You're right - That is really insensitive. The rest of the world thinks Americans are greedy, selfish pigs who don't know how good they've got it and are always finding something to complain about.

You just proved them right. Congrats.

We're at war in Iraq. Tough, but it wouldn't be the first time. What you fail to realize is one of the reasons America is not at war in Russia, Germany, Japan, africa and hundreds of other countries around the globe is because of those relief efforts you seem to care so little about.

We have a deficit. Bohoo. At least we still have a country left to have a defficit in.

This "us first and screw everyone else" attitude is something I'd expect from someone in France, not an American.

Dude, since when is 125,000 people dead and many many more homeless not a big deal? Grow up and realize whats going on outside your perfect little world.

Oh, and by the way, our nation is in TRILLIONS of dollars of debt. Just letting you know.

My perfect world? Thats my point, my world isn't perfect and my people are paying to make their world better. I never said 150k dead isn't a big deal but there are other big deals that need to be dealt with.

ps

  I'm very aware how far in debt we are and how much people scream and cry about it, that was part of my point.

Homeless people in America got there because they deserve it. They got addicted to drugs because they chose to start. They don't live in a shelter because either they've gotten kicked out of too many for staying out past curfew or misbehaving, or are just too lazy/drunk to find one.

Do you think these people CHOSE to have a Tsunami crush entire villages? Answer that one for me.

I just lost a lot of respect for you.

On top of that, "Screw the Victims"??? WHAT THE **edited**? I didnt even see the title, just followed here on a link given to me.

Screw the victims? What in the **edited** are you thinking? I absolutely cannot believe your level of shelfishness. While I don't want to get all "bleeding heart" on you, I really have to say it, but how would you feel if your entire city got crushed, and your entire family just died. Swept away in an instant? Would you just say, "Ah, screw it. I don't need help."??

Christ.

Jag: I agree with the fact that we should finish Iraq if for no other reason than the 1200 whatever dead soldiers would have died for nothing but I don't agree with depensing American blood and gold to help other stupid little countries that hate us anyway with their problems.

Jugg: For a person with a heart you sure do make a lot of generalizations. And as for your question. I don't care. That has no standing in my logic. Bad stuff happens all the time all over the world but that doesn't mean we should have to fix it. My friends house got flooded out a couple of days ago and they pretty much lost everything. I don't see France coming and rebuilding it for them. Too bad for Rose Bud Ohio huh? Well, too bad for Phucket too. 

Go back to France.

If your gonna sit there and tell me that charity, kindness, and putting someone else before yourself is wrong or stupid, then you seriously don't belong here.

*sigh*Juggs, the title was meant to be a parody of the one that was stickied. And uhh, I may be shellfish but I really do believe that my government should take care of my people first. Sue me.

and slimz: I've never been to france and I don't know what world you're in but greed and shellfishness are very American attributes.

True enough on an individual level, but how do you explain the billions of dollars in relief funds that our Govt. gives away every year.

One of the reasons countries like Japan and Germany aren't still trying to kill us is because we helped them (and still do) clean up after the war, and after their various national tragedies.

It's smart governement. You scratch my back i'll scratch yours.

I won't be posting here for a while. If you have a problem, PM me.

MetallicaESPa5 wrote: Well i am with IJM on this one. What you said is completely horrible. How selfish can you get. I don't want to start a flame war, but, your one uncaring, heartless kid.

Me too, this is one of the first times ever IJM has been politically correct on something...good job.

Moral issues aside for the moment...

Even from a purely self-interested perspective we should be helping out.  Heck, from that perspective I think we should be doing a LOT more.

Think Marshall Plan.  We spent some bucks, and created from ruins a whole continent full of allies and trading partners, including our former enemy.  Could we not now do the same?

Would it not be money well spent if the end result is an Indian Ocean full of people who love us the way Europans did in the 40s/50s, people who will buy American stuff, people who host our military bases, people who dig Seinfeld?

From a purely cynical perspective, this is a huge opportunity and should not be squandered.

"Screw the victims" is not only heartless and borderline evil, but, IMO, simply a bad idea.

Well i have to agree with this guy.. we should take care of our own country before we help another.

PlentifulBalls wrote: We should just give them 1,000,000 towels instead.

They would be dry!

I don't know.  I don't think you can compare what we did in Europe to what will happen in Asia.  We are, regardless of the number of different nationalities we have living here today, a European settled country.  With that comes a very European set of values in regards to right and wrong.  Now, don't go nitpicking here yes, of course, there are many little things that are different about us than our European friends that make us unique but our foundation...the most basic outlook on things, is common between us. 

