Quick-
What are your impressions of this man?:
This man?:
Another:
What about him:
And this guy?:
Okay, these guys all have one thing in common.
What do you think it is:
a) They are convicted terrorists.
b) They are terrorists on the lam.
c) They are radicalized Muslims.
d) They are Muslim, which by definition means they are radical
e) They are Pakistani
Okay, I think the choices are a bit push-polly, but I would not be surprised if the American electorate was polled and landed on a, b, c, or d.
The answer is e, but the real answer is "none of the above."
f) They are human beings.
There is indeed a Growing Ignorance within the electorate, but it is not at all limited to one side of the political spectrum.
From Pam LaPier's diary this morning:
So why the foot-dragging among private donors, particularly in Western countries like Italy or the United States, when it comes to the flood victims now suffering in Pakistan?
Or maybe they just don’t like Pakistan: According to separate polls by CNN and Gallup, more than 70 percent of Americans hold mostly negative views of the country.
The NYC not-a-mosque debate ties into this story as well
The former Governor of Vermont told the Huffington Post that he "stood by" the remarks he had made earlier in the day on WABC radio in which he called the mosque plan "a real affront to people who lost their lives [on 9/11]."
No, sorry.
Our own inability to accept that not everyone believes in the same Judeo-Christian god is an affront the the Constitution.
The NYC not-a-mosque debate has been covered in (too) great detail here @ Daily Kos. It is summed up in this image I stole, that I guess not everyone has seen yet, so I'll post it one last time:
And now...let's get painfully honest and serious.
This diary was spawned by comments in GlowNZ's diary Tuesday, some of which were actually uprated:
How about (3+ / 0-)
they take some of the FUCKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS they have pissed away on nuclear weapons and help themselves. A nuclear state should be able to aid their own people, and there are people right here at home who need my money more. Sorry.
I really don't care if people on the other side of the world like us or not, my self esteem doesn't depend on it. They can stay on their side of the planet, we'll stay on our side, neither one of us will blow the other one up and we'll all live happily ever after.
...
If the Taliban is winning the people after all the death and destruction they've caused, then there isn't a damn thing I can do about that and I'm not even going to try.
if the Taliban can show for one second that they're interested in more than just blowing people up, then I will scrape up $20 for the relief fund.
Allah helps those who help themselves.
Where are the Saudis? Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi? (2+ / 0-)
I did contribute, I bought gasoline from the middle east.
Yeah...except that Pakistan has no oil reserves; none.
I refuse to finance terrorism to assuage your liberal guilt.
There is sadly no way that I know of to guarantee that any money given will actually be used for assistance to the victims instead of being recycled into the Mayfair/Knighstbridge/Dubai real estate market place.
Sorry... (3+ / 0-)
The Saudi's have enough funds to build 55000 madraasas but no cash for relief?
...
There are more than enough funds in the area, with their allies and from the US.
Aah...so the world should not come to the aid of the people suffering. It is a local issue?
Nice!
Or at least the money should come from fellow Muslims?
Or something.
i feel sorry that the citizens of pakistan have been devastated by floods and many lost their lives, but their own government does little to nothing to make their lives better, but still builds weapons.
I just **knew** the victims were to blame!!
Nadeem Khawer/European Pressphoto Agency |
What do we have to do to get this crisis more attention?
How do we overcome the obvious bigotry this country, and much of the world, is clinging to?
When will the world come to the aid of the millions of innocent children who are hungry, homeless and needy today?
Greg (Three Cups of Tea, Stones Into Schools) Mortnenson's non-profit (CAI) recommends supporting a local (Pakistani) group to which donations will likely have a large, immediate, and lasting impact-
Healing Development Foundation
http://www.hdf.com
(800) 705 1310
• • • • • •
Other groups that deserve support as well.
Doctors without Borders (MSF):
DONATE
The Red Cross:
DONATE
OXFAM:
DONATE
Shelterbox:
http://www.shelterbox.org/
UNICEF:
DONATE
from the comments.
http://www.unicefusa.org/...
Toll free: 1-800-FOR-KIDS (1-800-367-5437)
Text: "Text FLOODS to 864233 (UNICEF) to donate $10"
Mail:125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10016
• • • • • •
From the US State dept.
How You Can Help:
Text "SWAT" to 50555; $10 goes to fund for flood victims
Previously recommended relief diaries about the floods in Pakistan (with the Help Pakistan tag):
• Pakistan Floods... Please Help
• Please Help Pakistan... Please ... Update: New Flood Warnings
• pakistan III: the human face of climate change: ecojustice
• Pakistan still needs help; lots of it. Floods displace 20+ Million
• Pakistan: 6 Million Without Water (How to Help)
• Media ignores "Worst Humanitarian Disaster In Recent History"
• Pakistan needs help. Floods kill 800+, displace 1 Million
We are looking at what may be the worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen in a century.
I have started a Google group to address the crisis in Pakistan. Anyone who would like to get involved or get alerts when a new HELP PAKISTAN diary is posted, please join.
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