To the top for AAFrequentFlyer and others.

Areala,

If that's the way you feel, then I suggest you contact any Charity in Niger and ask for your donation to be returned!

I lived in Florida too and the last thing I would think of at a time like this is what is another country going to do for me/us.
And I do not know that other countries, Great Britain for example, are not doing anything.
I always thought it a bit gauche to tell people how much money one gives to charity or how many times one gives blood, just give it and feel good, you don't have to talk about it. Nor does anyone really have a right to question ones charitable donations..

Hello Scarlett, evidently you think like I do, and as my family does. We do not broadcast what we donate. We do it quietly and with love and good thoughts.

Areala

Quote - "But every disaster, Mexico with earthquakes, tsnuami and I can go on and on and the USA is there to help. OK maybe we are not always 100% of the time the first ones there but we are there and not just in funds. We have manpower sent wherever to help. My point is I just never seem to see an influx of other nations sending people in to help us. And I have to ask myself, why that is.'

Because the US news stations don't report it. Why would they it's not 'good' news. Have you watched BBCAmerica news - they actually have 'World' news and they are covering Hurricane Katrina and the devastation that the US has suffered.

http://washingtontimes.com/world/200...4717-8161r.htm

Areala, I'm sorry about your loss.
There's so little anyone can do about this devastating event that it's easy to lash out.
We can only tithe whatever we can.
&
Make sure that we have organized our own households for an emergency
We can only walk our own path.

Dear Elaine, thanks for sending a list of charities.

My prayers to all those victims. Here in Europe, we have been watching the news and have seen the horrible pictures on TV. Terrible.

However, we do believe that the US is a rich and resiliant nation and will be able to take care of its own. If, however, there's a call from the government for help, we'll be there.

Bonjour Everybody,

Here in France we have been following the news and our thoughts are with the victims. We know there is very little we can do at the moment, except keep at the ready for the time we are asked for specific help.

I know some people around the world, and some of my compatriots, unfortunately, will make a number of nasty or stupid comments about this disaster being fate/divine retribution for past wrongs/etc. Please take them for the mindless idiots they are, and be sure they are in the minority.

alya....what do you mean if that's the way I feel? I would never dream of not helping another country. Either personally or backing our own country to do so. I have never once regretted a donation I have made to any orginization and the thought would never occur to me to ask for it back. Is that How "YOU" think...I feel sorry for you if that's the first thought that comes into your head.

Scarlett...yes I do think, when I see these kinds of devastations and the emmensity of it all, how can we do this? Who will help us? These people need help and hopefully from anyone who is capable. You may have lived in Florida too, however, you apparently have not witnessed first hand the devastation it does not only to ones property but to ones soul. People affected are usually at such a state of terrible loss they simply don't know how they will cope and truely need help from whatever sources there are. Either financial, blood, or a comforting arm to embrace them. These people in LA, MS and AL all need help of many many types. Prayers are surely needed here.

I did not even closely mention how much money I have given nor will I ever, simply because that is no one's business but my own and God's. I was merely mentioning it at the beginning of my post so that others too will open their hearts and wallets to help in this desperate situation.

I have apologized and will do so again for venting my anger. I had just learned of my cousins demise and was very upset, still am. This I know was no excuse, hence the apology. Sometimes when people are hurting so bad all they can do is lash out. I did that. I am truely sorry especially for having offended you or anyone else.

I'm by no means faulting anyone, European or otherwise, for not jumping to help, and I don't care at all whether anyone has posted messages of "sympathy" on Fodors and do not consider the presence or absence or such "support" threads to be a raflection of the degree of caring or lack of caring. However, while I understand that foreign GOVERNMENTS are waiting to be told by the US GOVERNMENT what help is needed from abroad, so that they can respond, either in their official role or by encouraging private groups to help, that does not mean that people anywhere in the world shouldn't simply make their own private donations to appriate charities, if they happen to want to. The Red Cross is one "safe" and very appropriate choice, or see Elaine's list for more suggestions. Although the US may be a wealthy country with a structure capable of response, the private aid organizations can respond faster, and in many specific ways that are more appropriate at this time.

I don't think the U.S. for security reasons want or need help from other nations military services as it could be a fiasco. People do donate and once again as mentioned on another thread All News reports in Ireland on Radio, TV and newspapers are focused on the hurricane.

Irish people are generous and do donate far and above for many causes in comparison to the low population here. In Live aid in the 80's I recently read that Irish donated more per person based on population than any other country and we were in the worst economics situation at the time. Many famine and third world charities are Irish based as we do remember that we suffered once as well and try to aid others in similar situations. I always think the red cross is a good place to donate in these situations as we cannot give blood in Europe and it is not efficient to send food donations.

Anyway who said that europe is not helping out? It is early days people, maybe keep passing information how people can help and stop being angry at eachother.

I agree SiobhanP...let's be more positive.

I posted a question, admittedly very badly. I was lashing out in my hurt and frustration.

I apologized. But the hateful responses continued. When I am wrong I admit I am wrong, apologize, and hopefully learn from it and move on.

