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| Haitian Tragedy | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 14 2010, 01:17 PM (940 Views) | |
| Locke | Jan 14 2010, 01:17 PM Post #1 |
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That one guy
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I'm sure you have all heard of the 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake that struck just outside of Port-au-Prince in Haiti. Early estimates are asserting the death toll could be above 50,000. I had heard one report say that not a single hospital withstood the quake. President Obama has pledged full U.S. aid, and the UN (while suffering its greatest loss in history) is also sending aid. The World Bank, too, has given $100 million dollars toward the efforts. Even stars like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated $1 million dollars to aid workers. Do you know anyone who was in Haiti? And the question on my mind: will Haiti be another bungled humanitarian effort, like New Orleans? |
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| John | Jan 14 2010, 01:57 PM Post #2 |
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Determined
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I personally don't know anyone in Haiti, but this definitely is a great tragedy. Seems that Haiti always has the bad luck with natural disasters (i.e hurricanes, floods, etc.) I think Haiti won't be another bungled humanitarian effort like New Orleans, I believe it will be more efficient.
Edited by John, Jan 14 2010, 01:57 PM.
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| .Danilo | Jan 14 2010, 04:57 PM Post #3 |
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the original pirate
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Brazil is leading the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, so a lot of our soldiers died in the earthquake. From what I heard our embassy was also completely destroyed. |
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| Tue. | Jan 15 2010, 04:37 AM Post #4 |
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moving on...
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Since most of us don't have the money to donate, there are other ways to help out. The best way is to go through all your clothes and pick out all the old/unworn clothes and donate them; they really need it over there. You will be amazed to see how much unworn clothes you have.
Edited by Tue., Jan 15 2010, 04:38 AM.
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| Leda | Jan 16 2010, 12:02 PM Post #5 |
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cARpE dIEm
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While I'm sorry to hear the Haiti earthquake may go down as one of the worst disasters in history. I see that Obama is pledging $100 million in aid. Where is he going to get this money? I'd much rather see the $100 million benefit the United States. Unemployment rates are still high, people are losing their homes due to foreclosures and homelessness still abounds. |
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| Locke | Jan 16 2010, 12:36 PM Post #6 |
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That one guy
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From what I hear, it was borrowed from China. Whatever our circumstances are here, theirs take precedence in my opinion. Did you know that to be among the top half of wealth in the world, you just have to have $2,200 US? To join the top 10%, your household merely has to have $61,000. The national median income sits right around $45,000, while Haiti's people lived on less than $2 a day -- a situation that we have helped prolong because of industry privatization. I think it's our human responsibility to extend help to them. |
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| Leda | Jan 16 2010, 01:13 PM Post #7 |
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cARpE dIEm
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Extend help to them yes. But $100 million? Meanwhile our national debt is now in the trillions instead of billions, isn't it? |
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| Locke | Jan 16 2010, 01:50 PM Post #8 |
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That one guy
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Extend them help in what way then? I think the $100 million is likely supposed to impress. We would send aid in the form of food, water, medicine and people -- all of that is likely the $100 million, because it is all costly to send and distribute. But by putting a price on it all, he's hoping to incite Americans and those around the world to feel motivated to give of their own money ('because heck, the U.S. government is doing their part, I ought to also'). |
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| Leda | Jan 16 2010, 01:53 PM Post #9 |
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cARpE dIEm
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I think the UN is only giving them 10 million. The 100 million is a bit excessive when we can't really afford it. |
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| Eccentric Feline | Jan 16 2010, 02:27 PM Post #10 |
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梦想 ツ
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I have to agree with Leda on this one. Although it's really awful what happened over there our economy is in desperate need of fixing. My heart goes out to those who lost their lives and homes, but what about those at home just trying to make ends meet, or people who lost their jobs, homes...and everything?
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| .Danilo | Jan 16 2010, 08:20 PM Post #11 |
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the original pirate
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I don't have the knowledge to discuss the economic situation with you guys, but I reckon that giving this kind of aid, even using money you don't have and increasing the national debt, is an important facet of international politics. I'm not saying it is right, it is just how it is. There is this need to save face, to show people you are helping, and if possible, to show people you are helping more than the others. Brazil used to have a humongous national debt in the nineties and it was the same thing. |
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| Jam. | Jan 17 2010, 10:55 AM Post #12 |
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He who dares wins.
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Nice to see the selfish American sterotype being held up perfectly here. |
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| Locke | Jan 17 2010, 11:07 AM Post #13 |
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That one guy
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I wouldn't say it is selfish, so much as a realistic apprehension that our own country is in a mess and without the resources, seemingly, to fix our own problems. So therefore confusion when $100 million suddenly appears to aid others. Or at least that is what I would attribute to the people who have stated that position. I don't think it is the "selfish American stereotype." |
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| Leda | Jan 17 2010, 11:09 AM Post #14 |
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cARpE dIEm
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What has your country donated? And by the way, the word is spelled "stereotype." |
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| Jam. | Jan 17 2010, 11:29 AM Post #15 |
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He who dares wins.
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How do i know? But my Country isn't the 'most powerful country in the world' now is it? I'm pretty sure the people of 'my country' (It's called England by the way love, just over the pond in a place called the United Kingdom, and yes, we speak American too!) would care more about Human lives than money. But don't worry, as long as America is OK everything will be fine eh? And i know it's 'stereotype' cheers, it's called a typo, no need to get patronising now. |
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