Didnt realize this while posting but today is BLOG QUAKE DAY-an initiative undertaken by some in rallying the blogosphere to spread word regards earthquake relief efforts.

Participate in the Blog Quake Day by donating as generously as possible

So much focus on 'across the way'.

'No protest march (silent or loud) against NATO's refusal to airlift the injured'

'That must be why Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who met with Angelina Jolie a few months back has not called upon her to raise awareness of the plight of these people.'

'And when others (colleagues, friends, family, schoolmates, neighbors, bystanders, celebrities, talk radio hosts, politicians, journalists) see and hear this, and ask if you are feeling alright, tell them about the earthquake: about the helicopters, the tents, the winter, the 100,000 dead, the 100,000 to save, the 3 million homeless, the injured, the amputated, the NATO refusal, the silent media. Tell them about the screams and how to stop them.'

Why is the middle east never called into accountability?

Saudi Arabia has plenty 'o loot to provide aid. Iran's response to Pakistan's problem is a call to wipe another country off the map. How about Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Russia, China? What are they doing - is it enough?

It really does kill me. Everyone hates the instruments of the west, but at the same time everyone expects for the west to fix everyone's problems. Then when they do get involved, it is
not enough or their execution is wrong, etc.

Perhaps if the world had higher expectations of middle east, it might one day be called upon instead of NATO. We're talking helicopters here, and only 7 or so if I read correctly. Perhaps if the middle east would stop warring with itself long enough to have its own collaboration, it might be call upon instead of NATO. Let's not forget that NATO is ALREADY involved, it simply did not increase it's help.

YES they should help, but it sounds like you're expecting help from overseas before expecting help from your own neighbors. The middle east is a cesspool of human rights issues, led by fanatical religious leaders spewing forth madness many times more rediculous than even Christian evangelists, populated by citizens that are focusing more on revenge,judgement,zionists and jihad more than building an infrastructure for their own countries. I don't know where you hail from, but if you are in Pakistan shouldn't you be calling those in neighboring countries to duty before searching a hemisphere away?

Immediately after the disaster, Pakistan is still focused on issues of pride when it proclaimed that 'we accepted aid from India, but we can fix our problem without India's help'. Pakistan probably has been its own worst enemy in this regard.

One thing that I have noticed is a trend for Middle East sentiment to be more a destructive one rather than a construtive one ( one reason that I enjoy this site so much). Palestine has spent so much energy trying to tear down Israel, that it seems there isn't much more energy left to BUILD a nation. I don't hear Middle East governments proclaiming that they have BUILT something positive for either their country OR the region. It is always 'we will destroy...','infedel this...','down with the....'. All the while, women have no rights and are treated like property. Torture, intimidation, and segregation are mainstays and we wonder why these same countries are literally helpless to save their own people in times of calamity.

Correction, perhaps if the Middle East had higher expectations of itself....

Sikind

Thanks Kavita for sharing this. I do agree with his statement that the world media is muted compared to Kathrina or Tsunami.

Sikind -
Interesting post...

Peace,
Scott.

Sikind - I share your views. Moreover, I think India was very good about offering immediate aid and it would be nice if the poster of this message took notice of that. Some screaming along those lines is well called for specially since Pakistan is India's enemy and expressed its enemy character by shooting a few more Indian soldiers a couple of days ago.

There have always been earthquakes and there always will be. It is one thing that people come together in times of calamity. But since when have human beings begun to think they are entitled to aid? Besides, excessive crying for help does more to work against the cause than for it. (Take note Kavita unless you have experienced this to not be the case).

"But since when have human beings begun to think they are entitled to aid?"

I doubt human beings have a sense of "entitlement" when it comes to aid. When human beings experience suffering, the agony is written on their faces quite palpably. It's pretty hard to doubt the sincerety of a child who has had a limb cut off with a blunted saw and no anesthetic. Other human beings can either offer compassion or offer a middle finger and keep walking.

There is more said here about the character of the passerby than about the one with his/her hand extended in need. We all act as our conscience pricks us. As for the "enemy" status, I would hope that political leanings are always superceded by human sensitivity to suffering. Indian and Pakistani soldiers have spent decades turning each other into Swiss cheese with their machine guns. That THIS will continue is probably as certain as the future earthquakes you cited.

