I'm going to rant a bit. About politics, which I know nothing about. I will be accused of being callous and uncaring; nothing could be further from the truth. Please bear with me. I promise I have a relevant point.
The situation in Haiti is tragic. They have experienced death and destruction on an apocalyptic scale. Few of us in the U.S. can even imagine such an event. As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has no resources for recovery. They need help. However, I take a rather isolationist view of how such assistance should be provided. I do not think our government should rush to inteercede in the fate of every nation in the world, for humanitarian reasons, or other more insiduous goals.
There is a quasi-Christian tent that states "Charity begins at home." I interpret that as meaning we believe we help those in our inner circle who are in need before we consider helping others. I find it hypocritical that money and resources that can and should be used to solve problems on our own soil are, it seems, first and foremost being directed toward interfering in and "repairing" foreign nations. I believe this is a big reason why there are homeless, hungry, impoverished people in the U.S.
We are lucky enough to have the resources to have the capacity to improve our society's ills substantially. National priority should be to meaningfully and effectively address issues within our borders. Then, if there are resources available to help others, I happily support it. But let's stop wasting money on "nation-building" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and other efforts to spread the capitalist culture around the globe. Let's use those military resources for true "Homeland Security" on our continent. Let's not use them in a futile effort to force our ideology and religion on other cultures. This will avoid recurrences of terroroist events such as September 11. Let's use our strength, through diplomacy, to come to peaceful solutions to conflict, rather than supporting nations such as Israel in their repression of Palestine.
Most importantly, let's not spend one dime, loan one dollar that will never be repaid, elsewhere before every man woman and child in America who wishes to be is clothed, housed, fed, employed and safe. Because we can. Because to do otherwise is irresponsible, immoral, and inexcusable.
Have a good Martin Luther King day. Promote peace.
Utah
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Books: Out of legends, a life more extraordinary by Edward M. Eveld McClatchy Newspapers "A New York journalist living on Park Avenue...looked out a taxi window one day and saw a homeless, raggedy woman scavenging in a Dumpster. The woman was her mother."Music: "Strike a Deep Chord: Blues Guitars for the Homeless available on Target.com . Traditional blues artisits record to comabat homelessnes.
Find out more about Homelessness and what you can do to help »
Until next week
your editor
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