I've been waiting almost a week for world reaction to hurricane Katrina - after all, the world expects immediate response from the United States of America (backed by billions of dollars and huge manpower) for every crisis they experience.

Africa has an AIDs epidemic, and the world expects the USA to foot half the bill. Iran has a tragic earthquake, and even though politically the USA views Iran as an enemy of the state, within hours, our aid to Iran is gathered, and we send food, water, medical help, manpower and many other forms of assistance to the Persian country. The tsunami strikes, 22,000 are feared dead in the first day, and America immediate pledges 15 million in aid and starts humanitarian efforts and sending troops and supplies, before the extent of the destruction is even actually known, and the whole world bitches that America isn't doing enough (particularly the UN) - as the death toll increased, so did America's pledge of aid, and now it's at least 1 billion, and individual Americans' donations have more than likely doubled that.

I realize America has deep pockets, but when one considers the number of hands reaching into said pockets, it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that there might actually be fewer coins in those deep pockets than, say, in the pockets of other nations.

Usually, Americans give - as a government and as individuals - no matter who is in need. We are often criticized for not giving more, and yes, I admit, that bothers me, in light of the fact that overall, we give more than any other country, and often more than many countries put together. But through insults and offenses, Americans generally turn the other cheeck, dig beneath the sofa cushions, and hand over *more*.

Very often, when disaster strikes in America, we get polite condolences, but many seem to think that because America is so wealthy, there's no need for them to return the proverbial favor of humanitarian and financial aid. Without bothering to consider that perhaps our aid to others has left us with limited resources.

(Note that I'm not including big disasters like 9-11 in my assessment, as the good people of the world do tend to lend a hand if it's a huge disaster like 9-11)

In the wake of hurricane Katrina - undeniably one of our worst natural disasters in modern times - I wasn't hearing a whole hell of a lot in regard to help from around the world, even though we have a minor tsunami aftermath-like environment - massive flooding, dead bodies floating, no clean water, people going without food, families trapped on rooftops, inside collapsed buildings, entire cities wiped out, and the danger of disease from the sort of filth that collects in situations like this.

Finally today there's a USA Today article that outlines some of the world's reaction to the devestation in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

I found the reactions in many cases both stunning and the sort of reaction that leaves me with that warm and fuzzy feeling toward countries or leaders of said countries that I can't ever recall feeling "warm and fuzzy" toward.

And then there were reactions from others across the globe that I can only categorize as assholes.

Let's start with the international GLOBAL GOOD GUY team:

Iraq's National Assembly Speaker, Hajim Al-Hasani, sent condolences.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, offered to help and are sending contributions to the American Red Cross.

Islamic Relief USA appealed to their members for donations.

College kids in Jamaica set up a disaster relief fund.

A television station in Bosnia is collecting donations.

France is sending in relief teams from the Caribbean.

Italy is sending pumps, generators, tents, disaster experts, and supplies.

Queen Elizabeth sent a note expressing her sadness and shock (I didn't see anything about relief aid from Britain, but that was probably an oversight on USA Today's part)

China assured the world that America would overcome and rebuild (yeah, yeah, we always do, eventually, but some rice to feed the masses of starving people, and maybe some of free t-shirts to clothe the homeless might be nice, in light of the fact that we buy a lot of stuff from China, including American flags and we've made the Chinese t-shirt industry boom, and bought tons of those $29.00 Chinese Apex DVD players).

Residents of Indonesia's Aceh provice are praying for the victims of Katrina - prayers are certainly welcome, and since 178,000 were killed in this province by the tsunami, I appreciate that they understand what our people here are going through.

Biggest Global Good Guy, Warm and Fuzzy surprises?

Iran expressed their condolences.

In Cuba, Castro and his parliament held a moment of silence for us. *wow*  - unexpected and... welcome.

And of course, like always, the individual Canadian people have been great in regard to making donations and offering help, and the Canadian government has at least put their military on standby, with an offer to send relief troops. Ontario has offered emergency medical teams, and the Canadian Red Cross is gathering volunteers to go to Louisiana and Mississippi.

A couple that didn't quite make me feel warm and fuzzy, but appreciative nonetheless?

Chancellor Schroeder of Germany offered assistance (I don't know if that means they offered and left it at that, or they offered and help is on the way).

Venezuela's CITGO PETROLEUM is donating $1 million in hurricane aid.

Who gets the ASSHOLE AWARDS?

Let's start with the idiot Environment Minister of Germany, Jurgen Trittin, an opportunist asshole who took our national tragedy to try to make some asshole point about the environment. No "Gee, this really sucks. What can I do to help since you guys risked your lives to save my family and friends from the nutjob Nazis a few decades back, and the Russians during the cold war?" Instead, we get that President Bush closed his eyes to the dangers of pollution and climate change, and therefore Americans got what they deserved. How do you spell Asshole in German? J-U-R-G-E-N-T-R-I-T-T-I-N.

Some Environment expert he is. Even if Bush had agreed to do everything Trittin suggested in regard to the environment (not that it takes an act of congress or anything, right?), Katrina STILL would have happened. Just as freaking natural disasters happened centeries ago, long before the US was even a country, let alone causing pollution. Now is NOT the time to try to cement your  political future, Jurgen, with asshole accusations and insensitive comments like we only have ourselves to blame for a hurricane.

Like rubbing salt into a gaping wound!

