Aiding Victims: Sincere or Political?

Tsunami. Although most of us understand the meaning of this word, most of us don't hear in normal conversation. However, in recent days this word has taken on new meaning. News braodcasts have brought the natural disaster in the Indian Ocean to the fore front of national coverage. Over the past couple of weeks we have been witness to the distruction caused by a tsunami in southern Asia which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, ranging from India to Australia. Country upon Country hs been beding over backwards to help these poor people with what would seem to be pure concern for the severe hardship of those coping with loss. However, I find it interesting that hidden underneath the good intentions of each country is a political game of one-upmenship. As one country pledges a certain sum of money to aid the relief effort another country meets and incerases their pledged amount, thus continuing an increasing wealth of funds.

Please do not misunderstand my thoughts. As long as money is collected to help these people I have no real poblem with this political game. Yet, as I watched I was amazed at how these countries could so subtly interweave thier political poker game into such a horrific tragady. I see this political venture as a game of celebrity poker with the tsunami relief aid as the cause. Each country hold a hand in which they bet, each vying for the prize of most giving in world view. Each country pledging depending on how the prizewill hlp them . then the next country will accept and up the last country's bid. Now it is only a matter of time before the final bid . I think it will be interesting to see which of the pledged country will in the hand and come out on top.

Thankfuly there are other les political bodies out there helping these poor people such as the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and the World Bank, to name a few. If you would like to help the victims of the Tsunami please visit: www.worldvision.org.