Katrina: Hindsight is 20/20 + Challenge!

What amazes me the most in this hurricane Katrina ordeal is that a "mandatory evacuation" was in place before the storm hit. Where was the help then to get the people away from the gulf coast? Most of the people there, especially in Mississippi, the poorest state in the country, live paycheck to paycheck. Folks, it was the end of the month. They had no money to leave. The busses and evacuation help should have been in place before the storm. You can't simply say, "get out", without giving help to do so.

I've seen the devastaion that is going on in the gulf coast via the news. I feel sorry and helpless to do anything to help. I recieved a check from CCBill today for payment from one of my sponsors. I donated that $149.00 to the Salvation Army for Katrina disaster relief. I challenge all of you that read this to give something, any amount, to the Salvation Army to provide assistance to these people. This will be an ongoing effort for months and without our help it can't be done.

If you're wondering why I donate to the Salvation Army and not the Red Cross, think about this: The Red Cross ranks very low on the charity causes that actualy get donations for what it's intended for. You've seen "Red Cross" splattered across your TV's seeking dontations. Do you think the TV stations give that time free to the Red Cross? No! The Red Cross pays for that television time, thus taking away donated money that should be used to aid victims. Donate your money to the Salvation Army so that more of your $$$ gets to the people in need than for paying outrageous overhead that the Red Cross has.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

And a quick comment on the aid that is comming in... Where are the other countries at? You know, the countries that the U.S. helps out everytime they have a disaster? The U.S. is very quick to lend a helping hand but we get nothing in return when something like this devestates us. :coffee:

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Originally Posted by neags78805

And a quick comment on the aid that is coming in... Where are the other countries at? You know, the countries that the U.S. helps out every time they have a disaster? The U.S. is very quick to lend a helping hand but we get nothing in return when something like this devastates us.

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Living abroad now for the last 3 years I can tell you the mentality towards Americans:

1) They are successful so they are all arrogant

2) They are powerful so it's their duty to help us

3) They don't need our help because they are powerful

Anything good we do is expected, not appreciated. Trying to get countries weaned off American support is like trying to get a piglet of it's mothers titty. Anything we labor to create is immediately pirated after release.

Unfortunately these are the views of people towards Americans who've never been to America. Those who have been to America usually want to stay. Those who don't stay, and go back, have a different opinion of us.

It's just the way it is. And if we were a weaker country, and another was immensely powerful, how would we view them? If it was China, Russia or Europe... how would we react? How would we feel? :pimp:

Red Cross may be much more organized as a business than the Salvation Army is, but "Sally" has just as many of its own problems. I have seen both "up close and personal", both as a volunteer coordinator (Flood of '93) and in working with various drives (United Way, etc).

The Salvation Army can, at times, be very downright bigoted as to who might qualify for assistance (and I'm not talking about color). The dedication of the people in the organization cannot be questioned - the quality of the people they employ, even in important positions, can vary widely, with "faith" sometimes serving as a substitute for skills and/or training.

For what it's worth, my money will go to the Red Cross. I suspect that money donated to either organization will do some good, so maybe the point is moot.