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Reminder: Great suffering in the Philippines
vinlyn
Colorado...for now Veteran
A great time to donate some funds to help those in critical need of food, water, and shelter as a result of the recent typhoon.
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Comments
Makes a body think... This is the planet that's the most hospitable around.
metta to you and all sentient beings.
the best organizations to send your donations to, there are sites devoted to rating them:
http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-worst-things-donate-after-disaster.htm
and
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1659#.UoUCGuKAfec
and
http://www.guidestar.org/rxg/give-to-charity/donor-resources/tips-for-choosing-a-charity.aspx
Maybe you didn't realize that they were doing poorly because they got slammed by the worst typhoon in history.
I don't get you sometimes, @Dennis1.
Can you explain how and why you feel this way about the Philippines? Or should I just assume to know what you mean by "Americocentric"?
Before that, earlier in their history they were brutalized by the Spanish. I mean killed and raped and treated like property or slaves. When America went in there they built two nurse training hospitals and trained up a lot of nurses. Those nurses created a lot of skill and well being in the Phillipines. The Clark base in Manila spread well being throughout the Islands. America treated the people like citizens and equals. They prospered. If America were still there and they had this natural disaster the USA would spring into action and be of great service to the people there. Because our presence is so greatly diminished that resource is not available to them now.
History is pretty clear.
When America was asked to leave we left. That was their loss. In a way I am responding to the question about America's military bases by saying, those bases are an asset to the people where they are located. Those bases are removed when the people don't want them. Tyrant Nations don't operate like that. America is a blessing.
Some of the people on this site Are not Americans and they hear Americans putting down their own country and maybe they don't understand. We have freedom and opportunity here as no where else. If those who are here who are ignorant of world history or have a hidden agenda don't feel that way, well I'm sorry about that.
I love this nation and if it fails to be that golden mountain that so many want to get to, because it makes wrong decisions and is equivocal about what is right action and what is destructive of humanity and virtuous aspiration, then that will be a great loss to humanity. So that is what I mean by Americentric.
There is right action and there is wrong action. Buddha made that clear and it is pretty easy to see which is what. Ignorance can cloud important issues. Hidden agendas can complicate simple questions. I am devoted to the Buddha's teachings. I have been for 48 years. I know what he taught. I have learned to discern causes and conditions.
I happily spread the joy of the Buddha's wisdom and accept any help along the way.
If people don't agree that is ok by me and they have a right to speak their own mind-at least here in America. So do I. I do. Best to you, Dennis
I also love my country, (America) but I'm practical enough to realize it's NOT perfect. We are no longer at the top of the list when it comes to "being First" in a lot of things. Not only are we not at the top number one position (IF we ever were, that is...) but in many cases we're down past the 10th, 15th and even 30th position!
Education? No longer first. Infant Mortality? Not first. Technology? Not first. Leading the world in manufacturing and exporting quality goods? No longer first.
Income equality and standard of living? Not first. And the list goes on....
How did America The Great handle their OWN disasters?
Did you forget Katrina? I know it's been several years- but there are whole neighborhoods that have not survived, or made a "come back" even now. The American government essentially abandoned them.
Superstorm Sandy just happened a little more than a year ago, and thousands of people are still homeless. (My sister in law is one of them). Entire neighborhoods are also still empty, awaiting bulldozers and some relief and help to rebuild...
So I still don't understand your reasoning, that if the Philippines had allowed America to establish themselves in their country - as some sort of a Godfather like presence - well --- that typhoon wouldn't have happened?
It makes having the other superpower helping to defend your borders more appealing.
I don't think they will have to beg the US to come back either.
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/operations/231257-philippines-re-opens-military-bases-to-us-forces-
I'm not so sure this is a good idea.
Are we going to re-establish ourselves as a military presence in the Philippines - and then what? China or the Philippines start some shit with each other (as has already happened) and then there we are- all poised to fight another country's battles, like the Big Brother Bully of the World.
We really need to stay OUT of all the other countries of the world and mind our own business here on our own turf. There are plenty of areas around our own borders and sea coasts that can do with a little military fortifying, instead of fortifying other countries. We could save many many Billions of dollars per year just by bringing our troops home from overseas bases around the world and stopping the flow of money for the leasing (rent) of those bases.
The US has got a lot of great things about it, and some not-so-great things about it. Like all countries, it's a mixed bag. The US is not the center of the universe. Which reminds me...