I think that helping each other is a good thing. We need more working together and less fighting. I see the use of nationalism as beneficial only as it extends to regions and possibly cultural identity. That being said, I wish we could all focus more on the global community at large, and how to truly make it a better world for all humans and organisms. I do not identify myself as a citizen of one country or another, but a citizen of this planet. I clean up after myself as much as possible, and even to help others clean up their litter. Our impact can be quite large even as one consumer. There is so much trash to be cleaned up, and sorted, recycled and refurbished and re rendered. I think if we focused less on arming ourselves to the teeth with weaponry, and focused our energies instead on disaster preparation and infrastructure development, we could eliminate so much suffering and death. This is such a beautiful time to be alive. Let us care for each other and cherish the lives we touch.
Sad that money and politics plays a defining role in the sanctity of human life. Humankind is doomed to extinction due to the fast track of destruction we keep choosing. In keeping with the scientific trends and ideas maybe there should be a gene that is cloned for empathy and compassion for one another no matter who or what is responsible for tragedies whether they are natural or self-imposed.
Well maybe when the next super storm rolls in, the international community will stage and deploy immediately after one of these monsters hits landfall, ending a major amount of death and suffering. Unless, they knew it would kill thousands...Makes you wonder, no? This thing took days to develop and all the signs were that it was going to be a record breaker. Fingers will be pointed at someone eventually, bet on it.
TrekGreg: Yes! I've been thinking exactly the same thing.
There should be some kind of Multinational Global Aid that stays prepared to ACT immediately BEFORE and AFTER these things happen.
As you said, it's not as if they didn't know it was coming!
They should have been in the Philippines BEFORE the storm struck helping prepare the people to cope with what was coming, and they should be there immediately AFTER the storm struck helping those who didn't or couldn't prepare for it.
This Multinational Global Aid I speak of should be funded in part globally, and in part locally. And, cold as this might sound, places which have a greater chance of these things happening should be required to contribute more.
That doesn't mean they should be denied Aid if they didn't contribute, but they should shoulder much of the cost if they didn't.
This Multinational Global Aid should function like I remember some Fire Departments functioned, where people who didn't pay Dues to the Fire Department were BILLED for any calls they made.
But, thinking in circles here, I would have a problem denying individuals Aid simply because their Nation, or their Dictator, refused to pay their Dues.
Trek: Certainly we can be prepared to help other nations more quickly but isn't there a pact of nations studying which nations are "behind" on preparation in light of a natural emergency?
Shouldn't all nations be as prepared as much as they can for a natural disaster?
Is it a natural disaster when industrialized nations cause global warming?
I agree with The_Den. RiseupandFight, i dont see anyone OTHER country stepping up to help..As usual, people like you BASH the only effing people who are helping. I don't see you ******** about the halocaust and 10 million people slaughtered...or like Den said the million that Saddam killed with his bullets and chemical weapons on the kurds.. or do you even take in account the fact that these ass backward countries have been chopping off the heads of their own people since BEFORE THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE? I hate uneducated mouthy people.
Oh and weasek? Screw your "american culture" comment. Unless you are 100% native american, you and your people are the ones who SPOILED this country by coming here. Your people led to the DECAY of life.
Zodiac, I understand your anger at WEASEK's comment, and if you'd had have left it at "I hate uneducated mouthy people.", I'd mostly agree.
But, then you had to imply that unless one is "100% Native American", EVERYTHING is their fault... HOG WASH!!!
Let me clue you in: "Native Americans" are no saints. In fact, pretty much no group of people anywhere on earth are saints.
I've dealt with "Native American" arrogance for most of my life. Especially when I mention that I am a White Cherokee. They try to tell me I can't be a White Cherokee, and that I have to be one or the other. I ask them which half of myself they'd have me ignore?
I'm sure some of my innocent "Native American" ancestors were murdered savagely at the hands of "Whites". I'm also just as sure that some of my innocent "White" ancestors were murdered just as savagely at the hands of "Native Americans".
Which half of me would you have the other half of me hate the most? Which half of me would you have go on the "war path" with the other half of me?
Native Americans are no saints. They scalped and murdered entire families, men, women and children, who were simply trying to make a living by farming the land. Cherokee Indians even practiced a perverted sense of Justice where if one White Man committed a crime against them, they felt they could extract Justice from just any White Man that happened to be passing through.
So, please keep your "Native American" arrogance to yourself.
How about you learn the difference between being of 100% native American bloodline and a culture and /or a tribe or individuals and their actions? It's about outsiders coming, then taking over, then ultimately dictating what this country has become. Dont even try to compare the violence of "Before" vs "after" outsiders arrived... If I have to tell you it was far better AFTER, you may want to do some research.
Also.. learn to distinguish these things... or youre tagging actions to a race and ethnicity, which makes you in part a seemingly racist individual.
Zodiac, you have the condescending gall to imply that I should learn about the differences between the actions of collectives and those of individuals, yet it was YOU who said that unless one is 100% Native American, then everything is the fault of "you and your people".
