From: clewis@ferret.ocunix.on.ca (Chris Lewis)
Subject: Re: Hurricane Andrew Ravages South Florida
Originator: clewis@bcarh1d7
Organization: Somewhere in not very far north Canada.
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 16:20:27 GMT

In article <715365881@juliet.cs.duke.edu> kathy@duke.cs.duke.edu (Kathy Redding) writes:
>In article <Btw6Fn.8uM@pronto.mh.nl> sgl@mh.nl (Annet Siegel) writes:
>>In article <5997@transfer.stratus.com> dennist@sw.stratus.com (Dennis Tetreault) writes:
>>> Well, The USA is beginning to respond to the mess Andrew left behind,
>>> as we do when any nation suffers a natural disaster. My question is:
>>> Have any other nations offered aid to the US so far?
>>Why should they ?

>I don't want to start a flame war at all, but-----------------------
> Why SHOULDN'T they?  After all, the US has loaned millions & millions
>(probably more like billions) of dollars to other countries on more than one
>occasion.  I'm no historian, politician, or any other "ician" or "orian."
>But it sure seems plain to me that we've given and given an given, and very
>little has been returned (no I don't have exact stats) on loans we've given
>over the years.  The loans that we gave various countries to help rebuild
>after at least WWII alone (I'm not sure of my history on WWI) were extremely
>generous.

Other countries have before, and will again.  There are relief efforts underway
here now.  You also have to consider the politics of the situation.  America
doesn't always take kindly to offers of foreign aid - often the reaction
is "go away we can take care of our own".  I remember that after the earthquake in
LA (it dropped a couple of overpasses - several years before the SF one)
Japan offered to ship in medical supplies and food.  Which was rather
huffily refused.  Thankfully America seems to have mellowed a bit since
then.

>   I'd just like to see some gratitude sent America's way, and
>some help if/when needed, instead of America-bashing.  And I'm not accusing
>you of America-bashing.

Does the Canadian ambassador and embassy in Tehran count?  Do *you*
remember Canadians risking their lives to protect Americans?

>I know many countries world-wide may think we meddle.

You most certainly do.

>But where would those countries be w/o some of the help we've given them?

Also true.  No question about it.  A lot of countries and people have
benefited.  However, even you use the word "some".  Some of the "help"
has been no help at all.

Sometimes you meddle, sometimes you help.  Is that any great surprise?

Just as some of the "help" hasn't been universally helpful, America isn't
universally condemned or disliked or bashed either.  It may look that everybody
is ungrateful, or that the only reaction you get is orchestrated protests,
but that's not all that's going on.  It's just that gratitude or help or
friendship doesn't make good stories for newspapers.

If you could see how America is truly regarded elsewhere, you'll see a far
more even-handed approach.  People who will criticize when America screws up,
and also praise when America does something praiseworthy.  We make remarks
about people who can't take constructive criticism, that should also apply
to countries.  But unfortunately, your media would rather show confrontation
rather than tell you where things *are* working.  Like our common border -
the longest undefended border in the world - even though, not that long
a time ago, America was Canada's greatest threat.  You *do* get gratitude.
The newspapers just don't consider it news.

>Oh, and another thing, I'm proudly loyal to my country.  I wouldn't live anywhere
>else--though I sure would like to visit other places.

How would you know if you've never visited?  Canada's nice.  I know lots of
Americans who've moved here because they wanted a higher quality of life.
And of course, Canadians have also moved down there because it's warmer
or they'll make more money.  It evens out.  And there's lots of other nice
places on this planet that I suspect you could also call home without any
difficulty.

>I don't think I've ever responded to a post in the way I am now.  But I have
>family down there--elderly aunts & uncles, and a number of cousins.  
>Fortunately, their lives were spared, though one of them lost a house (she's
>living w/ her mom who didn't lose her house).

We *do* care you know.  Even aside from the large numbers of Canadians living in
Florida.

Just don't take everything that the newspapers (or even USENET) tell you as the
whole truth (especially USENET).
Newsgroups: alt.hurricane.andrew