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Dec-26-2004 17:22

Just wanted to put out my thoughts and prayers to family and friends of all those lost, and suffering loss of life, home and general safety due to the Earthquake and folowing tsunami and aftershocks of Sundays (Sumatra time) (8:00 p.m. EST Saturday evening).. which is about 6pm sleuth time I think.

Anyway Delvin is in Singapore and he should be safe, but usually logs on daily and I haven't heard from him, and he does know people that would have been in effected areas.

So any good thoughts you want to send him, or people there feel free to add on to my posting.

HOPE if anyone else here lives in SAsia or SW ASIA are safe and everyone they know are also.

Again Prayers and my good wishes to those in that part of our world.

Rivergallery.

Dec-31-2004 08:25

As we go to the new year, I will be thinking of the people in Asia.

As my grandfather always says:
"Kemarau setahun dihapuskan hujan sehari."
Which is Indonesian (probably with a lot of spelling mistakes) for "a year of dry season is erased by a day of rain."

I pray for that day to come soon.

Dec-31-2004 11:32

right, i do raise money for a living, so i can't not post this.

regardless of my views of american politics, i do think it is very important for folks to put their money where their mouth is by helping those in need. the easiest way to do that is to connect to one (or all) of these sites and make a donation to support the tsunami disaster relief.

https://www.redcross.org
https://www.unicefusa.org
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Dec-31-2004 11:47

Yes you can. Also because these are the trustworthy agencies.

There already have been Sri Lanka people arrested here, they were going door to door, claiming to raise money for their country. While in fact, they were not. That is so sad.

Dec-31-2004 12:26

Thanks Sunny
and a note
The US has raised their pledge to $350million USD as of today.

Also again, as far as putting in warning systems and helping with the poor previously, many countries did and do not want outside help.

Dec-31-2004 12:53

I was not trying to imply that Asian/Indian people are "backwards". Furthermore, I was not trying to stigmitize thier culture. Thier living conditions however have been in great need of improvement. Case & point: According to Paul Harvey this afternoon, the Sri Lankans have benn quoted that they will once agin have to rely cocnuts. The tress as well as the leaves will be used for rebuiding houses & the fruit for sustanance. How would you live to have a roof made up of leaves? Do you consider that good living conditions? Don't you think these people deserves sturdy housing w/ heat & air conditioning. What percentage of the population in these countries have electricity & running water? What is the job & income ratio. What is the leteracy rate. Do you consider Somalia & Kenya which were also affected a wealthy society? Did you know that there a few of the countries affcted that turn thier children out on the streets to prostitute because they are so poor? Could you imagine allowing your child to have sex to make money?? Did you know that the AIDS rate in Kenya & Thialand are some of the highest in the world. I in no way consider the societal ills good for these peole groups. They deserve a much better way of life.
I throughly believe that theses wonderful countries have SO VERY MUCH to offer the rest of the world. It will be up to the more the powerful governments to open the doors of opportunity for the civilians. It has long been a fact the Indian/Asian peoples are some of the most intelligent & innovative when it comes to technology etc. They just need a hand up instead of just hand out to overcome someof the struggles that have long plagued thier societies. I want more than anything to see all of these countries not only overcome the detriment of the natural disaster. Also, to pull through & become an even better society as far as living conditions. These are such wonderful people whose lives could stand to be more enriched & full of hope.

Jan-1-2005 05:17

Did anyone see on CNN about the mom who had to let go of her older child to hold on to the younger one in one hand and hold on to something for the other hand? The older one was crying, holding his stuffed toy. It was so sad, and very traumatizing.
Another story about a child, 4 yrs, who survived by clinging to a tree.



This may be off the subject, but there was a fire in Argentina. A flare was thrown in the roof of a disco place and many people died.

Jan-1-2005 06:02

I heard about the first one and even repeated it to my husband, I have two toddler boys myself so I empathize with the anguish she would have felt, thank God the 5year old was strong enough to hold on!