"you" (individual) "your people" (collective)
Additionally, you imply racism on my part, when in fact it is you who appears to me as exhibiting the racist attitudes.
"outsiders"? There is NO evidence that humans rose from the Americas. So, if you are a human living in the Americas, you are an "outsider".
"Native Americans" come from outside, took over (for a period of time), and ultimately dictated (for a period of time) what this land would become.
Was the Americas a better place BEFORE Whites come here? In some ways Yes, in some ways No. Is the Americas a better place AFTER Whites have come? In some ways Yes, in some ways No.
I find a lot of people romanticizing about the Americas before "Whitey Spoiled It", but I doubt many of them would really like finding themselves dropped into the middle of those Americas.
Would you use the Internet to have us still using stone tools?
I never spoke of any "White pride". I said Whites have done bad things, and that "Native Americans" have done bad things. I also implied that, as a human being, and descendent of both, I am not proud of those things done by either. Hell, I'm not even proud of everything I've ever done, and in fact I am shameful for at least one thing I've done (which I will not elaborate on).
To be completely frank with you, Zodiac, I find little in humanity to be genuinely proud of. I view humans as still mostly a savage species.
I find "White Pride", "Black Pride", "Native American Pride" or any other "Racist Pride", to be EXACTLY that! RACIST!
Which is partly why I zeroed in on your original RACIST remarks.
Nor do I approve of National Pride either.
"Pride goes before destruction"
Myself, I strive (imperfectly) to do nothing to be ashamed for, and I find pride itself to be a shame.
It is Natural that "stuff" happens, and it is also Natural that worse "stuff" happens when man wrongly screws with Nature.
The tragedy in the Philippines is part Nature's fault, and part Man's fault.
Man has risen above nature, but instead of doing the Right things, they are doing the Wrong things. Instead of viewing Nature as a family member to be cared for, many view Nature as a victim to be ravaged.
Even with this tragedy in the Philippines, there are people who still deny Global Warming caused by man. They are in denial of their obligation to our Mother Earth.
This is expected in impoverished countries such as the Philippines. 3rd world countries always take them on the chin. I live by the boy scout motto. "Always be prepared". Don't live on the beach if you can't handle mother nature. She can be a *****.
Meatrex2, I can't help but detect a condescending odor emanating from your post.
1) Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it.
2) Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.
The Scout Motto is about Being Prepared to DO THE RIGHT THING. Not about Surviving for Survival's sake. In fact, a good Scout is willing to sacrifice their own life if need be to DO THE RIGHT THING.
Other than your condescending abbreviated advice, what RIGHT THING are you Prepared to do?
Also, Meatrex, I suppose, by your remark, that instead of helping the elderly woman across the street, you'd say to the elderly woman: "Don't try to cross the street if you can't handle the traffic." ???
Perhaps better put would be not to live on the beach if you allow other nations to destroy the climate.
Your motto is so inappropriate is makes sense. Arrogant little boys thinking they rule the world - making a mess, requiring others to be prepared for your (global) mess.
WEASEK, I see your pastime is American bashing, and you are not above using this tragedy in the Philippines as yet another opportunity to bash Americans.
When I see these types of photos and headlines, I cannot help but think about all the 100,000 innocent Iraqi people killed by the US for the oil companies. The Iraqis were buried in mass graves also, others were mutilated for life. Just can't help it. Glad we are helping the Filipinos.
You know what I think about? The million or more (Saddam did bother to record numbers)Iraqis that were killed by Saddam. The millions that had to suffer under the threat and use of chemical weapons, assassinations, secret police, torture, and rape. Not to mention the million or so people killed over his unprovoked invasion of Iran. And that is only putting it mildly.
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It is us fellow humans who must give dignity to these deaths by helping the survivors to move on.
There should be some kind of Multinational Global Aid that stays prepared to ACT immediately BEFORE and AFTER these things happen.
As you said, it's not as if they didn't know it was coming!
They should have been in the Philippines BEFORE the storm struck helping prepare the people to cope with what was coming, and they should be there immediately AFTER the storm struck helping those who didn't or couldn't prepare for it.
This is a shame upon all humanity.
This Multinational Global Aid I speak of should be funded in part globally, and in part locally. And, cold as this might sound, places which have a greater chance of these things happening should be required to contribute more.
That doesn't mean they should be denied Aid if they didn't contribute, but they should shoulder much of the cost if they didn't.
This Multinational Global Aid should function like I remember some Fire Departments functioned, where people who didn't pay Dues to the Fire Department were BILLED for any calls they made.
But, thinking in circles here, I would have a problem denying individuals Aid simply because their Nation, or their Dictator, refused to pay their Dues.
Certainly we can be prepared to help other nations more quickly but isn't there a pact of nations studying which nations are "behind" on preparation in light of a natural emergency?
Shouldn't all nations be as prepared as much as they can for a natural disaster?
Is it a natural disaster when industrialized nations cause global warming?
I hate uneducated mouthy people.
Oh and weasek? Screw your "american culture" comment. Unless you are 100% native american, you and your people are the ones who SPOILED this country by coming here. Your people led to the DECAY of life.
