I was appalled by First Lady Laura Bush's press conference yesterday on the Myanmar cyclone disaster, which has claimed at least 22,000 lives so far.
So she starts out the press conference right. Saying that it's a horrendous disaster, that the American people are caring people, and we are going to be donating generously to the private charities.
That went on for about 90 seconds. Then she spends the next 15 minutes ripping the Myanmar government to shreds! So she starts out saying Americans will give generously, and then she immediately gives about a thousand reasons why you shouldn't give! And while the part about compassion and giving seemed rather rote, the part about ripping the government to shreds, she obviously seemed to take great delight in that.
I normally always donate to private charities immediately after disasters like this, and I was ready to, until I saw the First Lady's press conference, and then I thought, maybe not.
Then later in the day, I heard another media bozo make a similar comment, the TV commentator Don Shelby here in Minneapolis. He commented that people should give, but just hope the money doesn't fall into the hands of the Myanmar government.
So I didn't donate yesterday, and I felt bad about that. But here Laura Bush and Don Shelby have given me all kinds of reasons not to be compassionate for my fellow human beings in time of need. But this morning on the TV news programs and in the print media I saw there was alot of negative reaction the First Lady's press conference.
With this unimaginable calamity going on, why are we bludgeoning the government at this time? So we're going to punish the innocent people of Myanmar for the actions of their government? Probably 80% of the people there hate their leaders, just like they do here in the US! So if a hurricane killed 22,000 people in the US, the good people of the world should run down the long list of George Bush's crimes before they decide to do anything? That's ridiculous.
It somewhat reminds of that old quote from the Bible. That when we are near the endtimes, peoples hearts will grow cold.
When a terrible disaster like this happens to your fellow humans, you don't stop to listen to the cold-hearted Laura Bush's or Don Shelby's of the world. You don't hesitate in the least, you find a good non-governmental charity of your choice, and there are some good ones, and you give.
I haven't seen much of Laura Bush over the years, but after yesterday's press conference, it makes me wonder, whether she's just as stupid as her husband is. Maybe that's why they don't trot her out for press conferences that often?
At least 22,000 killed so far. Into the millions homeless. No food. No water. No shelter. I donated today. You should too.
Here's a list of non-governmental organizations which are working to provide relief to the people of Myanmar-
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link to www.cnn.com]
United States
