Compassion and Mercilessness

VIENNA -- From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in messages tinged with shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States.

Venezuela's government, which has had tense relations with Washington, announced that it will donate $1 million to help the victims.

The money will be channeled through CITGO, a U.S. unit of PDVSA, the government oil company, the Venezuelan embassy said in a statement. CITGO has refining plants and other infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico area, including the Lake Charles Refinery in Louisiana.

In addition, the Venezuelan government will send 120 specialists in rescue operations, two mobile hospitals, 10 water purifying plants, 18 electrical generators, 20 tons of bottled water and 50 tons of canned food.

Katrina was seen worldwide as an equalizer -- proof that any country, weak or strong, can be victimized by a natural disaster. Images of flood-ravaged New Orleans earned particular sympathy in Central Europe, where dozens died in raging floodwaters only days ago.

"Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," said Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania's Harghita county, where flooding killed 13 people last week.

Throughout Europe, people lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America's most "European" cities. French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages of sympathy.

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(Vienna, Austria-AP) September 1, 2005 - The world is reacting to America's disaster.

Saudi Arabia says it's ready to increase crude oil production to replace market shortages.

...Canada's Red Cross is assembling volunteers.

...Pope Benedict says he's praying for victims of the "tragic" hurricane while China's President Hu Jintao expressed his belief that the American people would "rebuild their beautiful homeland."

But not all responses were positive. Islamic extremists are rejoicing. Internet chatter referred to the storm as "Private" Katrina, and said it had joined the global holy war against the U.S.

Islamic extremists rejoiced, giving the storm a military rank and declaring in Internet chatter that "Private" Katrina had joined the global jihad.

Why would there be "shock" that a natural disaster would hit the United States and cause massive damage? That's a very strange reaction.

Yes, we're the world's sole superpower. So what?
When it comes to the forces of nature, we are not in control.

In an interview with Reuters, United Nations Undersecretary-General Jan Egeland reacted to the the disaster. Egeland oversaw relief efforts after the tsunami in December 2004. He offered Washington U.N. assistance in a formal letter to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton.

"The United Nations stands ready to help with any kind of disaster expertise that might be required ... in full recognition that the United States is the country in the world that possesses the greatest civilian and military search and rescue and recovery assets themselves," he said.

(Recall that Egeland chastised the U.S. for being "stingy" in its aid to tsunami victims. )

Egeland said, "The whole world is now watching the heart-wrenching scenes of how millions of Americans have had their lives affected, homes lost, livelihoods lost and there is of course an enormous wave of sympathy from all over the world."

He seems to be saying that while the world is offering condolences, the U.S. is capable of taking care of itself. I won't argue with that. We can handle this crisis; but that doesn't mean that the world should not send assistance.

I'm not talking about expressions of sympathy, like Chirac and Schroeder offered; nor am I referring to pep talks from China. I'm talking about tangible help, like food, water, and relief workers.
Regardless of our wealth, the global community should send aid to the U.S. to show their solidarity with humanity, coming together as inhabitants sharing this planet.
On Wednesday, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that 10 to 12 foreign governments have offered general assistance to the United States.

That's sort of a "Let's do lunch" thing--an invitation that sounds like it will never come to fruition.

Venezuela should be credited for what it's doing. However, its quick response has to be seen in the light of recent events. It probably was done to send a sign to other nations that the Venezuelan government will even help a country that is supposedly interested in assassinating Hugo Chavez. Whatever Venezuela's motives, it has given real assistance and that is commendable.

I do sense a bit of schadenfreude in the world's reaction. Katrina being viewed as an "equalizer" is disturbing. Taking satisfaction in the misfortunes of others is not very flattering. Let me rephrase that. It's twisted and sick.

Tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes are not new to the U.S. Throughout this country, on a daily basis, lives are torn apart by natural disasters. Small towns have been wiped out. People lose their homes and their lives.

Do any Americans really believe that they are immune from nature's wrath simply because they are Americans? If there are any, they are oblivious to reality.

Of course, it's not surprising that Islamic extremists would give Katrina a military rank and refer to her as a soldier in their war on the U.S. Internet chatter by them, rejoicing about the hit our country took from the hurricane, is to be expected.

I hope the apologists for these "freedom fighters" take note of the glee they find in this catastrophe.

Radical Islamic fundamentalists are truly our enemies.

As for the lack of tangible assistance from some others around the world, the reactions of those nations should be remembered.

It's in times of crisis that individuals and countries alike discover who their real allies are.

I'm confident there are millions and millions of people around the world wanting to help the hurricane victims. I believe they will assist by contributing to the Red Cross or other organizations because they are good, caring human beings.

On the flip side, I know there are many, too many, that could not care less.