Criticizing the US in Haiti

Dirtie_Frank

So since no one else is talking about it. Why is Venezuela and France calling US support to Haiti occupation. Would they rather out support go away? The US is there augmenting UN forces and Haiti police forces. I guess we can do nothing right.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01/18/2010-01-18_hugo_chavez.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/18/AR2010011801850.html

philthehip

I think alot of nations will see the US helping as back handed support. They will look for the financial benefits that America may or may not be able to draw from this disaster. The countries foreign policies and its questionable food aid programme will fuel other countries to criticise the US. On a personal level Im very happy that you are all helping.

phillypjhead

I think it's awful generous of the American people that we are allowing our currency to be further devalued in order to assist Haiti. I mean, we are just going to print the $100 million we promised, right? We sure don't have it sitting around...

Cosmo

porchmonkey77 wrote:

I think it's awful generous of the American people that we are allowing our currency to be further devalued in order to assist Haiti. I mean, we are just going to print the $100 million we promised, right? We sure don't have it sitting around...

...
So.. are you saying that the United States can't afford to help?

Anon

I am. But there are a lot of things we can't afford, that isn't stopping us anyway.

phillypjhead

I'm saying the government doesn't have the money, not that our country doesn't. I am proud that our country will be the biggest private donors to Haiti. I am just lamenting the fact that the government doesn't have an extra $100 million and that they will therefore print the money which will further devalue the dollar. I heard today that we are projected to donate about $10 billion privately, which would be a few billion more than we gave to our own citizens for Katrina. America is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen.

gimmesometruth27

porchmonkey77 wrote:

I'm saying the government doesn't have the money, not that our country doesn't. I am proud that our country will be the biggest private donors to Haiti. I am just lamenting the fact that the government doesn't have an extra $100 million and that they will therefore print the money which will further devalue the dollar. I heard today that we are projected to donate about $10 billion privately, which would be a few billion more than we gave to our own citizens for Katrina. America is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen.

the government and the country having the money is the exact same thing. federal money is federal money...private donations are private donations...

america is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen????

ahem, iraq...

cough...afghanistan

cough cough...gitmo torture...

hiroshima, nagasaki, tacit support of isreal,

raping the environment and polluting the environment,

etc, etc, etc...

WaveCameCrashin

are gimmie and brynzie the same person ??

WaveCameCrashin

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

So since no one else is talking about it. Why is Venezuela and France calling US support to Haiti occupation. Would they rather out support go away? The US is there augmenting UN forces and Haiti police forces. I guess we can do nothing right.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01/18/2010-01-18_hugo_chavez.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/18/AR2010011801850.html

Fuck Hugo Chavez.. Who do you think would help the most if Venezuela if they ever had a natural diaster ? We would of course. What the hell does he expect us to do ? just air drop everything and leave ? There is complete lawlessness right now in Hati. There has to be some order,and How come no one is talking about all the children that are being adopted by us and the Dutch.

gimmesometruth27

prfctlefts wrote:

are gimmie and brynzie the same person ??

no.

i'm sorry that you think that the US deserves a fucking medal every time we do what is EXPECTED of us...do you get a bonus at your job for showing up on time and doing the work you are supposed to do? no i don't, because i am EXPECTED to do those things. if you go above and beyond expectations then you reap the rewards. same thing, if you are fucking up at work you would hear about it in a review. same thing here, we are fucking up other things in this world while we are helping in Haiti. you have to be able to think critically of your country. most intellectuals do that and most dolts are incapable of that. you must see the bad with the good and try to improve the bad while maintaining the good.

people on here that think like you go on and on about all the good we do yet ignore the bad. while you all are busy patting yourself on the back there are a bunch of other countries that hate you for it...for taking credit for things you are EXPECTED to do...

dunkman

porchmonkey77 wrote:

America is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen.

then the world is blind.

Jeanwah

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

porchmonkey77 wrote:

I'm saying the government doesn't have the money, not that our country doesn't. I am proud that our country will be the biggest private donors to Haiti. I am just lamenting the fact that the government doesn't have an extra $100 million and that they will therefore print the money which will further devalue the dollar. I heard today that we are projected to donate about $10 billion privately, which would be a few billion more than we gave to our own citizens for Katrina. America is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen.

the government and the country having the money is the exact same thing. federal money is federal money...private donations are private donations...

america is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen????

ahem, iraq...

cough...afghanistan

cough cough...gitmo torture...

hiroshima, nagasaki, tacit support of isreal,

raping the environment and polluting the environment,

etc, etc, etc...

I agree, but considering how much Americans give to charity individually and leaving gov't out of the picture, we are quite generous. But to say that America is the "greatest force of good"? That's laughable.

aerial

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

prfctlefts wrote:

are gimmie and brynzie the same person ??

no.

i'm sorry that you think that the US deserves a fucking medal every time we do what is EXPECTED of us...do you get a bonus at your job for showing up on time and doing the work you are supposed to do? no i don't, because i am EXPECTED to do those things. if you go above and beyond expectations then you reap the rewards. same thing, if you are fucking up at work you would hear about it in a review. same thing here, we are fucking up other things in this world while we are helping in Haiti. you have to be able to think critically of your country. most intellectuals do that and most dolts are incapable of that. you must see the bad with the good and try to improve the bad while maintaining the good.

people on here that think like you go on and on about all the good we do yet ignore the bad. while you all are busy patting yourself on the back there are a bunch of other countries that hate you for it...for taking credit for things you are EXPECTED to do...

