I browse around on a lot of international news sites and have noticed a real difference in the discussion of the Tsunami disaster relief.

No other country's media seems to be obsessed with analysing 'what's in it for them'; only in the US are we discussing 'how we give more than any other nation', how this 'will improve the image of our troops' or today on Dianne Rehm, how 'Bush waited (like bidding in a poker game) so that other countries like Japan would chip in their fair share'. (Called in by a neocon spindoctor.) Or, how we can 'bypass the UN'...

This self-centered and calculated PR analysis doesn't seem much like gentle rain from heaven. It seems like heartless people manipulating a human catastophe for their own gain. It diminishes the real efforts of sincere & compassionate Americans.

I didn't think my opinion of self-centered conservatives and this Administration could sink any lower. I shudder to think what the many people overseas who browse our media make of this oportunism...

Unfortunately, it goes well beyond that group, to the 51% majority who vote Republican. How did they gain control in the first place, if not for the popular attitude of "I've got mine, and you ain't getting it"? Bush himself loves to restate the Republican mantra "See, the money doesn't belong to the governement, it belongs to the people." As guardians of your money, Republicans are going to want to see a return on investment, in theory. Of course, in fact, they only feel they should be accountable for money spent on interests outside of their own sphere of cronies, contributors, and public supporters. Unfortunately, tsunami victims don't fall into those categories. Hence, they can be added to the "beggars can't be choosers" list. Very simple.
A political philosophy of greed is obviously very attractive, but in the end any fool can see it never creates a just society.

Oh please, Bush was on ABC talking about how this help will improve our image in the Muslim world making any help we send seem disengenuous.

The rest of the media, especially entertainment media, has just made this worse. They're making a big deal about how some friends of celebrities were affected; the model who's bf is missing appears to be making a name for herself from her experience (which may not be her intent, but the coverage leaves a bad taste) and while some celebrities are sending money and doing benefits, it just disgusts me when they set up funds named after themselves and get press for it.

I gave to doctors without borders because I know they need medical assistance. I know there are a lot who've donated to organizations to help ensure they have food and shelter. The big test will be if we continue to help them rebuild their homes, their towns, their lives and have a livelihood to sustain those things; will we also commit to doing the same for other areas (including Africa and here in the US) or will we act to the immediate crisis and then forget?

I truly do not believe any person or group of people do ANYTHING without some reason. Selflessness does not exist. Doing a kind act with nothing to gain is not possible. You help someone, you get a good feeling. Its a trade off. To hope they appreciate it is natural. Maybe a case can be now made our hopes for appreciation are a bit too strong though. Its also understandable, because like it or not, we help alot of people in places where they turn around and snub us for our efforts. The thing is we are very well to do, and by that position, some of the people that need help resent us. To blame us for wondering why help those that have a disdain for us, would be like expecting yourself to give money to a homeless person that just spit at you. Just my take on it.