Donating to New Orleans?

[lahdeedah]

 This may sound cruel and heartless but i'm not entirely sure i want to donate to the new orleans fund. I recently listened to a discussion on the radio advising nobody in the U.K to donate anything. I think the way America has dealt with this is a disgrace, such a huge and rich country and the amount of money given so far is worryingly little. Considering how much money was raised for the tsunami appeal in such a short amount of time, i simply cannot understand why America hasn't dealt with this sooner. How can they can appeal to the rest of world when they have given little themselves, the more and more i think about this i can only come to the conclusion of a racial issue.

[Clanad]

Although thankful for any assistance offerred, the U.S. hasn't appealed to anyone for assistance.  The donations from citizens and businesses is already nearing $1billion... this in addition to the $62 billion appropriated from Congess as a starter.  I fail to see where race has anything to do with the generosity displayed within the country, especially considering that the majority of the recipients, in general and  New Orleans in particular are Afro-Americans and other minorities...

[Peri]

Maybe I have this wrong but surely it is the victims we should be thinking about here and not what others have given or done for them. 

[stevie21]

I thought that the amount offered so far (at this, a very early stage) from the U.S was frighteningly high!

I'm a bit concerned that people are starting to think "why didn't America deal with this better" when it was a natural disaster that can't really be planned for. By that I mean, look at the pictures and think how much foresight could have realistically done to protect against 40ft of sea in your street.

[jake-the-peg]

Whilst welcome I don't think it is actual financial aid that is needed at the moment which is why Europe has been sending water, food blankets

http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2005-09-09-voa1.cfm

official US government comment on international assistance

[Romeo]

It IS a racial issue. The whites with their cars got out of the disaster area fast. They are the ones who should be helping out their black neighbours who they left behind, not us.

[Ward-Minter]

Forget politics, forget "racial" issues as others state, it is people at stake. Would you say on your donor card "Please only give my kidneys to poor people"?

[HAnn521]

Just to provide my humble American opinion...you have to understand that these people were told to evacuate their homes and the city of New Orleans two days before the Hurricane hit the city...the people that stayed either claim to have had no way to get out, or they simply refused to leave and chose to risk it themselves..

..that evacuation was all that could have been done in preparation of this disaster, weather is not predictable people...and neither is the damage that it causes...

our president, our government, our weather channels, no one had any idea how bad the cities would be hit...it wasn't until after all had been done and the weather died down that they could see the damage, they could then see what the hurricane left behind...

Only then, yes a little too late, were they able to begin raising money and calling in help...but they did get help and they did it all as quick as they could...

As some of you already pointed out, this isn't a blame game anyway, this is about those people that need assistance...whether it be American or UK assistance, it doesn't matter...it's for the people in need...it's all about the people in need!

[Alan2]

Your'e talking through your a***e Romeo, how can that be racist, It's not the white mans fault that the black man aint got a car, what do you want him to do? donate his car to the black man to prove he's not a racist, some people will find racism where there clearly is'nt any, Please stand up Romeo!