Is it a prerequisite to check someone's passport before offering a hand these days? If so, that SUCKS. Those who think religion is the opiate of the masses must acknowledge that patriotism is its own brand of narcotic too. Yes, India has offered aid and has done a commendable job... but there's a huge difference between "good" and "good enough". More can always be done, obviously... and that goes for Western nations as well.

"Besides, excessive crying for help does more to work against the cause than for it."

This is a dangerous assumption, and not worth noting at all without some substantiation. Please provide some examples yourself. "Crying" will likely continue whether or not help arrives. As for how it "works against the cause"... please elaborate.

Sure, it can be annoying to hear incessant whining... but somewhere, anywhere, if it can stir up ONE person to lend assistance or make a difference, it's completely worth it. One must draw attention to crisis somehow, don't you think? Thanks.

Divya and Sikind -

Although your points are good ones and worth thinking about. I don't think it's the victims of these calamities themselves that have a "sense of entitlement". It seems to me that those that are the most outraged by a perceived lack of help are those in the media or those in the various governments that are counting beans and balancing the scales.

I don't think I have ever heard someone in the heat of a crisis like this demand aid (other than the mayor of New Orleans who I suspect was feeling guilty for not taking action himself). I think people naturally want to help when they see suffering and pain. People are generous and loving all over the world when bad things happen. Right now the world has been bombarded with a series of tragedies and I suspect that people are overloaded. As I said in another post, I think that there is only so much suffering that we can process without becoming sucked in. Things will change as we all become a bit more centered and it feels safer to open our collective eyes.

Peace,
Scott.

Ajit - Does this blog scream entitlement or not? If not then you and me have different standards.

"We all act as our conscience pricks us." you say after being all sanctimonious. No, I do not offer aid because my conscience pricks me. I offer aid because that's what I want to do. The rest of your comments are redundant because you seem to be railing about passports and enmity when it is well acknowledged that aid was given in spite of these factors. And all you can say is that it was not good enough! There are good people in this world besides you. Please stop and think of that once in a while.

Thanks everybody. Divya, your point about India offering help is very valid. Parvez Musharraf's ranting(I wonder if anyone of you saw his interview on CNN)in return about the ulterior motives of "that Sikh across the border!) were hard to digest. But should people have to pay this kind of a price for the deeds of their politicians? I dont think so.
However out of sight out of mind is something that is a reality of life. I found it very strange that even in the early days of the earthquake, there was very little in the news media about what was going on. Having been born in Jammu and Kashmir and belonging to a family that has seen atrocities committed against Kashmiris, and seen the ravages that have turned the beautiful land of my ancestors into a wasteland, the heartbreak of people, I still have to say, no help, no outcry is irrelevant if it can galvanize others into action. To answer your question of if excessive crying for help does more to work against the cause than for it, I think unfortunately there are times you have to keep on banging at doors till the din awakens humanity. As I have said earlier, it could be any one of us..disasters don't choose specific times and places to happen. Besides if there wasnt such apathy to begin with we wouldn't need to cry so excessively..
Ajit your points are well taken. Thanks

Scott - I understand it's not the victims who feel this sense of entitlement, it's more a media thing. Besides the mayor of New Orleans was entitled to demand aid from the federal government - this is their country. Pakistan is not entitled to expect the US to offer help -whether the US does so and for whatever reasons is another matter.

I too think people naturally want to help and do help. All these posts about people not helping are addressed to many who have already helped - individuals as well as nations. We do not need to know additional places where we can send money. If journalists really wanted to be helpful they could provide information about the ground situation at the stricken areas. That might help people connect with the cause.

Kavita - in addition to Scott's point about donation-fatigue, I've noticed that talking too much about the same thing, in a non-novel way does nothing to further the cause. Personally, in the past 15 years, I simply tune out anything to do with Kashmir, Palestine, Israel, Bosnia. Maybe earthquakes will end up on this list.

Rampant insensitivity in the name of "Intellectualism" is the hallmark of many people who comment in this blog. Shameful.

