Lately, I (like many of you) have just felt sick and disgusted as I learn more and more of the damage, death, and destruction being wrought upon innocent civilians in Iraq. Whether or not you support the war, what person with any sort of compassion in their heart could see what's happening to those people - caught in the middle of a bloody conflict with no end in sight - and not feel some level of sadness.
Alongside this is a feeling of powerlessness. I once wrote to the Iraqi blogger Riverbend, planning on a heartfelt apology for what was being done in my country's name, but I stopped about halfway through. What good was my apology to her, or any other Iraqi for that matter? Here I was, safe at home, with my digital cable on demand, protected by police, fire fighters, ambulances, all of whom were just a phone call away if I so much as got a hangnail, whereas she was living with bombs dropping all around her every single day. What good was an apology? There had to be something I could do that was real. That was tangible. Well, it turns out there is.
I am happy to report that there is something very real that I (and hopefully some of you as well) can do to help those Iraqis whom the Administration refers to as "collateral damage". Raed, an Iraqi blogger, has set up
an Emergency Victims Relief Fund on his blog. You can donate through paypal (the button is on the upper right at his blog), western union, or bank transfer, and the money is used directly for medical supplies and other necessities.
This is the most recent shipment of meds that Raed bought with the Fund. They were shipped to the refugee camp of Garma, which is just outside of Fallujah. I have absolutely no doubt, whatsoever, that these medical supplies saved lives and were a godsend to quite a number of people.
As you all are aware, Relief Organizations have been leaving Iraq in droves because of the security situation, making it more and more difficult for those caught in the crossfire to get the help they need and deserve. If this isn't our responsibility, I just don't know what is. Let's show these Iraqis that there are some in America who have not forgotten their plight. Let's do something real. Please donate whatever you can afford to this fund. Thank you and God Bless.
{NOTE: I am aware that one is not supposed to post the same diary entry twice, but I posted this earlier during the afternoon rush, and it headed to bit heaven rather quickly. I feel that this is important enough that bending the rules is in order. If I get banned, I get banned.}