Offers of help

Well, it has been about a week since Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern US and offers of aid are popping up from all sources. Europe and Canada were no surprise but some less fortunate countries also weighed in. I think Sri Lanka offered $20,000 and even Kuwait offered up a sizable sum.


Korea has done itself proud by offering 30 million dollars. Some may note that this was a move to put Japans offer to shame (about $500,000) but I am hoping that it is simply a gesture of good will.

I have been watching CNN a bit more than usual because of this (ok, I never usually WATCH CNN, I prefer to read nowadays) and noticed some interesting things;

1) The reporters are doing their utmost to show bias and mood. I really felt that I was watching a talent contest when I saw some of the phoney reactions from the news casters.

2) Opinions are flowing all over the place. Not just from "sources" but from the reporters themselves. When did journalism totally abondom any attempt at neutrality?

3) The questions have been fairly decent though. When asking the State Dept. why they are not immediately accepting foreign aid the response was "We don't have the infrastructure to support such a move at this time". The reporter cut through the BS and asked again, why not just accept it and deal with it after?

"Because that is not how we do things"

So I guess the 25 doctors waiting in Cuba to come help should not be holding their breath.