Aid Fatique, Resource Shortfall, Or Culture Shock?
When the tsunami hit, aid both private and public flooded in, pardon the expression, and likewise with Hurricane Katrina. Yet when a disaster hits Pakistan, with casualties estimated in the mid five-figures, I’ve seen little or no interest. No ubiquitous relief banners, no blogger alliances or initiatives (at least that I’ve seen).
An open question, then, to any who wish to answer it. Why? (Assuming I’m right – if I’ve missed some mass movement, I would appreciate the correction). I put the question in the title: is it because we can’t relate to the Pakistani culture? Is it because of the suspicion that many, if not most, Pakistanis see us as the enemy? Have we tightened our wallets after the Katrina disaster (and yes, the hyped casualties and so forth)? Are we just becoming hardened to mass suffering?
I offer no answers, but I’d love to hear yours…
UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: Michelle Malkin is a notable exception…
UPDATE 2 11:03 p.m.: Thanks to Lorie Byrd for the link; in addition to the links at Michelle Malkin’s, you can donate through a link to WorldVision at the recently banned from Red State AJStrata’s place…and if anyone comes across a good donation banner I can put on the page let me know.
I’m not trying to play the shame game…that’s not my style. I just know it sure is nice to live in a country that can take care of Iraq, Katrina, the tsunami, AND relief to Pakistan…never forget how capricious life is…and as always, help if you’re able and willing, that’s all…
One other thought…even though tragedy should trump politics, Pakistan is home to a large Muslim population…a population that is sheltering Osama bin Laden…what better gesture than a large outpouring of humanitarian aid to build a bridge? Oh, I’m no idealist, I don’t expect people would suddenly fall in love with America…but it might give pause to some who would otherwise demonize us…maybe even a potential future jihadi or two…
UPDATE 10/10/05 6:45 a.m.: Thanks also to the Political Teen for the link…
AJ has something up too.
Quick Hits 10/9
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Unable to relate to the culture of Pakistan? Hell, how many Americans are able to relate to the culture in New Orleans? Yet, the money poured forth. Disaster fatigue has set in.
[...] Aid Fatique, Resource Shortfall, Or Culture Shock? Where is the outpour of Earthquake relief? [...]
[...] Mark is wondering why in the face of the terrible images of the Pakistan/Islamabad earthquakes the response seems so very quiet. I think some of it is crisis-fatigue. But I am betting that some of the disinterest is because America ran to help Islamists after a Tsunami – sending its aircraft carriers and its helicopters and millions of dollars in aid beyond the nearly a billion dollars contributed by individual Americans to the relief effort…and she saw her aid accepted begrudgingly by people wearing Osama bin Laden tee shirts, and disparaged as “stingy” by the rest of the world. [...]