I mean, how would it sound if Germany experienced a natural disaster or a terrorist attack and some American official commented that the Germans got what they deserved because they didn't listen to Americans in regard to selling arms and other supplies to Iraq and other terrorist sponsors, or because various members of their society took bribes in the Oil for Food Program?

But Americans wouldn't do that. Even if they thought it, they'd not be stupid enough to say it and use it as an opportunity to humiliate the German politicians they had disagreements with.

And shame on Schroeder for not bitch slapping Trittin, because I'd have certainly bitch slapped any American who was as hateful and cold as that toward Germany in a time of crisis.

Next Asshole Award goes to the turd in Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who took our American tragedy as an opportunity to call President Bush the "king of vacations". Dude, way off topic there (and is that the best insult you could throw at us when we're down? Sad. Really sad.) According to Chavez - the supreme example of compassion, you know - the US "had no evacuation plan. It's incredible - the first power in the world that is so involved in Iraq (gotta get that anti-war zinger in there, right?)... left its own population adrift."

All right. Let's send Katrina over to Venezuela, just for kicks, and see how well old Hugo Chavez has planned for evacuation (I'm kidding here. I wouldn't wish that kind of devestation on anyone, and especially not the innocent Venezuelan people, or even Chavez for that matter)

How do they spell Dick Head in Venezuela? H-U-G-O-C-H-A-V-E-Z.

I'm not usually one to look a gift horse in the mouth and all that. But let's call a spade a spade (and no, that's so NOT a racist comment - it's a mere figure of speech) - CITGO needs our good will, because they want to charge us $5.00 a gallon for gas. CITGO is a Venezuelan state-owned company, so they pay a good portion of Hugo's salary. Americans are the chief purchasers of Hugo's gasoline.$1 million is nothing compared to the profits we've given Hugo over the years. And how many American gas companies have donated as much if not more?

And then there's that little issue of Hugo desperately wanting the ex Venezuelan who he and Castro have accused of doing some bombing down there many years ago, and who has applied for assylum in the US because of fears of being tortured in Venezuela and not getting a fair trial (he has since dropped his assylum plea but still hopes to be granted US citizenship because of the years he worked with the CIA).

Then, of course, we have to award an Asshole trophy to the Muslim Extremists who claim Katrina is part of their Jihad.

Self-absorbed much?

I have one thing to say to these twisted fuckwits: bullshit. You nuts aren't powerful enough to bring about a natural disaster, and if Katrina had been part of God's plan against us, he could have done a lot better than destroying a few cities with water. In fact, if GOD was on YOUR side of this whole Jihad thing you're waging, God would have given you the plans to build a big ass ark, given you warning so you could get your families aboard, had you capture 2 of every animal and bring them aboard, too, and then flooded the whole damned earth.

Attention extremists: God doesn't need you to wage a holy war. He's quite powerful enough on His own. And frankly, as shitty as your plan has been going lately, I'd say God isn't lending you squat for help. (perhaps you might want to think about that - could be becuase He thinks you're as nutty as the rest of the world does)

The final - and grand - Global Asshole Award goes to the Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin.

All right, Paul, so you don't agree with America's choice to take Saddam out. And we don't agree with a lot of Canadian choices that we feel go against our beliefs. And yeah, you're probably still pissed that your cows are not selling in record numbers over here because there were too many outbreaks of Mad Cow associated with cows we bought from Canada. On the other hand, perhaps we should be pissed that you didn't require more caution with your cows so you didn't sell us cattle infected with the disease. And maybe you and the US have different theories on missile defense (but you sure do benefit from the US's defense systems, so call it a wash).

The bottom line is, Canadians are our closest neighbor as far as relations. Yeah, you are bit more liberal as a whole than Americans as a whole. But we still consider you our sister.

So when Paul Martin can't be bothered to pick up a freaking telephone and call to give his condolences until Thursday, and all he could muster was a routine sympathy message (no doubt since others were coming in and he didn't want to look like a total asshole)... well, it says a LOT. And it says it loud and clear. And not only did Americans hear it, but so did Canadians.

Stockwell Day, a member of Parliament, said Martin displayed "a shocking  lack of personal support for the United States."

John Ibbitson, of The Globe and Mail (Toronto daily), in response to Martin's lack of a response, wrote, "When a close friend and ally is suffering through something this traumatic, moral support matters as much as offers of aid - especially when, in this case, Canada stands to benefit from America's misery" (as a result of high energy prices).

All I can say is shame on you, Paul Martin. Your country has never wanted for anything or been without US support and aid. Even if you hate our guts, out of respect for our mutual history and the ties of our people, you should have sucked it up and made the call right away.

Again, to the Canadian people and government, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you, on behalf of all those Americans who have been hurt by this disaster.

To all other people across the globe - English, Irish, French, Scottish, German, Japanese, Italian, and everyone else who has expressed their sorrow, and for those who have sent aid, whether monetary or material or manpower - thank you, thank you, thank you.

God bless you, and if you ever need a hand, you can be sure I'll be there for you, as you were for my people.

 

UPDATE: Seems I'm not the only one who was disheartened that the world seemed silent in the first days. Read Holly's blog: http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/index.php/2005/08/31/wheres-the-international-community/

Since I wrote this blog, many countries have offered to help, and many are sending supplies, manpower, and machinery.

 

 

 

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