Jan-1-2005 07:47

Yes I do, uh, but have you ever been in Asia? Lived there, talked to the people, or even the prostitutes? I have. I realize your message is well intentioned. But misses some deeper reasoning and hands on knowledge. And though well intentioned, and not wanting make them sound backward. You inherently, although meaning well, do.

I actually sent what you wrote to a few people over there, as we talked about this view before. And I hope what a friend of mine wrote and that will hopefully make you understand, LOOSE translation:
Is that how everybody sees us? I feel so embarrassed you think about us that way. Is not true. Is not right. We think and live differently here. I feel judged by your standards, and assuming. I feel she is really talking down to my education and my home. I would never willingly put my child up for prostitution. Really, honest, I would not do that. I don't need an airconditioner, and why does he want me to have a heater? The problem, if my job was taken away, and my family died, and I was injured, I would not survive. But the way I live now, although the same as she describes, is good. I am happy. And I like living with all of my family. Phuket is an evil place I hear, where fat white people, abuse our children. Life is sometimes hard here, and I hope our new president in his palace will do something about it. Like you said fighting corruption, and our system. Also the big companies from America and Europe. And the way the foreigners see us. I have never been Africa, but I tink it is different there."

With those words, I want to close the discussion off. It is from someone whom lived in Asia all of her live (never left her island actually), and lives in the same place you think you are describing. As I got upset about it, I got rather wordy about it, to defend my people. And with that, I am sure annoyed people on this board, although no one said so. I apologize.

This is will be my last msg here. As I think my friend can speak for herself.

Jan-1-2005 12:28

I was not trying to stereotype all of the citizens within the disaster zone. I was merely trying to point out just giving aid is not enough for some sections of some of the countries. I in NO WAY meant to sound discriminatory & I believe you have taken the point I was trying to make out of context. With regard to twisting it to sound like I meant ALL people withing a given country. EVERY country on this earth has societal ills to be addressed. I understand that people adapt in various ways given thier circumstances. My point was that while so many countries & governments are finally focused on this part of the world. It is time to step up to the plate & help the disadvantaged to over come some of thier unfortunate circumstances.
The western companies that already exsist in these countries have gotten wealthy off the peopple's cheap labor. Factories that pay $15.00 an hour here, move somewhere like China, India, Mexico or wherever. They then pay a laborer like $2.00 to $5.00 an hour. It has makes me sick, that a CEO can be that greedy. It is unfair. The people work just as harder probably even hareder & are taken advantage of. Why, because they are thankful to have a job. Not only that, the same company here will offer benifits: health insurance, retirement, vaction & sick days with pay etc. I believe in equality in ALL people that no one person is any better than anyone else. What I have been trying to say is that even the foriegn companies should be treating these people right & opening the doors of opprtunity for them.
To your friend in Thialand, tell her apologize if what i said hurt her feelings. I know they good people there have to be embarrassed. I wasn't the finger at Thialand though. It are some of the perverted foreign tourists taking advantage of the people there. It is not the citizens of the country abusing these kids. Tell her I said my heart goes out to the ones that have to live there & hear & know about what goes on.

Jan-1-2005 12:38

Also that MAYBE this disaster will somehow be able to bring about a change. That the world can unite to make things better for them. Where they need it or want it.
I didn't mean to offend her about the air conditioner. America is spoiled. I admit it. The way I see things though. I think everyone in the world deserves all of the luxuries we have here. If they want them. The companies should be held responsible enough that by golly, if they pay Joe $18.00 an hour here plus benefits, they are to the same for any worker in the world. The UN needs to step up to the plate & do what they are intended to do. Go in & educate the people in remote areas, bring good paying honest jobs, pave roads to make goods transport easier, provide clean running water, teach the people about disease prevention, crack down on pedophile tourists, innoculate the kids & figure out ways to improve agriculture. To accomplish this it will take a lot of work. It may sound cynical to you but, I honestly belive it can be done though.
With my point finally clear I hope I have cleared the air of any confusion you may have had. Thank you for the enlightening post from your friend too.