mom is Mexican-American-Apache and my dad is Irish Cherokee! Anti-religious?
Every city has a mosque! Every religion is recognized in America except Paganism & Satanism! And don't even start on the innocent civilian children we are supposedly murdering! Our soldiers speak enough of the Arab languages to say 'get down!' 'drop your weapon!', etc. What the hell is a child doing running through Fallujah or through the middle of a battle on the streets of Baghdad anyway?! It's a sick ploy by sick parents and sick ignoramuses don't realize a lot of the time THE CHILDREN ARE HOLDING THE GUNS
. Now when our boys are out there dying, and we hear some couch critic idiot who has never contributed to anything in their life
say that our soldiers are killing "innocent civilians" because their LOCAL European news told them so knowing what Americans know about what is really going on out there, then you'd understand why some of us would rather drop a bomb in the festering little hate pool 
Europe appears to be to us. I have heard Americans referred to as people who constantly try to sell themselves, people who are self-inflating, egotistical, etc. 
I find this humorous because they obviously never met an American in their life. If you try too hard to impress people, you look desperate, and that is the hallmark of an under 10 child. 
I've seen grown men behave that way in England, you shouldn't judge other cultures based on what you see in your own. People are less rude and are usually more mature in America. I think anyone who argues has never been to America (come on now, New York for a week doesn't count, try anywhere else, New Englanders are notorious for being big mouthed), or Leicester for any significant amount of time. Another mark of extreme ignorance is in the differeniation of local accents and grammar. If it is a foreign word, you pronounce it correctly. It is not 'Tack-O', 'Tor-till-ah', 'Gare-Age', 'Pitt-a bread', 'Mitch-igan', or 'Worster'. This is prevalent in Europe, this place is steeped in ignorance. It's cute in an ignorant sort of way. I woke up today wishing I'd never come here and my BRITISH, Royal Air Force brat, husband and I decided then and there that we are moving to London. If it woud be easier for us, we'd already be back in America now. I've never met so many jerks in my life. So many catty, embarrassing, rude, older women; so many men who get hostile whenever someone disgrees with them. This place even allows Communists to live here. The mindset is very Communist, and I'm surprised it just doesn't call itself that. Britain is very racist as well. Anyone from here that says otherwise is lying to you or trying to sell you something (or never visited Leicester).
Fact is, not everyone is the same.Because the press only shows the bigots being anti-cultural and anti-American (like they even know what an American is), doesn't mean they are all like that. The governments DON'T want us to be friends, they control the presses here. Don't believe a word Prime Minister Tony Blair says about being our friends, I remember on 9/11 when he said it was about time we tasted some local terrorism on a scale like that. What a jerk. I remember Putin, however, crying. Strange days we live in. So to my American brothers and sisters: Not all Europeans are the same, even the ignorant ones can be nice enough to Americans even if they talk bollocks. And remember, not all Europeans talk bollocks or even care about politics. Like in America, some consider it a lost cause. There are Europeans that are just as interested in learning about other cultures, just as intrigued.
To the Europeans rankling at this post: Newsflash -Americans aren't all the same. It would be nice to hear some thanks or perhaps even positive statements about America. I did once see a forum with a Scottish guy bitching out an English loudmouth teen who said no American volunteers helped in the Pale in WW II, not sure what that was about but this Scottish guy was very angry, apparently his family was from the area there for a few generations and he was a grateful man. Even in the Leicester paper, there would be the occassional defender from the ignorant blanket statements from British men & women and otherwise.
Who gives a damn what the press want us to believe about each other? We're people, we're smart, let's try to form our own opinions for a bloody change rather than follow the leader.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
You just say that every nation of the US is different and we have to accept that and then you say that the entire of Europe's media and information is based upon ignorance and that we are steeped in ignorance and that we all see to americans full of hate.
Then why do we know Amercian students here that have a good time.
I think you must realise that there are very different quarters and places in one country, every town/city has its notorious places that are known to be dangerous or where it is not very pleasant for white people to walk around. i live in antwerp and there is "borgerhout" (kind of ghetto) where only marrocans/africans live or people on welfare and you are not advised to walk around late at night because that is the place where the most crime happens.
The photos of soldiers molesting people are false? some may be false but definately not all, but these things happen in every war (rape/torture/...) but trying to say that they didn't happen is stupid.
