Tsunami Devastation - Asia
A very sad New Year brought our global community closer
... excluding the USA?

LETTERS WRITTEN TO BBC WORLD NEWS
December 30th 2004

I am a teenager who has asked his parents to donate to the relief fund. They have not, but I hope they
will. I am told that Britain is donating twice as much as the US. I think this is a shame. After a few
thousand people died on 9/11, people from all over the world sent help, funds, and sympathy. One
would think that the US would return the favour to the rest of the world. In this disaster, the number
of people who have died could populate a good-sized city. I beg my fellow Americans to be unselfish
for once and think about the thousands upon thousands of people who are experiencing intolerable
grief and pain. And thank God for the people who have helped.
Jon, New Jersey, USA

We had higher surf than usual here on Maui. However, I would like to see the tax dollars we spend on an
illegal war in Iraq diverted to help victims of a force utterly out of their control. As world citizens, this is
our first priority.
Marjo Miller, Kihei, USA

I agree with the gentleman in Maui. It is an embarrassment that our so called President had to be forced
to make a comment on the disaster. US media largely underplayed this story for the first two day because
there were few US casualties. Our contribution in cash so far amounts to a couple of hours of killing in
Iraq during an illegal war. Just take a second to think what all those UK and US troops could achieve to
help people now. Tony - maybe this is your escape route.
Gavin, San Francisco, USA

The devastation of this horrifying disaster is far beyond what anyone who is not in the region can imagine.
Particularly those people in the United States. As an international student there, I am appalled at the lack
of news coverage, appeal for aid and sympathy among the people and on the national TV networks.
How ironic - when a country that devoted so much to "liberating Iraq" does so little about such a tragic
natural disaster that killed more people than any other event in recent memories.
Jason Wu, Madison, Wisconsin

NOTE TO AMERICANS THAT SHOCKINGLY ADMIT THEY DON'T CARE:
Many Americans called into televised polls and commented they would not help, did not care
and asked why should they. This attitude is beyond disgusting. American viewers also complained
about the footage and images they were seeing. We all know the US government has hidden, and continues
to hide, the carnage in Iraq that they have created and so it is no wonder that Americans are shocked to see
REAL LIFE and not Hollywoods or the governments sanitized version on their TV screen.

Death, along with lifelong pain and suffering, deliberately promoted by certain politicians and so called
world 'leaders', their corrupt media and 'born again' citizens, must not be tolerated for another year more.
Gandhi proved that peace can be achieved without violence.

If Americans allow war, and destruction of the environment, and choose to remain isolated from the
global community, than they must expect minimal response from the world when disaster strikes them.
Who will help them? Who will care? Have Americans already forgotten the global response and
compassion extended by the global community on September 11th?

It is more apparent than ever as to why so many use the phrase 'ugly American'. The sad fact is,
whilst many Americans deserve the phrase, in fairness many absolutely do not. Where are they?

FACT - There are hundreds of stories coming out of India that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and
Christians saved each others lives and are now living in shelters together and continuing to support
each other. This is not even worth mentioning to people outside America BECAUSE IT IS A GIVEN!
The Thai's helped foreign tourists and gave them clothing, food and shelter that they desperately
needed for themselves. No-one stopped to ask what religion, sexual preference or nationality the
other was, before giving or accepting.

Religious preference, skin colour, wealth and nationality was not important to the tsunami
waves and it is not important to billions of people around the world who are reaching out to
help the survivors. WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

The world outside of America has experienced too much death from politics and war. ENOUGH!!!
Those of you in the US that care... stand up and be counted. Discard your government created fears,
racist preferences and puritanical sexual hang-ups. Let us know you exist and join our global
community in peace and with compassion. Turn off your reality television shows and join the often
harsh reality of planet earth by helping other people that are not as fortunate as you. Who knows,
YOU or your family may be caught in a disaster one day. What then? Should we give a damn?

How YOU Can Help Right Now
Important information  - can be used anytime a disaster occurs.

Miracles and Tragedy
Tsunami spared neither rich or poor.