one angry American?

Question

why should we (the united states)always be the ones to "make the peace" to "help the less fortunate" when were in debt up to our eyeballs and cant make peace within our own country or even help our own homeless, hungery, hurt, etc... why is it that we always help when there is a sunami, tornado, or natural desaster, and the country we are helping continually ask for more and more money proceeding to get mad when we dont deliver or insult us afterwards, even when we remove the debt owed to us entirely. Why when we have a natural desaster like the floods in new orleans that no one comes to our aid "let america help themselves" ..... i say im sick of it ...no more bring our troups home let the other countrys who are so "high and mighty" help them get on there feet .... let them be bombed attacked insulted and defiled for once see how they like it.
am I the only one who feels this way? am I just selfish for wanting my husband home now its been more than a year already...

all right i apologize for the statement that NO one helps and that using Katrina was a bad example but my question isnt just about that one occasion but a generalization of the occurances i've witnessed and i'm not saying help at all .... im saying why are we trying to make everyone a democracy when it dosen't work 100% for us ? yes it still works for us but how can it possably work for every one it was developed by people and people are never perfect...

Answer 1

I understand your frustration. I sometimes feel it too. The way Americans are criticized in other countries makes me sick and it seems like people actually feel they have a right to a bigger share of Americas wealth...like world wide socialism. But sometimes you don't see the whole picture. Aren't you really talking about gratitude, or what seems like a lack of it? Well, consider this. You mentioned Katrina. Do you know that Indonesia, that poor country that was devastated by the tsunami was one of the first to offer a donation for Katrina relief? It wasn't a lot relatively speaking but it reminded me of the Bible story about the widow who while not giving much, gave all she had. Afghanistan donated, as well as the Philippines, and even Kosovo. Don't you think that those were expressions of gratitude. We don't need to be a begger nation and despite the inadequacies in our society, they are nothing when compared to the abject poverty in other parts of the world. Yes maybe there are things our government might do to better help American citizens, but there are limits. The way some Americans view our foreign aid reminds me of a teenager who is angry and jealous because his parents make him earn his allowance when they donate money to charity. I can also understand the attitude that we should just stay out of other countries conflicts and mind our own business, but unfortunately many things going on in the world do directly affect our own security. Take 9-11. Why do you suppose that happened? It was because islamic terrorists hate jews and we support Israel. It isn't even a matter that we supply Israel with weapons or actively assist them in their defense...it's because we have made a commitment to insure that Israel has a right to exist. We have to fight terrorists where they live or we most certainly will be fighting them here. I truly do understand how you feel...I find myself with those same thoughts at times, and no you are not being selfish. I pray your husband will be safely home with you soon. God bless.

Answer 2

Why because there has to be a ruling class and that class is always the wealthy who like to drive down the poor streets and see people living on the streets so that they can make fun of them. Hurricane Katrina was nothing more than a Jack move. How do you gain control over a city where the majority of the residents are black, allow the levy to crack and flood the city and scoop up all of the loose property that reverts back to the city because former residents hasn't paid their taxes since Katrina hit. Now they can look into expanding New Orleans into a bigger tourist paradise.
Why are we the ones to police the world, we are not there has to be one critera friends of the President have to be able to profit. Bush is from Texas, home of Oil companies, and Defense manufacturer, both are making record profits off this war. The intellegence community and the militaries budget was increased some outrageous amounts of money.
Who suffered well Education budget was cut, FEMA was diverted into Homeland Security, Social Services budget was cut, social security was raided.
What do we get a huge debt that we will take generations to pay back. My Question is how do you go from a huge surplus that was left by Bill Clinton to one of the largest deficits in american history? Blame the Senate and the House because they are in charge of controlling the President.

Answer 3

You're right--America needs to focus more on domestic issues, and the current administration doesn't know how to do that. My peers and I have lost so many jobs to outsourcing, layoffs, and downsizing. There is no more room for us college grads except behind counters, and after your Bachelors, the government won't help you get another degree.

Even our own government did not properly respond to the New Orleans situation. I'm sure if a bunch of rich white men lived there, it might have been different.

Really, if the United States just budgeted 1% of its budget to helping the world, we wouldn't have to worry about the natural disasters and stuff that comes up... that small percent would more than take care of it. See http://www.one.org for more information.

The war in Iraq is a related issue. Our government thinks it is our duty to babysit and rebuild the world in a better image...in reality, why are we even over in Iraq?

