To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Stingy, eh?
An AP poll has found that three in ten Americans have donated to tsunami relief.
On a somewhat related note (sorry, no link- I heard it on FoxNews yesterday). Greg Palkot was reporting from one of the area most affected by the tsunami, and he mentioned that yesterday (Friday) was the first Friday the Muslims have been able to have Friday prayers at the mosque. He heard the word "American" over and over. Considering that when that word is spoken during Friday prayer, it's usually in a less than flattering manner, he asked what was being said. Quite to his surprise, he was told that the imam was praising the American effort to help the community and said (a paraphrase) for every the Americans do for us, it must be repaid one thousand fold.
Hmm... at least someone likes us. Bask in this warm fuzzy moment. You know it won't last.
The total of private donation is rapidly approaching the $350 million pledged by the government as private citizens made many of their donations online.So much for the US being stingy. One financial analyst I heard on tv this morning that although Australia has pledged somewhere along the lines of $700 million over several years, the US contributions (gov't and private donations) will probably top $1 billion. And that's not including corporate funds used to rebuild/improve industry in the area.
By Friday afternoon, relief charities had raised more than $324 million in cash pledges, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy - up from $245 million as of Wednesday. Some of that money has been donated by companies and foundations.
On a somewhat related note (sorry, no link- I heard it on FoxNews yesterday). Greg Palkot was reporting from one of the area most affected by the tsunami, and he mentioned that yesterday (Friday) was the first Friday the Muslims have been able to have Friday prayers at the mosque. He heard the word "American" over and over. Considering that when that word is spoken during Friday prayer, it's usually in a less than flattering manner, he asked what was being said. Quite to his surprise, he was told that the imam was praising the American effort to help the community and said (a paraphrase) for every the Americans do for us, it must be repaid one thousand fold.
Hmm... at least someone likes us. Bask in this warm fuzzy moment. You know it won't last.
