Tsunami Disaster
117,000 lives… gone. 117,000 people; people who smiled, laughed, loved, dreamed, and hoped… gone. There is nothing you can say, no words to sum up a tragedy this vast. This is more people than died in the bombing of Hiroshima, double the number of American soldiers that died in the Vietnam war, fifty times the number that died on nine-eleven.
People, washed away. Bloated bodies rotting, unidentified, dumped into mass graves. Widows are screaming, empty and hopeless. Where are the children? Where are the fathers? Where are the mothers? A tropical paradise turned into living hell.
Don’t worry, the world is on the way to help! The U.S. has pledged 35 million dollars to the relief efforts. $35 million… We devote billions to developing new ways to kill people every year. That’s about fifteen cents per person.
This makes me want to cry. Never in my life time have I heard of a disaster so enormous. On Monday the News Journal ran an article on this, they put it on the third or fourth page. Don’t you see? Humans have the same value if they are American or Indonesian. Why aren’t people upset? If this doesn’t move you than you are either seriously ethnocentric or a victim of a cold heart.
I can’t fathom the loss, I can’t dream of the pain. Please, please pray for these people. Please think about them.
posted by Ian - band member at 12/31/2004 01:37:00 AM
14 Comments:
The strangest irony is that this happened so closely to Christmas. (On Christmas?) I don't care who you are, this kind of event is hard to reconcile into an easy Theology.
I think people are moved, I know that I am. 35 Million is the starting figure, you can be sure it will rise as the scope of the damage is better determined. And at this point, oddly enough, money isn't really what is needed as much as people to help distibute food, medicine, etc. And the US is deploying people in addition to that money, which at this point is more important.
And don't forget what the actual people of the US are giving -- 7 million and counting at Amazon.com alone:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PX3BEL97U9A4I/002-4043360-6704035
Here is a link to alot of unique coverage of the tragedy.
http://www.buzzmachine.com/archives/2004_12_31.html#008763
I agree with you.. for some reason as long as it doesnt affect us, we find it much easier to turn out back on it..
That being said I think we are doing some things. I found a news story which said that Secretary of State Colin Powell said the $35 million is "just a start" and that the aid to tsunami victims will eventually exceed $1 billion. They said that the 35 million will take all of the Disaster Releif Funds that our country has set aside and we will have to wait for congress to appropriate more funds at the beginning of the year.
Next I can't find any figures, but it seems to me that just as in the wake of 911, people in this country are trying to help out. I keep hearing news stories about this business and that business giving 10's of 100's or even millions of dollars (Pfizer is donating $35 millino). Many rich people are donating thousands (Bill Gates donated $3 million) and many poor fold are giving what they can.
So I know its easy to look at our wealth and say we're not doing enough, but I think if you look at the numbers we are probably doing more than any other countries are doing.
Thanks guys. I know that people are doing things and people do feel this. I have heard several rediculous things from people on the news, radio DJs, and friends that have just really bothered me. I just want people to be aware of this, I want people to care, and I want people to help.
Everybody, go to the link that Jason posted above about amazon. You can donate money online to the american red cross that will go strait to the reliefe efforts. It is fast and easey and you can give as little as five dollars. You can make a difference!
Over $9.5 million donations via Amazon.com already!
Just so you know, or for you to share with your parents:
"If your donation is $250 or more, Amazon.com will provide your name, billing address and donation amount to the American Red Cross and the American Red Cross will provide you with a receipt for your donation."
Tax deductable? :-P
Also: Mercy Ships (a YWAM organization) will be shipping a container of emergency medical and relief supplies to Sri Lanka. They say financial donations are urgently needed ASAP...
https://secure.mercyships.org/webinfo/donate?source_code=A04REA&designation_code=RDASEQ&partner_id=4702768
Happy 2005
Woops! Unless your name is Laura Hale too, use this link instead for Mercy Ships: https://secure.mercyships.org/webinfo/donate
Thanks for caring about the lives of the people, Ian. I think people get caught up in their own lives, routines, job, families and don't even care about the other people in this world. It almost doesn't seem real. Very sad. I can say for myself that I have not prayed for the tsunami victims or contributed money------how bad is that??? God is the one who can fix all this mess and I haven't even gone to Him. Hopefully the news will continue to emphasize ways that people can help so that people realize how significant this event was and how many people were effected. --Katie
I admit when i saw the first headlines talking about the tsunami i was sad, and scared for all those lonely children. but my life goes on, me ,me ,me ,me and i didn't even think to pray for all those people, hopefully they are all seated with jesus and his table feasting, i am praying now for them. thanks for the kick in the head, you put it as real as possible, and i am thankful for your kind heart, imagine how jesus feels about this... his children in dispair, in depression, loneliness, nothing to own, nothing to eat, striving to stay afloat and servive, i pray for their salvation most of all, that they will see that god loves them and that he is real and a mighty god, i pray for food and money to come quickly....
i belive that god can and will work through our prayers, so y 'all start praying, because god is moving!!!! :)
I was so stunned when i saw it in the headlines. Me and my mom went down and with our church rallied up awhole bunch of money and supplies. Plus in our S.S. class we're gathering supplies to send over too. You know everyone is trying hard to help and its heartbreaking to hear more people being found dead, more kids screaming and crying and more families suffering. I have been praying and although i hope that everyone comes out ok, you can never give those families their loved ones back. It truly brings me to tears. Alot of bad things have been happening lately and i just wonder why.
~Poncho :(
Tsunami much sad, but blogger much boring.
You know there are too many fat people in America. Everyone should have to stay in shape. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is.
It would be nice if everyone ate well. Or at least went on a diet everyonce in a while. I have a GREAT DIET. You are allowed to eat anything you want. Absolutely anything. But you must eat it with naked, ugly, fat people.
~Jeremiah Johnson
Jeremiah Johnson,
Your comments can tend to be a little crazy at times, but that thing about your grandmother was frickin' funny. Sorry about the boring blog. It will be coming back to life shortly. Everyone was away and very busy, but fear not, the blog will be revived.
WOW! During the time it took me to play 4 quick games of Vegas solitaire (I was over $100 in the hole by the end which is why I don't gamble), over $4000 had been donated on Amazon. That's way cool...
WASHINGTON, Jan 9: US officials and lawmakers said on Sunday that they expect the Bush administration to increase its $350 million financial commitment to the tsunami-hit nations by as much as threefold to nearly $1 billion.
Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.
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