I love these boards. I have learned so much from so many in regards to travel. I respond to other travel questions only when I feel I too can offer a suggestion or a bit of travel advice. I haven't traveled quite as extensively as many on these boards but I have traveled some and feel on occasion perhaps an experience or two of mine might help someone else. So I feel these boards do a very great service to travelers.

I want to continue learning from these boards and reading of these peoples fantastic experiences and hopefully enriching my own experiences. So I will just ignore the hateful remarks made by certain posters and go on learning and enjoying these boards.

I am very sorry about what has happened and I am very sorry about your personal lose Areala.But I feel abit angry at some of your coments.The Uk has offered help to the US and the Uk people are deeply saddened by all the events that have happened in the last week both in America and elsewhere.I would also like to point out that in fact we are your allies in the war.
Again I am very sorry about the victims (and their families) of Hurricane Katrina and my thoughts are with them

Areala,

I too am sorry for your loss but I'm not sure that this is the correct place to vent your grief.

I personally took exception to your use of the word 'payback'.

I don't donate (and I'm sure you don't) with the belief that when the time comes and a disaster (natural or man-made) happens that those nations should 'payback' anything.

Like I said I objected to the tone of your post but mostly the word 'payback'.

As it has been said on all the threads re: Katrina, the US is a large country with many resources. Yes, we should donate but don't expect all nations to be able to.

I may get flamed for this but: If I had a choice to make over where my donation goes this month, I would donate to Niger over the US.

For those of you wanting to assist with relief for the Katrina victims, I suggest you contact a local church to see what their overall planning is.
We attend the United Methodist in Texas and just received this email with lots of ideas, address and food for thought. The numbers are for Texas respondents, but the same thing will be happening in all United Methodist churches - so that is one place for you to call to get involved locally and long-term. I hope this isn't annoying for me to post this since it does come from a church denomination. By the way, I tried a few minutes ago to donate to the Red Cross using the email I received yeserday. It goes through "Yahoo". But at the last screen, it broke down - Safari couldn't load it, so I'm back to step one.

The Central Texas Conference Disaster Response Committee will continue to dialogue with UMCOR regarding specific needs. At this point, the primary need is for financial contributions. Please encourage members of your congregation to give to UMCOR's Hurricanes 2005 Global, Advance #982523.

UMCOR has also issued an urgent request for health kits, flood buckets, bottled water and blankets; please consider either assembling these imperative emergency kits or contributing financial donations for the kits (health kits--$12 each, flood buckets--$45 each, made to Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440). FUMC Waxahachie has graciously offered to serve as a drop-off point for the emergency kits. If your congregation plans to assemble kits, you may bring them to the church’s Family Life Center on Sunday, September 11th from 1:00pm to 8:00pm. Please contact the conference office if you will be sending kits for delivery or if you would like to volunteer to transport the kits to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA. Please refer to the UMCOR website for details on the contents of the emergency kits.

Finally, please consider volunteer opportunities to help with recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Within the next 4-5 days UMCOR will have more information on what the time line looks like for volunteers. Only the trained "First Responders" will be allowed in initially. As things unfold, food and water will be needed. But right now there is no place to send or store it the disaster area. Beginning in a few weeks, volunteer teams will be needed to assist with clean-up and rebuilding for years to come. For information on what disaster sites will be scheduling volunteers, call the Volunteer Hotline at 1-800-918-3100.
Thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and your commitment to help our sisters and brothers in the Gulf Coast. Please continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones and property in this disaster. For more information regarding any of the opportunities to assist, contact Chuck Graff at 817-339-5065 or [email protected] or Jennifer Coggins at 817-877-5222, 800-460-8622 or [email protected]. Also, please go to the CTC website for periodic updates on the situation: www.ctcumc.org.

Areala, you are sadly misinformed. Governments and individuals in other countries are helping and have helped in the past. A Canadian Red Cross official said yesterday that an initial group of 250 trained volunteers is on standby and that over the past 10 years the Canadian Red Cross has sent 3,500 volunteers to various parts of the US to help in disaster relief--much of that help has gone to Florida.

And has been said on this and other threads, many countries have offered to help and are now waiting for specific requests. Not surprisingly, this is news in our countries, not in yours.

Wow....

I have admitted to the errors of my ways. I have apologized. What more...blood....

My goodness how long does one continue to beat a dead horse....

I am only human. I made a mistake. You people have pointed it out..some not so kindly...I re-thought the situation...I agreed I may have been a little hasty in my remarks. Right now I am under a great deal of stress as a result of the Katrina situation and yet no matter what I say here doesn't seem to be quite good enough for some of you.

Gosh I wish I could be only half as perfect as some of you think you are.

Areala,

as you say you were 'hasty in your remarks', so were other posters - me among them.

But you have to expect other posters will want to respond to your posts - Isn't that what Fodors is all about?

Unfortunately even though you have apologised - no blood thanks, enough has been shed - you should expect more posts, Europeans are home from a hard days work and after watching their local news stations and it's coverage of Katrina will be annoyed by your post and need to vent.

Some people don't read the whole post, perhaps they're not perfect - I don't know anyone who is.

Thanks alya...when I meet a perfect person I'll let you know....heck I'll let the whole world know...LOL Even though my DH thinks he is perfect don't let him fool you...I happen to know he's not...