You know if you are going to live in the meanest part of England that's not smart and saying that England hates americans is stupid because they are the biggest supporters in Europe. Hindus are not very friendly against other religions but that's nothing new, there were large racial riots before the war in Iraq and they will still have problems there even in ten years, it has nothing to do with nationality but with religion. The Sikh just attacked a theatre a few days ago because they didn't agree with that what was said in the piece that they were playing.
One day all will die, surely you but never I."One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
of them on the late night news screaming something that shoks you. But that's what the media want, they want to keep the attention to their network, no point in seeing people living together without any problem.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
What is this effluence? Such bigotry to assume that anticulturalism is acceptable. I would say typical, but I'm not prone to anticultural blanket statements. And the example was a damned poor one. Farmers in 1843? You need to read up on your politics before you bicker and try to seem informed. France spoke against America on 9/11 stating that we deserved it, but without any supporting reason. A terrorist attack of such scale, but we deserved it? Why? Resentment likely back to WWII. Resentment for the peace on American soil. Europe gets a negative reaction because Europe is resentful and cruel to America. Exhibit A: You. Every international move America makes, Europe second-guesses, criticizes, and prohibits as much as possible.
You obviously don't get the purpose of voting for a President. The principle is, whether the person you vote for wins or not, we all stand together behind whomever the winner is.
'One nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty & justice for all'. 'United we stand, divided we fall.'
Bush was right about Iraq, but that is my opinion. People who disagree with me have a right to their opinion. And I don't think that gives you, a Belgian, the right to say America is divided (a far flung assumption) simply because a normal Presidential election took place & different people were voted for (as is usually the case when people are given free choice.) And why is it any concern of yours who we vote for? You obviously have no love for the American people. Besides, most people will not agree; in large masses there will always be differences. Especially in a country as populated as America. Why criticize ALL of America because you disagreed with one person's statement? I'm tired of excuses. Envy (as you put it) or no envy, your statements are empty and unsupported by facts. I don't buy into the envy-hate bs. Your post didn't deserve the attention I gave it. It is inexcusable to claim that countries are hated because of their size and that it happens so it is acceptable. Australia isn't hated. I can't stand anticultural bigots.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
Absolutely tragic. ATM the numbers are 92000 confirmed. I am appalled by the media concentrating on the 27 tourists killed instead of the other 92000 odd people in India, Sri-Lanka, INdonesia and all other seriously affected places.
If almost everyone here in the uk who could afford £5, about 50m of em, then we would raise £250m. If everyone thought tactically and together as a whole, not individually, then I am sure we would do alot to help those in need.
EVERYONE PLEASE DONATE £5 OR EQUIVALENT TO HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Michael Angelo Batio Kicks Ass
I agree, oh, about the numbers involved, BBC.co.uk states:
A slow start to relief efforts may worsen the effects of Sunday's wave disaster, now known to have killed 84,000
last updated at 12:43 on http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/default.stm
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
The US is sending two aircraft carriers and other ships to the region. It is also using its spy satellites to assess damage to roads, bridges, ports and airfields.
The head of the World Health Organization's crisis team, David Nabarro, said as many as five million people cannot get water, food or adequate sanitation.
International aid is beginning to arrive at some of the worst-hit areas along Sri Lanka's southern and eastern coast, says the BBC's Gina Wilkinson in Galle.
The priority is to prevent an outbreak of water-borne disease amid the hot and humid conditions. '
FROM http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4131881.stm 10:50 GMT Dec 30
'The Disasters Emergency Committee - www.dec.org.uk - is an umbrella group of UK aid organisations - including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam - working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands. To call from the UK dial 0870 60 60 900. '
The United Nations World Food Programme - www.wfp.org - is seeking donations to feed victims of the earthquake.
Medecins Sans Frontieres - www.msf.org - is sending aid workers to the region, focusing on medical care for survivors and displaced people after the rescue operations.
Islamic Relief - www.islamic-relief.com - has also launched an appeal to provide medical supplies, tents and sanitation facilities for those affected.
The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef - www.unicef.org.uk - is working to meet the "urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people" affected by the tsunami disaster.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR - www.unhcr.ch - which has been helping victims of conflicts in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, is delivering relief supplies to tsunami survivors in both countries.
Save the Children - www.savethechildren.org.uk - has already flown a plane out to Sri Lanka carrying plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, tents to run children's services from, and essentials such as clothing and cooking utensils.
Anti-poverty organisation Care International - www.care.org - has already provided food for thousands of affected people in Sri Lanka.
Cafod, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development - www.cafod.org.uk - is working with partners across Asia to provide shelter, food aid and medical assistance, and assessing what further relief is needed.
The Red Cross, and its sister charity the Red Crescent, is supplying blankets, cooking utensils and other crucial goods. It has had to set up a new site - www.ifrc.org - because of the unprecedented demand from people wanting to make donations.
Christian Aid - www.christianaid.org.uk - has already allocated £250,000 from its emergency fund to help the victims of this disaster but says more money is needed.
Christian charity Tearfund - www.tearfund.org - and its partners in Sri Lanka and India are helping devastated fishing communities and coastal villages get back on their feet.
The Islamic Aid Emergency Relief Fund - www.islamicaid.org.uk - aims to provide immediate relief and long-term support to people in the affected areas.
Another Islamic charity, Muslim Hands - www.muslimhands.org- is collecting money and sending volunteers to help in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Medair - www.medair.org - is providing emergency support to agencies with a long term presence in Sri Lanka and its medical experts are assessing the likelihood of malaria and diarrhoea.
World Vision - www.worldvision.org.uk - has also launched an appeal and has already delivered relief goods to thousands.
Concern - www.concern.net - is working with local partners to meet the needs of families in the devastated coastal villages of Tamil Nadu, the worst affected state in India.
The International Rescue Committee - www.theirc.org - is providing emergency supplies and materials to "people most affected by the crisis".
The Salvation Army - www.salvationarmy.org.uk has local teams working in a number of affected areas and is sending a team from its international headquarters on Wednesday evening.
Muslim Aid - www.muslimaid.org - has already donated £100,000 towards the purchase of food, clothing and medicine in the region but wants to raise more.
Action Aid - www.actionaid.org - is the biggest charity working in south India. It is focusing its relief work on the coast of Tamil Nadu, where 7,000 people died. It is working on providing medical assistance and sanitation for the survivors.
Asia Quake Relief Appeal UK, a UK-based Sri Lankan organisation, is also raising money and can be emailed at asia-quakerelief@europe.com
You can donate to all the campaigns via their websites.
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
The USA has also announced that thats only the tip of what they plan on doing. They are currently sending marines and more aid. I feel sorry for all the people that died or lost loved ones in this disaster. I'm sorry if i get bent out of shape when people attack the character of the greatest nation on the planet. Theres good people everywhere and theres bad people everywhere. We shouldnt at this time get caught up in a he said she said fight. We should and are helping the people in need. Lets just hope it proves to the rest of the world that we are a righteous nation.
does anyone else notice the lackluster donations by the other islamic nations? I mean we all know that the arab oil nations have alot of money. WTF is up with that?
Make a difference!
Yeah, hopefully they will have enough funds to rebiuld indonesia. They also need workers, so hopefully we will have more volunteers as well.
Now, for another thing.
I think world peace could only happen if we first had world tolerance. What if everybody could just tolerate everyone else? If people could just learn to live peacebly with others, the world would improve dramatically. World Tolerance is also not as hard to achieve as world peace, but it would still be hard.
------------------------------------
768mb DDR RAM
2.60Ghz
Nvidia GeForce 4 MX 440
Realtec Audio
Windows XP home Edition (Emachines)
"Poor thing died of starvation"
-Prof. Farnsworth after inspecting Fry's brain-leech
I think it's the objective of your past self to make you cringe.
Foxly, thanks for putting that info up.
Just got a report of the new death total as of 8:00am est here in the states and saw some new footage of the damage done by the tsunamis, and I think I am in shock. There are over 115,000 confirmed dead with many thousands more still missing and unaccounted for. Dysentery and certain diseases are beginning to show up among survivors much sooner than expected. The scope of the disaster, the sheer size of the area affected is making difficult for aid to get to many people which could spell that this tragedy will get worse before it gets better. The infrastructure has been so utterly demolished in some areas that the only means of getting in is by airplane or helicopter. It showed where towns with concrete and wood buildings once were, and I mean there is nothing left. Just a hint of a road way or intersection or maybe one building left standing. After seeing the videos, hearing and reading the grim news, I felt sick to my stomach.
