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where will your heart be at midnight?
December 31, 2004
So, I know it's not the biggest deal right now, not the biggest thing we can do, but I'm looking at how the rest of the world is both realistically and symbolically paying its respect to what's happened in Asia.
One of the most incredible things in the aftermath of 9/11 was the sharing of respect and grief around the world. The Brits flew the U.S. flag over Buckingham Palace, 100,000 Canadians marched in Ottawa, there were public shows of support across Europe and Asia. It was a brief, wonderful moment of humanity without so many borders.
I know we're doing things - we're, uhh... sending Jeb Bush... (though I wish we had sent him over, or sent him anywhere else, about 5 years ago). Seems like everyone I know is giving what for them are significant sums of money to aid organizations.
The flags outside my office appear to be at full mast. A review of CNN, MSNBC, and other online news websites, as well as the local "newspaper" reveals no special plans, no moderating of celebrations here. One of the major domestic headlines is the yearly concern over whether it will rain on the Rose Bowl Parade. Did I sleep through the American moment of silence?
The only thing I've seen is a suggestion in an email from www.moveon.org. Don't bother looking for it on their website - it's not there - there's only a page with an email form riding the Bush administration for not doing enough. More on that suggestion in a moment.
Look, it's not that everything should shut down. Go, have fun. Let the football games be played. But it's an opportunity to raise money, and an opportunity to, if nothing else, show some symbolic support. I hope I'm just oblivious, but I don't see it happening, not on a community or national level. I'm a bit embarassed, quite frankly.
Personally, I figure I could easily have spent $100 tonight on cover charges and alcohol and, potentially, other party favors, all of which will make me feel like crap tomorrow. So, that $100 is currently zipping through the ether to the American Red Cross' International Response Fund. I'll be chillin' at home, watching some basketball, doing some writing, and maybe renting some flicks. If that sounds like fun to anyone, give me a shout.
This, incidentally, was in MoveOn's email:
Just as we were finalizing this email, we received a note from 17-year-old MoveOn member Annalise Blum, who has a great idea for New Year's Eve parties. Here's her email:
Dear Joan and Wes,
We arrived in Cambodia today and turned on the TV in our hotel room to learn more about the Tsunami. It has been horrifying to follow the rising death toll and especially learn about all of the children who have died. I really wanted to do something when I learned that just as many more people could die from lack of access to clean water and the spread of disease if not enough is done quickly.
I realized that New Years Eve Parties would be a perfect place to have people contribute online to the relief effort. Someone in our group came up with the name "Throw out a lifeline Online."
If MoveOn were to send out a message to its members suggesting that they turn on a computer and donate money to one of the relief organizations at their new years eves parties, it could save thousands of lives. Maybe this sort of message would be a welcome opportunity for its members to help people directly. I would greatly appreciate anything you could do to help.
Below I have written a message I am planning send to my friends. MoveOn, if interested, could send out something similar.
Throw Out A Lifeline Online
Help the Victims of the South Asian Tsunami
As most of you undoubtedly know, many parts of the eastern coastal regions of South Asia were hit on Sunday, December 26th, with one of the largest tsunamis in recent history. The death toll of the tsunami, caused by an earthquake of 9.0 magnitude, has already risen to over 60,000 people. All regions affected are in desperate need of clean water, food, temporary shelter and medical help to the survivors. Some estimate that one third of the dead are children.
World Health Organization expert David Nabarro told reporters "there is certainly a chance that we could have as many dying from communicable diseases as from the tsunami".
Start this year off by contributing money to an effective aid organization to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe from getting even worse. If you are going to a New Year's Eve Party, make it meaningful by turning on a computer and encouraging everyone to donate.
Posted by Rob at December 31, 2004 10:23 AM
Comments
This makes my stomach turn...
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,11816699%255E911,00.html
Posted by: Mara at January 1, 2005 06:36 PM
Okay, I just spoke to my mother, who told me that not only are tourists sunning themselves on the beaches, but were doing water aerobics in the pools of the hotels while locals are trying to clean up. It makes me want to throw up. What the hell is wrong with people?
Posted by: Mara at January 1, 2005 06:51 PM