February 28, 2010
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Thoughts on a Sunday morning
Some folks are complaining about American aid to Haiti and now Chile. My initial thoughts:
It’s what neighbors do – we help one another. If there is a death we make casseroles and baked goods. If there is a birth we make blankets and booties. If there is a graduation we write a check or give a dictionary. If there is a disaster, we help rebuild. It’s what we do. We help our neighbors and friends, often regardless of how well we know them. It’s what we do.
The world has become a smaller place. Haiti is our neighbor. Chile is our neighbor. Afghanistan is our neighbor. (I am not going to the place where we seem to think that shooting our neighbors is a positive response. Not now, anyway.) Then I thought about how much international aid the United States received after Katrina. Take a look at this:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/dis_hur_kat_int_aid_res-hurricane-katrina-international-aid-response
Our neighbors helped us. They came. They pledged money. They sent doctors and divers and builders. Our neighbors helped. Our neighbors live farther away now than they did fifty years ago, but they are still our neighbors and we help one another. That is who we are and it is who we should be.
And so it goes.
Comments (8)
Well said.
I saw a Brokow piece during the Olympics yesterday about 9/11 and how the town of Gander, Newfoundland was inundated with 7000 people that day (alot of planes had to land there). The townspeople were surprised later when the story came out about how welcoming they were. They didn’t get it – we are all neighbors.
Amen sister!
Good thoughts! Kewl! God bless, ~ Pete
“Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you…” Isaiah 43:4 (ref. my Xanga post of 2/14/2010 AD)
Absolutely!
I so agree
Also after 9/11 a tribe somewhere in Africa sent the people of New York several cows. Cows are the way they measure wealth in that part of the world – it was a tremendous gift for them. They understand it – we are all neighbors.
It is true I’ve heard, some Americans don’t know about the help that came from international neighbours when Katrina struck.
Well said! I get so angry at the “we should help Americans before we help others” people. It’s not about countries, it’s about all of us being human beings.