Divya, and Scott,
after four weeks as the writer of the email said it won't matter. There are all kinds of people in this world and some of them are also part of the media. You are treading dangerous grounds by lumping everyone in one lot Scott.
I agree about donation fatigue and volunteer fatigue, and how exhausting it can be when you feel saturated reading or hearing about the same thing. At the same time unfortunately we cannot have organized voices, to speak for a specific period of time, get specific actions taken, make specific donations that will reach the right people and save the required number of lives. If the world was that utopian there would be no need for this blog or this discussion.
You may tune out natural disasters if you like Divya, and also anything else that may be repititive and not to your liking, but I've seen a senstivity and kindness in some of your blogs and exhaustion in others. May the kindness always obliterate the fatigue that causes some knee jerk reactions and responses from you.
Scott, I agree with some things you have said and disagree with others, same with Sikind, but I really appreciate your participation along with that of others. It means this blog made you think. What you do with it is your own choice.

I think that Sikind has a very valid point about Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, etc. - one I made myself very early on in this blog. Many of the nations in that area are extremely wealthy and they routinely ignore the needs of their fellow Muslims, let alone everyone else, greedily grasping at resources & money. Complaints from the west sound hollow so I think it's up to people from South Asia and the Middle East to hold these people to account. It would have much more weight coming from fellow Arabs/Asians and/or Muslims.

Having said that, I don't think that means that the rest of us are off the hook. I think if we approach the world with the idea that we take care of *our own*, whatever that means, and not others, then we will find ourselves in a very narrow, fear-based, insecure place.

Love, Sheba

Put more simply:
Do you want modern or holistic medicine? Apply this idea to the afflicted societies. You can always seek external remedies, but you will never get out of that trap until start to work within. ( can you really be pissed at the doctor for not giving you more pain killers for the cancer you acquired whilst smoking? ).

The amount of suffering is needless to discuss - its beyond description and my comprehension. I think we would ALL agree that it would have been better that Pakistan ( and neighboring countries ) be in a position to save more people on its own terms. HOW DO YOU ALL BELIEVE THIS CAN MANIFEST? Place energy there & eliminate the need for help that always seems inadequate. We already know the corporate structure is not interested in human life or dignity.

We definately have our work cutout for us everywhere. I'm pissed off & SIKIND at the structures in place in the world just like the next guy. I'd rather spend my energy attacking the seed of the problem ( governments and/or ideas ) than the adequacy of a particular fix. otherwise, the problem remains for next time.

To distance the issue from Middle East, take Africa. The land is desolate and YES they need more aid, but the tribes over there need to stop killing themselves if there is ever a holistic way forward. These people are wiping each other out as fast as they are being born. Is lack of aid Africa's problem or is Africa Africa's problem? ( forgoing the fact that the west really f'd the place up before scating ).

Looking for more illustrations of Self-Inflicted tragedy? http://hotzone.yahoo.com/
DRC - Yet one of the world's most intractable conflicts still festers here, where over the past decade militias, rebels and even foreign armies have raped the land and its people of their lives, wealth and sometimes their spirit...

Good to see so many posts!!! May the BLOG bring down the EMPIRE!!!!!

.....and may the Force be with you, sikind :)

I rarely post on the articles about politics, but this one by Kavita....coming back to it again to read....isn't about politics! It's about finding a way to help the ones whose lives are in danger of being lost. Those still hurting and in need of medicine and clothing. Just the basics, to be able to keep Living, to live as fully as possible, in the Now.

"HOW DO YOU ALL BELIEVE THIS CAN MANIFEST? Place energy there ..." sikind

I will find a way to do what I can.
Blessings,
~~ K

Thanks K. Thanks also for posting another nice comment on my first blog. I normally don't check my old blogs but did so today because of an article I'm doing on intentblog and found several new comments including yours.
I wish we wouldnt let politics and cynicism come in the way of humanitarian work. I always have a hard time seeing innocent children becoming victims. There was an article about prostitutes posing as relatives and adopting little girls, in the aftermath of the earthquake till someone caught on and adoptions were banned recently.
I hope and pray all the money and aid that was given is put to good use.