On 9/11, though, nobody said 'let America help themselves.' I remember huge outpourings of support from international neighbors, particularly the kind Canadians that let stranded Americans (because planes were grounded) stay in their homes. Nobody deserves what happened on 9/11, but when one power tries to control the world, even if it means to do good, that's what happens. Look what happened to Rome, and later, the Holy Roman Empire.

I hate being told I'm selfish because I want a better life for myself than a counter job. It doesn't mean I'm putting down folks with counter jobs, it just means that something's wrong when a high school grad can't get a counter job because someone with a Bachelors and 5 years' management experience has snatched it up for lack of a better job for them. And where does that leave the person with no GED? Maybe they get economically drafted, to fight this war for.......whatever it's for.

I know it isn't oil.
Not at $3+/gallon.

Answer 4

I understand how angry you feel, especially if you are being made to live sepparately from your husband. nonetheless, I think there is a way for us to be a humanitarian beacon across the globe and still make sure we do right by our own people. Bring the troops home. demand that israel and palestinian peace process begin and then support it equitably. Put Zionists and Muslim terrorsit organizations in a big time out. Withdraw our input of weaponry to corrupt governments. Take care of the poor here on the homefront. Work dilegently to end institutionalized racism. Put education of our kids back in real focus. To most right wingers this sounds like herecy, but we have to face these issues with not only strength but love and human comapssion. best of luck to you

Answer 5

Perhaps you are selfish. I don't blame you for wanting your husband home but your husband and the men sent out there are making difference in this world. What would you prefer that we just forget things happen and not help others in their time of need. What if the shoe was on the other foot and you needed rescuing? I thank you for your husband's service and I respect your frustration for not having him home. The USA is the greatest country in the world because we do care for other people and other nations. I truly believe that this nation is a blessed nation because of the service we provide to all the less fortunate, poor and needy people. Some people think that our troops do not need to be in Iraq, I beg to differ. Iraq is a much better country without Sadaam in power. Sure there are things to be worked out and insurgents to get rid of but all in God's timing. I will pray for the safety of your husband and all troops overseas in harms way that they make their way home to you and their families. Take Care

Answer 6

Oh well...if America did all you said the USA will overall look better politically, economically and probably socially...but that will only make it even more attractive for the Illegals and all the other poor guys whose countries plainly suck and would probably suck even more when Islamists, commies, idiotic socialists or moronic dictators eventually take over their governments. And by the way Osama and Fiends will still want the New World as part of his evil Islamic Empire...

To Carina...yes America isnt the only one that gives aid (that would only prove that all other countries are sh*t and heartless) but on average America gives more aid overall to more nations than even Norway or China.

Answer 7

70 countries pledged and sent aid in the wake of Katrina. Even Bangladesh gave a million dollars for aid, and that country is routinely obliterated by typhoons. I guess they can sympathize. The fact is America is by far the richest nation on the planet. Our predominently Christian faith teaches us to help the less fortunate. On the political side, history teaches those willing to learn that isolationism is a foolhardy path for America to take. I personally would like to see us be a bit more selective in what we get involved in, but by and large we simply cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand.

Answer 8

I'm and American and I understand what you're saying. This is the way I see it. We're (everyone on earth) all in this together no matter what god you prey to. We are fortunate enough to be able to afford to pay taxes to help save others lives in countries far off. It is our obligation. This "Anti-American" bull sh*t is only a fad. People hate America because other people hate America. Anyone with a brain or anyone who follows what we do in support of other nations would agree with Tony Blair who said in a recent interview "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." I agree whole-heartily with him.

Answer 9

Why, because these countries struggle to make ends meet and then some more powerful country comes in and attacks or its people split their beliefs and attack themselves (civil war). We not only defend the the people in this country t hat want to disagree and speak out about how bad things are, but we extend our grip to help other countries that are too weak to defend themselves. And if they might have some useful resource we need(oil) who's to say they wont repay us for our help. Its politics.

I hope that if we were a small struggling country and weren't able to defend our self, that some bigger more powerful country would help us. . . .. don't you?

Answer 10

Well you the ones that bombs other contrys so it is a good idea to bring your troops home. And you are not the only contry that help others in crises. Norway was the contry that gave most money to the tsunami offers pr. person. Also our primeminister offered you help when kathrina hit you but your gouverment said no.I think it is unfair to say poor contrys ask you for more and more after all we that live in rich contrys should share some of or wealth and to those who need it. And off course your own poor should also get the help they need. but it totally wrong to think it is only USA that helps poor contrys. bombing then does not help at all.