But, then you had to imply that unless one is "100% Native American", EVERYTHING is their fault... HOG WASH!!!
Let me clue you in: "Native Americans" are no saints. In fact, pretty much no group of people anywhere on earth are saints.
I've dealt with "Native American" arrogance for most of my life. Especially when I mention that I am a White Cherokee. They try to tell me I can't be a White Cherokee, and that I have to be one or the other. I ask them which half of myself they'd have me ignore?
I'm sure some of my innocent "Native American" ancestors were murdered savagely at the hands of "Whites". I'm also just as sure that some of my innocent "White" ancestors were murdered just as savagely at the hands of "Native Americans".
Which half of me would you have the other half of me hate the most? Which half of me would you have go on the "war path" with the other half of me?
Native Americans are no saints. They scalped and murdered entire families, men, women and children, who were simply trying to make a living by farming the land. Cherokee Indians even practiced a perverted sense of Justice where if one White Man committed a crime against them, they felt they could extract Justice from just any White Man that happened to be passing through.
So, please keep your "Native American" arrogance to yourself.
How about you learn the difference between being of 100% native American bloodline and a culture and /or a tribe or individuals and their actions? It's about outsiders coming, then taking over, then ultimately dictating what this country has become. Dont even try to compare the violence of "Before" vs "after" outsiders arrived... If I have to tell you it was far better AFTER, you may want to do some research.
Also.. learn to distinguish these things... or youre tagging actions to a race and ethnicity, which makes you in part a seemingly racist individual.
the LEVEL of violence and destruction AFTER outsiders arrived is GREATER.
it's ok to have White pride, Black pride but not Native American Pride. I forgot, thanks for reminding me. lol
There's a difference between pride and arrogance.
Sorry you dont like the way the country turned out after defeating the Native Americans.
Let me ask a simple question, where did your ancestors come from and would you be better off had they stayed put?
"you" (individual)
"your people" (collective)
Additionally, you imply racism on my part, when in fact it is you who appears to me as exhibiting the racist attitudes.
"outsiders"? There is NO evidence that humans rose from the Americas. So, if you are a human living in the Americas, you are an "outsider".
"Native Americans" come from outside, took over (for a period of time), and ultimately dictated (for a period of time) what this land would become.
Was the Americas a better place BEFORE Whites come here? In some ways Yes, in some ways No. Is the Americas a better place AFTER Whites have come? In some ways Yes, in some ways No.
I find a lot of people romanticizing about the Americas before "Whitey Spoiled It", but I doubt many of them would really like finding themselves dropped into the middle of those Americas.
Would you use the Internet to have us still using stone tools?
I never spoke of any "White pride". I said Whites have done bad things, and that "Native Americans" have done bad things. I also implied that, as a human being, and descendent of both, I am not proud of those things done by either. Hell, I'm not even proud of everything I've ever done, and in fact I am shameful for at least one thing I've done (which I will not elaborate on).
To be completely frank with you, Zodiac, I find little in humanity to be genuinely proud of. I view humans as still mostly a savage species.
I find "White Pride", "Black Pride", "Native American Pride" or any other "Racist Pride", to be EXACTLY that! RACIST!
Which is partly why I zeroed in on your original RACIST remarks.
Nor do I approve of National Pride either.
"Pride goes before destruction"
Myself, I strive (imperfectly) to do nothing to be ashamed for, and I find pride itself to be a shame.
(a) Home's destroyed, I survived.
(b) Home's destroyed, I died.
I pick (b).
Acts of Nature are Natural.
Nothing is Supernatural.
Everything is Natural.
It is Natural that "stuff" happens, and it is also Natural that worse "stuff" happens when man wrongly screws with Nature.
The tragedy in the Philippines is part Nature's fault, and part Man's fault.
Man has risen above nature, but instead of doing the Right things, they are doing the Wrong things. Instead of viewing Nature as a family member to be cared for, many view Nature as a victim to be ravaged.
Even with this tragedy in the Philippines, there are people who still deny Global Warming caused by man. They are in denial of their obligation to our Mother Earth.
1) Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it.
2) Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.
The Scout Motto is about Being Prepared to DO THE RIGHT THING. Not about Surviving for Survival's sake. In fact, a good Scout is willing to sacrifice their own life if need be to DO THE RIGHT THING.
Other than your condescending abbreviated advice, what RIGHT THING are you Prepared to do?
Your motto is so inappropriate is makes sense. Arrogant little boys thinking they rule the world - making a mess, requiring others to be prepared for your (global) mess.
Who is influencing you? Maybe try a new circle of friends.
You are seriously off base.
Just can't help it.
Glad we are helping the Filipinos.
How did the Philippine nation have a choice in this?
Didn't the Iraqi government and people have a choice?
I'm glad the US is helping along with other industrialized nations - global warming, after all, could be the reason for so many deaths.
Is it humanitarian aid or simply mitigating damages (from helping to cause the catastrophe in the first place) by helping those who survived?
Be assured, if the US has done wrong, there is legal action that others can take.