Kavita, some news for you from today morning's Pakistan press:

Pakistan objects to India's relief camp crossings
http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/27/top10.htm

Popular Hizbul Majahedin group bombs bus in Kashmir
http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/27/top16.htm

No rest till Kashmir under Islamic governance: Kashmiri Muslims observe Black Day
http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/27/top15.htm

How many more Pakistans? How many more Bangladeshs? How many more Kashmirs will our beloved multifaith India have to suffer at the altar of Islam?

Kavita: So many of the posts here are revealing people who continue to "touch" these incredulous, and increasingly frequent calamities, that are so accelerating in their magnitude as well.

What most don't want to consider is that these catastrophe's are gaining in momentum--and it is not the first time human history has threatened it's own, as well as other sentient beings, with their very survival as a species.

How many insect species are vanishing every day as a result of both man-made and natural mechanisms for this "evolution?"

Even less than the media--many do not want to "look" at the possiblities that are coming upon us--for our own evolution???? Mnay of the bloggers here would not want to hear about some of this stuff--for a long time--called "the Earth Changes."

What I see is that "this stuff" is awakening us to what you are "Screaming" about--good girl for not holding back--because it is real--and it hurts--what is happening here on this planet that is--the most intense levels of human pain at that--and....all the other sentient beings too--like the Earth herself.

This Intentblog is not just one of Deepak's and Shekhar's solutions to the turmoil of this planet and all it's inhabitants--look at how it is spreading like "wildfire," as a positive and active response to all this stuff exploding into our lives--and across-the-board: nobody is immune to these changes--only our reaction to them is what will continue to change the magnitude and intensity of this cosmological interaction that is declaring in no uncertain terms--"humanity, you've got to change--again!!!"

And so we will change--and it starts with the hearts of individuals like you--and all this wonderful and growing family here.

What is insidious to me--is the notion that our world is increasingly so polarized by estimates of 1-2 billion Muslims, and 1-2 billion Christians; a much larger paradigm of,in effect the equivalent of US politics being in the hands of the "right--or the left."

And consider how many of these--while making public pronouncements of how they are "helping," are in fact secretly harboring the notion, in their hearts, of: "I told you so--this is God's judgment upon you and your countries peoples--for the way you live, believe, worship, as well as everything you don't do that My God says you are supposed to(whoever the infidel enemy happens to be from the self-appointed judge's side of Shekhar's "invisible lines" drawn in the sand--called borders happens to be).

And never once do the minds of these hearts consider that what is going on in their own hearts is the actual source of these traumas to all life--"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

It has also been indicated that the reality of our lives actually reveal what we really believe about ourselves and each other--not what we say or strive to appear to be, and so, as Spirit teaches us: (to paraphrase other teachers on this!) virtually all of our thoughts, that move through our various levels of consciousness--indeed are prayers, and Spirit reads and answers to our prayers of the heart, individually and collectively.

And be careful what you pray for (think about all day long!)--because you are likely to get it!

Thoughts are things of power--so the "mess I've made of my life, and others" are a gift to the 'likes of me' then--to see how powerful are these thoughts--especially the ones we disown and keep hidden from ourselves--that, through denial, suppression, and repression, only increase in their need to manifest through the "projector's of our individual mind's--the subconscious and it's connection to the frontal lobe and neocortex--the pineal, pituitary and the rest of the mid-brain) --and we eventually learn through pain (the slow way!) or happiness (the fast way that produces miracles!).

The choice is that gift of free will--that was, is, and always be ours to choose with. As "A Course in Miracles" says: Choose again!

I hope this is not one of my typical "pontificating" ramblings: but if it is--oh well--Pontiff means "bridge-builder," and thank you Kavita for building them with the genuine love that flows through your words.

Great post Kavita--you and your respondents are making the difference, and many many others are joining the ranks, even if unseen, with you.

Aurora Ron, and Ray--loved your posts about your children(and Aurora--what a fabulous picture of you and your family--waht is your husband's name?--and, does Oscar get told he looks like a young Harry Potter???

They are certainly excellent representatives of the "Indigo Children"--it is glowing from them!)

