I keep hearing the Leftist's crying about how we need to bow down to the "superior wisdom" and greater international relief abilities of the UN in providing for the betterment of victoms of every stripe in the world.
Then I read a report from a "BOOT ON THE GROUND" in Indonesia and had, as Kim du Toit would say, a "RCOB" moment.
I have asked this question a number of times of a Leftist bent reader when they happen to come on here, maybe this time, one will deign to provide an answer?; the question is simply this: Provide me the details of just ONE case where the UN was able to provide adequate and true relief to victoms of any sort in the world, whether victoms of a natural disaster,like Indonesia, or the victoms of a tyrannical regime, such as the genocide occuring in the Sudan, without the US being the major driving force, in terms of supplies,manpower, payor of the bills, etc.
Posted by Delftsman3 at January 21, 2005 09:31 PMCharity is a noble human characteristic, I'm afraid it will be wasted on Indonesia, this is a country that never learned a thing from the events of 1968 that liberated them from Sukarno and installed Suharto. I nearly went to Jakarta in 1985 as an advisor, I studied their history, religeons, customs and language. I was working with Indonesian nationals and their cross training, as the company I worked for had a 10 year contract to supply U.S. "advisors" to a joint venture with Pertimina, the Indonesian Government's oil company. They would not perform manual labor, treated everyone as second class, couldn't do the required work themselves -preferring instead to "manage". Westerners(advisors) provided the knowledge and skills, laborers were lower cast Indonesians's and Pakistani's , the "ruling class" Indonesians managed (interferred), this created a nightmare to work under. Throw in Muslim customs, laws and taboos along with an anti-American sentiment, plus the fact that you had to hire personal bodyguards for protection and you can understand why I feel the way I do about them. If it weren't for their offshore oil and gas this country would still be locked into the stone-age, killing, roasting and eating their fellow islanders. It doesn't matter a whit what you give or do for them now, that baby you rescued today will be there 10, 15 or 20 years from now, imbued with hatred, ready willing and eagerly able to slit your throat.
Posted by: Jack at January 22, 2005 07:44 AMAll over the world is different, it will never be great in any way. Any bit of help and knowledge will help any place wether it is over seas or right next to you. Indonesia or any place that had experienced this serious accident did not ask for what had happened over the few months they couldnt of changed it if they wanted to or not. That is where they live and they might not want to leave and they might want to leave but can't for what ever reason. The way they run their country is what they want to do, wether it is a bad way to run it or a good way.If any one thinks it is that bad try to change it and help people by doing so. But, hey if you look at it... everyone has their own opinions and their own ways of dealing with things. Right?
Posted by: shelby at March 26, 2005 11:47 PM