There are a few bright spots and stories here and there. I read a story about a 20 day old baby that was found alive floating on a mattress admist all that destruction and returned to her parents. Another story of a 4 year old boy who was rescued from the top of a palm tree and reunited with his surviving family.
I feel very, very sad, but at the same time very thankful and happy to be alive.
Regardless of how much NATIONS are sending out of their tax dollars as humanitarian aid, plenty of INDIVIDUALS are sending plenty more money, food, blood and other medical aid to the disaster zone. They do it through the Red Cross and other worldwide charities, as listed above. Everyone, from schoolchildren to senior citizens, will be getting involved with the disaster relief. And that is regardless of race, nation, creed or color. All that those people around the world know or care about is that people like them have suffered a terrible calamity and need their help. And THAT is why those remaining in Indonesia will be able to rebuild.
Politics unfortunately comes into even international aid efforts, but we as people shouldn't care about the governments' wrangling. All we should focus on is that people 'over there' need help from people 'over here'. Let the politicians and the religious leaders argue and debate 'ethics'. I'm more worried about those disaster victims than what their nation's religion is.
I'm a Brit
and proud of it. I'm not proud of everything my nation has done over the course of its history, but I'm proud of most of it. We made mistakes and carried on. I like American people, French people, Swedish people, German people, Belgian people, Indian people, etc, etc, blah blah. People are generally nice. It's when they group together and start up with the "us and them" bollocks that I feel the need to look for the nearest sharp implement and give way to the traditional British urge to invade their countries. 
People are people, but when they get together with a mob mentality they cease to be people and become right b*stards! And that goes for my countrymen as well. I'm married to an American (Hi there Foxly
), and I twitch whenever I hear 'bloody yanks'. I lived over there for some months, and they don't talk about us like that! Really, people, get a clue. We can all get along if we THINK before spouting some spoonfed crap that we heard from some bloke on the telly.
Signing out, pending my campaign to run for World President...
me- Mom... can you get me a game?
mom- you can have this instead you dirty basterd!
*mom takes cigar and puts out the light on my forearm*
---------------------------------------------
Credit card declined eh? well let me just give you one of my many YAH!!!
*throws hand full of credit cards in waiters face*
me- Mom... can you get me a game?
mom- you can have this instead you dirty basterd!
*mom takes cigar and puts out the light on my forearm*
---------------------------------------------
Credit card declined eh? well let me just give you one of my many YAH!!!
*throws hand full of credit cards in waiters face*
115,000+ now
I think you didn't really understand what i was trying to say (my example isn't a real example it was just to show that it is stupid to remember who was against you and who not, when there are people in trouble you help, just as simple as that, but that's my opinion). I don't hate americans and i don't know anyone who does. But it is foolish to say that a country isn't divided, every country is ( there are people that are against abortion and for i don't know the exact english word, abstinence? (not having sex before you are married) and there are those who are against it, same with gay marriage,but you have that here in europe too)
European media showing all anti-american information, i think you need to reread some newspapers. Some of the photos maybe false (as i said before) but if all are false (as i understood from what you were saying) then how come soldiers are being convicted/punished (when nothing happened according to you). These americans (students) are having fun because they said so, I drove them to holland so they could see the coffeeshops and visist belgium's pride (a statue of a boy pissing
) I see them a few times a week, we go out together.
Can you show me something that said that france said that america deserved what happened on 9/11? All the world was in shock i came home from school that day and no one could believe something like that had/could happen(ed). Not one country complained about Afghanistan being invaded because they were right to do so to drive the taliban and Al-queida (or however you write it) out. Australia was hated to (they lost a lot of young people in indonesia when that dancing got blown up).
But enough of that i just read that the mortality has passed 115,000 and still rising fast because diseases are starting to spread. I have donated and am happy that no one i knew was there. My best friends girlfriend was in the Maladieven a few weeks ago.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
Regus, stay on topic, huh? This isn't the place for your personal political ideals to be showcased. I am not even going to read the rest of your post, it looked so bloated.
To everyone else, my Father-In-Law from Kent just e-mailed me this. Should be a bit insightful.
'Ta. Already contacted International Red Cross. Estimate 250,000 + when bodycount is complete. Agricultural ground and water supplies affected by tsunami will take several years to reclaim in areas where subsistence farming is practiced, so suggest look at long-term giving to support affected areas. Regards...'