Love--Dave

Kavita & All,

You might want to check out this relevant article on rediff.com:

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/oct/26arvind.htm

Thank you Peter Pan for posting that article. I think it is the vital missing ingredient in India's quest for peace. These issues absolutely need to be addressed and discussed and I fault the Indian elite for pretending they don't exist.

Kavita, I do not think my response was knee-jerk. It was very much in a context - in my mind you needed to regain your credibility after your last post which was "Dear Abby" plus "chain letter" plus "panhandling for money" all rolled into one.

Oh come on Divya,
When will you stop politicizing a human condition? some of what you say is thoughtful, and what you wrote just now is utter rubbish.
Politicians will continue to create divisions..there is never a problem between people on a personal level, unless they are closed minded bigots who place Kahmir and Musharraf's political games and harp on India's quest for peace before the anguish and pain of humanity.
I have no problems being called anything from aunt abby to chain letter writer to panhandling for money as long as it brings the help needed.
Sunil,and Peter Pan your points are well taken. It is just unfortunate that people like Musharraf have to do what they are doing. It is just for that reason that good people, capable people don't enter politics. It is such a filthy dirty game where any thing and everything goes.
David, thank you very much for your thought provoking post. Greatly appreciated.

Sometimes, the most valuable thing we could possibly contribute; is just our positive, healing thoughts; projecting towards them(Asia.)

Sometimes; good thoughts can do far more re-building; because of it's good intention manifest; that it cannot even be measured, in any monetary way, because it is unbound and unmeasurable.

And so, because I am a financially-deficient person; I send an unlimited, unbound, unstopping, flow of love, peace and healing of all wounds; to all in Asia and the US; for the destruction has not only touched their lives; but ours, as well.

I see broken limbs, mending; tickling with re-newed sensations; within the bodies and hearts of all these men, women and children; whom linger still, near despairing fear and hopelessness. My thoughts are too; with the Tsunami victims; not forgotten either, in my good intentions and prayers.

May prayers of good intentions remain prominently on everyone's thoughts.

QUESTION: why is nitpicking a person's ability to "write" perfect or not; an issue? I know communication of words; is perhaps the biggest wall between people; but, the importance of the topic, seems of more importance; than a dash, dot and crossed-T?

North

Nice post dave! Yet another facet of the topic at hand. Very pertinent indeed.

The war on Terrorism will not be won until the West[USA in particular] gets down to seriously discuss and acknowledge the root cause behind it.
The flow of humanitarian aid to Pakistan will never flow at a meaningful and urgent pace until Pakistan and her cohorts in crime realise the futility of pursuing the heinous goals that they have so evil-geniously planned against the West and India.
These two issues are so intimately related and so glaringly avoided by both sides.
It is so true:MAN PROPOSES BUT GOD DISPOSES.[AND BLOGGERS SHED EMOTIONS]

Sid,

True. I would like to add to your statements. India cannot be an advanced country till a big chunk of educated group support violent and hatred ideology.

Krish,

I haven't read the previous conver.thread, but your statement is certainly not true! The educated group doesn't support violence nor hatred.Its only fault is, it is patriotic! Hindu-bashing (by Hindu only) is always considered to be so fashionable/progressive/elite. Nothing wrong in calling spade a spade my friend!

Krish,
That a patriotic full- bloodied Indian Hindu should finally emerge from a slave mentality and obsequious/servile acquired nature and defend his/her dignity and the sanctity of his/her nation should never be construed as being right-wing/extremist/violent agenda.
India has never adopted a religious/biased domestic or foreign policy and we owe nobody an apology for standing up for our own dignity.
GANDHI once said that he could not teach the art of NON-VIOLENCE to a coward and may I add that an apologist does not serve the cause of his/her country either.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

At this time, the children and others need help!

That's all that matters NOW.

Let's pray and send our help !!!

I just did and I feel good.

Thank you for the post, Kavita

-Hari

My dear Har,

I love you. You are very kind like me, very emotionsl like me but no way swwet Jose, you are Sid (the great) Harth. I patented that name long before you found it out and masquerading under my name. Stop for heaven's sake. kahan raja bhoj aur kahan gangu teli aka 'bhoj.' Get my drift? layoff.

Sid_the-original_Harth