Hey Jan Egeland, read it and weep:
BOSTON - A Kentucky widow, moved by the cries of grief she heard in reports about the tsunami disaster in south Asia, invited her entire town to a New Year's Eve bash to raise money for the victims. In California, a college offered free basketball tickets, with a gift for relief efforts the only price of admission.
A group of children in a Seattle suburb stood out in the rain offering "Hot Chocolate for Tidal Wave Relief!" and raised $255. In ways large and small, people around the country have found ways to help victims of one of history's worst natural disasters. [...] Oxfam said Friday it had received almost $6 million in unsolicited donations since the disaster on Dec. 26 [THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS! After most "stingy" Americans have spent their fair share on gifts!--.ed]. The American Red Cross reported almost $44 million in donations from Americans by Thursday evening. |
Mr. Egeland, though you conveniently backtracked on your remark, you should be ashamed of yourself. Stingy indeed.
I don't recall the world (or the UN for that matter) reaching out to the victims in Florida this past hurricane season. Granted, the scale of destruction by the tsunamis is without comparison, but a disaster is a disaster. Billions of dollars are involved in hurricane relief and reconstruction efforts.