"Define me by my personality, not my nationality or the politics related to any nation I may live in."
"...the enchantment of error that you put on me I must wear forever in your eyes. We are not always what we seem and hardly ever what we dream."
Wow this is really one of the worst things I have ever heard of
.Just sent 6 bucks
all i can afford lol only 15 but think if just dedicated members here sent only 5$ ea. we could raise alot,truly a terable disaster and loss of life.=( Death count 115,000 and will raise no words to express myself.
WoW
Zammorock-lvl 27 Warlock
Smeagol-lvl 32 Pally
Crousious-lvl 10 rouge
(insert name hell i forgot his name
) lvl 10 shamen
WoW Destromath!
A
Revion lvl 70 Warrior
Altar of Storms
A
Smeagol 60 Paladin
Aggamagen
H
Revion 60 Rogue
6 bucks is more then enough, at least you donated and did your part.
Just glad i don't live there at the moment and i just don't hope they get to 250,000 because that would be very much on just a few days.
Sorry to those that were offended by me (didn't mean too), will stay away from discussions next time because it is to hard to think how to say it in another language sometimes and people don't understand it always because off that.
One day all will die, surely you but never I.
"One day all will die, surely you but never I." Wheel of Time
04.12.30
A few clarifications...
? Is this an "act of god" and as such insurance companies would be off the hook or can claim no flood coverage...
If it was an earthquake that spawned a tidal wave instead of a tactical nuke being tested, that has killed now over 120k in a largely muslim area, compare the offered assistance from differing political countries... the Democracies, or the family-dictatorship muslim or the largest population comunist China... is it not the Democracies that are offering personnel and material aid... yet those hardest hit muslim countries (eg, sri lanka, ect) refuse to allow the "jew" Israelaes in, like they are some-how unfit to offer their corrupt assistance, but all the rest of you guys do send in that $ and btw do not expect us to account what we do with it.
America is the continent. United States is the nation / country. America is NOT only the US. Just like UK is NOT all europe. In fact I think the UK tries to hold itself apart from europe. ? Is that a result of the not too recent colonial exploit the brit and french perpetuated on the world in the last few centuries and now that "3rd world" is geting some military & political power to avenge themselves. The US better hope it's domestic natives never get that kind of power from the $ making casinos and demand back Georgia, N. Dakota, ect and the other lands we agreed to pull back from so the 'whites' could progress in their westward expansion through EVERY one of those scam treaties...
G has a long history of punishing mankind. In fact most humans blame G every time something bad happens. Mayby that has some effect in keeping the many variants in organized religion popular, like, mayby if the proper sacrafice is offered (the guy on the cross, or some lamb or many daily prayers,) then mayby G will not seek vengence on mankind for its continual and ongoing transgression against Him and the world.
Humans basically live till they die. (A plague on the world.) From the capitolistic US pov, we try to make it as easy and comfortable as possible. VERY few could survive w/o hot water to bath with nor shoes to walk about. We are becoming soft eating 3 and more times a day and demanding 2-ply toilet paper while much of the rest of the world is happy for 1 good meal a week with only slightly dirty water and having dung to cook their food, and mayby not dying before 40 from some disease or revolution.
The world mass of ignorants can easily be lead to condemn the US for it's excess in luxaries instead of punishing their leaders that keep them in poverty while sending all culled $ to protected swiss accounts (eg. marcos, arafat, pinochet, housane... ) Also those ignorants can easily be led by religious leaders that do not allow disussion of their dogma (Catholic restricted printing of the latin bible, or Mulahs that dictate what is and is not of G.) As long as those masses are unarmed their local military can easily exterminate any that dare to speak up or refuse to follow custom. Free elections, yea right, those in power will continue to hold by any means possible.
It's also known as trillions of dollars of debt.
America can't just give money to everyone, you know.
death toll is now over 120,000 i saw on the american red cross website.
Oxfam
274 Banbury Road
Oxford
OX2 7DZ
________________________________
The meaning of your life is not found in words but in your actions.
"Put your foot where your mouth is." - Wisdom from my grandfather
"Paper or plastic? ... because I'm afraid I'll have to suffocate you unless you put this bag on your head..." - Ethnitrek
AC1: Wierding from Harvestgain