From: kathy@duke.cs.duke.edu (Kathy Redding)
Newsgroups: alt.hurricane.andrew
Subject: Re: Hurricane Andrew Ravages South Florida
Date: 4 Sep 92 19:14:22 GMT
Followup-To: alt.hurricane.andrew
Organization: Duke University Computer Science Dept.; Durham, N.C.


In article <1992Sep2.162027.26006@bcars6a8.bnr.ca> you write:
>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
Tetreau
lt) writes:

(Stuff deleted)

>>>> Have any other nations offered aid to the US so far?
>>>Why should they ?
>
>> Why SHOULDN'T they?  After all, the US has loaned millions & millions

(My stuff deleted)
>
>Other countries have before, and will again.  There are relief efforts
>underway here now.
I'm glad; thank you.  I know it is & will be appreciated.

>America doesn't always take kindly to offers of foreign aid - often the 
>reaction is "go away we can take care of our own".
Which I think is not the most courteous way to respond, and I as an American
apologize for that.

>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'm sorry; I don't remember this....Perhaps there were, as you said, some
politics that influenced the response.  No excuse for huffiness, though...
I hope we've mellowed out some!

>>   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?
Of course they count.  Please, remember I wasn't talking about every country
in the world.  I value our Canadian relationship and am thankful for the
times Canada has assisted us, as well as other nations.

>>I know many countries world-wide may think we meddle.
>You most certainly do. Sometimes you meddle, sometimes you help.
>Is that any great surprise?
No...

>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,... but that's not all that's going on....help or
>friendship doesn't make good stories for newspapers.
I agree with you on that.  As someone mentioned in another post in this 
group, you can't always trust the news media to have the most real portrayal
of things because of their desire for the sensational.


>If you could see how America is truly regarded elsewhere, you'll see a far
>more even-handed approach....But unfortunately your media would rather show 
>confrontation rather than tell you where things *are* working.
Which is true, as you said, unfortunately.

>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.
It would be nice if there were some way for MORE (quality as well as 
quantity) positive reports to reach the American Public.  I think we need
to hear them.  But those politicians and news reporters....;->

>>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?  
Because I DO:  know how to read, and love to; enjoy movies that show parts of
this beautiful world that I've never been to, and other cultures I haven't come 
in contact with; watch TV shows (like those on our Public Broadcasting Network) 
other than some of the inane comedy shows we have.  Because I have a number of 
friends and acquaintances who've been overseas and brought back many 
slides/photos of where they've been.  Because I have worked in intercultural
environments in several jobs I have had and have come to appreciate the
diversity of cultures as displayed by the people I've worked/become friends
with from around the world.  Moreso here at Duke, but other places as well.

>Canada's nice.  
It's one of the places I would like to visit.
I'm sure there are other places that I could call home other than in 
America.  But my family is here, my friends are here.  I really thought 
a lot about your last sentence.  I realized, yeah, I really could live in
other countries.  But America is Home for me, and I really don't think
any other place could be.  I'm not saying it wouldn't, but I don't THINK
it would.  There's so much wrapped up in being an American, as there is in
any country, any culture.  I'm not one who is afraid to take risks and live
in new places; I've moved and lived--as a single woman--in several states
that were away from my family and closest friends.  There was excitement
in learning the new, some nostalgia for the old, and some status quo.  I just
wouldn't want to live away from America my Home Country for very long.  It's
just something that goes so deep inside of me that I don't think even I
realized it until your last sentence got me thinking about it.

>>I don't think I've ever responded to a post in the way I am now.  But I
have family down there--
>We *do* care you know.  Even aside from the large numbers of Canadians
living in Florida.
And I thank you for caring.  I don't think that my original post was too
"hot" (as in flaming) compared w/ many I've seen on the net.  But I do think 
some of my frustrations came through very strong because of a SEEMINGLY flippant, 
uncaring remark--especially because my family (among thousands) were 
involved.   

>Just don't take everything that the newspapers (or even USENET) tell you as
>the whole truth (especially USENET).
I don't, but some of what I based my remarks on not only came from news
reports, but friends and acquaintances who HAVE lived overseas for long 
periods of time, as in two, four, eight, etc. years.  Perhaps the stories
of where they lived are not the norm.  And their stories weren't "horror"
stories, just that Americans were quite regularly treated w/ contempt.  And
I agree that Americans can be quite arrogant; but that's not the sum of our
character traits.

So in closing, I do know that not all the world is against America.  If it 
were, there wouldn't be so many people from so many different countries
trying to come here and become American.  Which is where my--and every other
American's--ancestors came from:  a country other than America.  So we are
the World's children, are we not?  And sometimes offspring need help from
their parents, even though they are adults (the offspring).  And they also
need the friendship of their parents.  And America needs the rest of the
world if we as a world are to ever attain world-peace. 

Sorry this is so long, I didn't intend it to be.  And sorry for taking so long
to respond.  I have to read and (rarely) respond to news on breaks & lunch so
my time is limited to respond.  

Kathy Redding
Duke University
Computer Science Dept.
Durham, NC