Dealing With Nature and Grief in South Asia
Re “Pledges of Help Grow Along With Problems,” Dec. 29: I was dismayed to learn that the United States has appropriated a mere $35 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Asian countries in desperate need of shelter, food and water. I was even more distressed when I learned that America spends about $4 billion a month on the war in Iraq. The assistance following this week’s tsunami is just a drop in the bucket; we can do better.
Then we ask why there is so much hatred toward America in the world. This is an opportunity for America to demonstrate to the world that we genuinely care and that we are going to help those victims, in particular children. Where are all those moral values-driven conservatives who care deeply about life and worked exhaustively to elect a compassionate conservative administration in last month’s presidential election?
Salvador Sanchez
Los Angeles
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Apparently Secretary of State Colin Powell found it necessary to defend the U.S. effort in sending relief to the victims (at least 77,000 dead and counting) of the tsunami that struck in the Indian Ocean. He feels the $35 million the U.S. is sending shows we are not “stingy.” Let’s see: That represents about five to six hours of what we have allocated in Iraq for one day.
Comparatively speaking, some folks would call that chump change.
F. Daniel Gray
Los Angeles
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Re “Tsunami’s Carnage Is Vast,” Dec. 28: Despite the grave and extreme circumstances, I feel your front-page photograph was a tasteless choice to represent the tragedy. I see it as exploitation of the people’s grief.
I do not wish to make an issue out of something that should be of little consequence, and a more worthy cause would be to advocate for aid and assistance for the affected countries. I ask, however, that decency and sensitivity be preserved when dealing with such situations.
Kim Nakashima
Thousand Oaks
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Why is it considered OK to relay the true sense of devastation from the tsunami in Southeast Asia by showing a completely uncovered dead and bloated small child, but not OK to show Iraqi war devastation from the U.S. military battles?
Howie Goldfarb
Redondo Beach
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Re “Across the Globe, a Warning Sounded,” Dec. 28: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher Jr.’s comment that some of the countries hit by the tsunami “simply” chose not to spend money on a warning system is a very insensitive critique of the tragedy. In Sri Lanka, a country plagued by civil war, hunger and poverty, such equipment would have been considered a luxury and not a choice.
I hope that privileged members of the scientific community will help construct a warning system in poorer countries so that such great loss of life can be avoided in the future.
Pawina Jiramongkolchai
Woodland Hills
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Clearly one of the most devastating disasters in modern times has rallied the world to aid the victims of the catastrophic earthquake-caused tsunami in Southeast Asia. The death toll rises by the hour like the mileage on an automobile odometer. And then there’s Darfur -- who?
Paul Fuller
Palm Desert
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Deputy White House Press Secretary Trent Duffy on Tuesday said, “The news reports continue to be very grim, and the president, on behalf of the American people, wants to again extend our thoughts and prayers to all those who are suffering in the region and throughout the world.” On my behalf, the president can stash the prayers and send money.
Stephen May
Los Angeles
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The devastating earthquake and tsunami off the South Asian and East African coasts clearly shows that Mother Nature is the boss. She not only caused a terrific toll in terms of human lives, where at least 77,000 were killed, but caused severe economic damage as well.
Catastrophes like this also create a psychological fear, as people constantly worry that such tragedies will happen again. Despite all of our technological inventions, mankind still can’t effectively control or influence natural disasters. It shows how humble and powerless we are in the face of nature. No wonder since ancient times man has offered sacrifices to nature.
Kenneth L. Zimmerman
Huntington Beach