The Germans and Japanese, while both fearful, did not have factions that hated us.  Japan would have rather avoid war with us if possible and German wanted us for an ally against the U.S.S.R.  You must recal that while Germany and France didn't really get along...Germany really didn't even want to fight the British but did because it had to in order to get what it was after. (Right or wrong not withstanding here.)

Now you have a situation where some of the countries are rather neutral to us and this will bolster our image in their eyes.  However, those that hate us over there...and there are those that hate us...will not welcome our efforts nore change their opinion of us just because we threw money at them.  They think that is how we see problems resolved...either through money or force.  So while the person on the street thanks us for our help, the guys that hated us before will continue to hate us.  You will not see a change of heart from our foes in this area of the world like you would have with the Soviet Union or our European foes of the past century.

This relief effort really is a catch 22 for all parties involved.  Over there those countries that before didn't want anything to do with us are most likely are not turning down our funds or relief efforts.  For us, we would look totally selfish if we did not assist and yet how many of the countries around the world have told us to keep our hands (and troops) to ourselves? 

No, we are doing the right thing.  Whether it will help us out or not doesn't matter.  Without world aid, there are some countries over there who's infastructure and ecconomy would collaps without assistance from outside their boarders.

tippy_182 wrote: Juggernaut wrote: Homeless people in America got there because they deserve it. They got addicted to drugs because they chose to start. They don't live in a shelter because either they've gotten kicked out of too many for staying out past curfew or misbehaving, or are just too lazy/drunk to find one.   Do you think these people CHOSE to have a Tsunami crush entire villages? Answer that one for me. I just lost a lot of respect for you. Your real smart, everyone who is homeless is a drunk and to lazy to find those jobs. If you werent being so flame-happy you might have thought about what you said before you made a totally ignorant post like that.

As opposed to what? 99% of the population is able to at least get themselves an apartment. I will admit, too, that some mentally retarded individuals (serious, not making fun of them) are on the streets, but there are so many free evaluation places I don't even know where to start.

So how about you think about your posts before saying anything, and think about how else they got there.

Panda Man wrote: Wheres Lenin when you need him... But I'm ganna have to agree with Ryan...   This is some Bogus B/S... The world has pledged over 3 Billion Dollars for "Aid" to the country's of this disaster but then agian...  THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNTRIES ALLREADY HAVING DISASTERS. Look at Ethiopia for a second, there country has had constant Starvation for the past Decade, also look at our home country for a second... We are growing a Rich-Poor Deficet high and higher ever year... and where does this sepration lead too???  COMMUNISM() I think we could of just gave them our $35-Million say that sux and move on and give our other "Generious" Donations to Shelters, and people who actually need the stuff in our own  Country... Also look at there countries right now...  I dont see where that 3-Billion Dollars has helped other then giving better information out, and make the Troops there have shiny looking uniforms. I still see the common people hunched over in corners Coughing there guts out... Well thats just my thoughts... HEY maybe I should make a Tornado making machine, and cause a Natrual disaster in my neighborhood so that We can be sent $3-billion or whatever the ungodly ammount is...

Sorry to say this, but...

Your Neighborhood... 150,000 people... your neighborhood.... 150,000 people...

And on top of that, I hate to point out that people (not necessarily including myself at this point) that seem to have a respectable education, (Clark Kent's a goddamn lawyer) are for helping. All the rednecks that can't spell for **edited** are saying we need to help out ourselves, a thriving nation, versus helping people who are dying, and are going to face dying due to diseases, gangs, and homelessness for the next few decades.

Grub for pondering...

pballa j.r. wrote: Ok, I've heard too many people say awwwwww 1000 people have died in Iraq.  Yes, death is sad and yes, evey death over there is one too many, but we are at war for God's sakes.  People die in wars.  After only three years in Korea 54,256 servicemen were killed... Three years.  We have been in Iraq almost two and have had 1/50th of the losses.  Quit whinning.

Just make sure that you enlist when you come of age.  The top choices of many of our youthful forumers are:

1.  Ranger/Special Forces/ Green Beret/ Ninja

2.  Marine/ Recon/ Delta Force/ Pirate

3.  Paintball Sniper

pballa j.r. wrote: KRL said "Grub fer ponderin'.  Not "Grub for pondering."

I didn't want to get accused of not being able to spell. That's how low my opinion of the forum is.