Why is America EXPECTED to help? Is it because we always come to the aid of the less fortunate....and we are THE country that is always called upon for funds from EVERY other country in time of disaster....is because we help EVERY time we are asked? Now it is EXPECTED from us?

nuffingman

I don't care who coordinates the rescue effort as long as someone helps those poor sods.

gimmesometruth27

aerial wrote:

Why is America EXPECTED to help? Is it because we always come to the aid of the less fortunate....and we are THE country that is always called upon for funds from EVERY other country in time of disaster....is because we help EVERY time we are asked? Now it is EXPECTED from us?

let me ask you one question...is america a leader in this world? my answer would be yes. i am sure you would agree. in times of tragedy and emergency leaders are expected to step up to the plate, put their money where their mouth is, and by god get things done to help. we do it every time, i am PROUD of that part of my country. one of the few things i am proud of here lately. now you are going to sit back and question it when your country has the chance to step up and do some good??? if you were in haiti, what is the closest large economic and military and humanitarian superpower to you? its the usa. it would be fucking stupid to ask for greenland to help and not ask the us which is so close and has the resourses and can get there quickly...

the way i see it, we have two choices as a leader in this world. we can either be a benevolent leader and hlep those in need. or we can be dicks and say "you guys work it out yourselves, we can't be bothered with you problems"...i prefer the former, but its clear some would prefer the latter....

aerial

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

aerial wrote:

Why is America EXPECTED to help? Is it because we always come to the aid of the less fortunate....and we are THE country that is always called upon for funds from EVERY other country in time of disaster....is because we help EVERY time we are asked? Now it is EXPECTED from us?

let me ask you one question...is america a leader in this world? my answer would be yes. i am sure you would agree. in times of tragedy and emergency leaders are expected to step up to the plate, put their money where their mouth is, and by god get things done to help. we do it every time, i am PROUD of that part of my country. one of the few things i am proud of here lately. now you are going to sit back and question it when your country has the chance to step up and do some good??? if you were in haiti, what is the closest large economic and military and humanitarian superpower to you? its the usa. it would be fucking stupid to ask for greenland to help and not ask the us which is so close and has the resourses and can get there quickly...

the way i see it, we have two choices as a leader in this world. we can either be a benevolent leader and hlep those in need. or we can be dicks and say "you guys work it out yourselves, we can't be bothered with you problems"...i prefer the former, but its clear some would prefer the latter....

i'm sorry that you think that the US deserves a fucking medal every time we do what is EXPECTED of us.

My point is some are so fast to put down America for being at war and anything else they disagree with (And that’s okay be it there opinion)....but Americans deserve no praise for running to the aid of ALL COUNTRIES in need ?....as we give aid for natural disasters or putting our American solders in harms way for some other countries freedom..... because it is expected of us?.......Why is it EXPECTED from us and not seen as a KIND and GENEROUS offer to help? By the way I am for helping......

Drowned Out

I love how that Washington Post article gives the impression that the US and France have had no involvement in Haiti since before WWII.
Canada and the US orchestrated a fucking coup there just five years ago!
And we wonder why people would questions the motives behind sending 7000 armed troops? Even if those motives ARE 100% innocent and humanitarian, the criticizm is a direct result of past foreign policy in the entire region (world). It’s not like the US and her allies have never misled the public about their intentions while dispatching their armies. That said...at this point, I see no reason to believe there are ulterior motives.

Dirtie_Frank

I do not believe the US is occupying, but I do believe that maybe the UN should take control of Haiti. Haiti was in bad shape before this happened the government was corrupt and doing very little to help its people. I think that this earthquake might be a blessing in disguise, if Haiti can be rebuilt to a country that can flourish.

gimmesometruth27

i'm not so sure i would ever classify estimates ranging from 40,000 - 200,000 dead a blessing of any sort. more like a tragedy of epic proportions...

rebornFixer

The media is of course skewed to some extent, but its still worth mentioning that many Haitians appear to welcome the aid, including the idea of U.S. troops providing security. One man was even quoted as saying that "the Americans can stay longer than in 1915 this time"!
At the end of the day, 1)the U.S., like it or not, remains a world leader, 2) many Americans are extremely charitable people, 3) the U.S. government, while obviously not free of ulterior motive in places like the Middle East, nevertheless has a pretty solid track record of disaster relief in other nations, and 4) the medical and humanitarian aid is needed pretty urgently. It all adds up to helping out.
Someone mentioned Chavez, who is an irritating hypocrite whose contributions to the world's diplomatic stage are dubious at best. As for the French, sure, goad the U.S. into helping. And then step up yourself and join the party.

Dirtie_Frank

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i'm not so sure i would ever classify estimates ranging from 40,000 - 200,000 dead a blessing of any sort. more like a tragedy of epic proportions...

I am just saying that this tragedy can turn into something positive. Unless you have a problem with that. :roll: