New Face Of Canada Fires Up Relief

I usually really like Haroon Siddiqui, but not today.

What kind of a fool is he to say globalization has benefitted the west? What world is he living in? What kind of sick mind would suggest that turning Toronto into a global village is all good?

It's ironic that the same Liberal party that let these people in the country in the first place is now trying to prevent Chinese-Canadians from being nominated.

And we're evil in the west for not giving enough aid, right Mr. Siddiqui? Toronto has just lost a mile-long moving walkway between two subway stations because it cost $100,000 a year to operate. $100,000--the price of a Mercedes. But we just threw 80 million at a lost cause. After it was too late to help the 120,000, not before where the money could've bought them land away from the water. Most money probably went to salaries--like our former Defence Minister David Pratt--who now works for the Red Cross.

But all Torontonians are greedy and benefit greatly from globalization, right Mr. Siddiqui?

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The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter --

Winston Churchill

Well, surely we can see that globalization has only benefitted a minority of westerners. But regardless, Canada is one of the wealthier countries, and I do feel we have an obligation to help out not only in South Asia, but elsewhere. It`s not a lost cause; many others can still be saved from disease and famine, by intervening.

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Dave Ruston

Perturbed obviously you read something into this that I did not. Wow. I heard that the "corporate west" has benefitted from the poor in Asia and where were they with their dollars? I also heard that the "citizens" were the ones ready to help and shamed the government into acting more generously. And, I heard that we are all so connected globaly that it is impossible, if you have a conscience, to ignore the helpless wherever they are on the planet. I hope you don't right off all the people you like over something that may be a misunderstanding?

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"Yeah, well, [Mr. President] we used all five fingers because that's the way our mittens are made." Antonia Zerbisias

What can I say? Lack of sunlight and I'm sick of it.

This being said, I'm sick of the guilt trips. Siddiqui is suggesting that without recent immigrants Canadians wouldn't have pressures their government to help. Total nonsense. I know many people who are not recent immigrants who were outraged. I refuse to be grouped into the "selfish west." I don't hate myself. I'm quite proud to be a westerner. It's not our obligation to feel guilty about it.

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The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter --

Winston Churchill

You`re right, many Canadian born people were outraged. But no, there`s no obligation to feel guilty, just to help. As for all the guilt issues, I understand what you say, perturbed, but I don`t see these things a something to feel guilty over. If we can help the less fortunate, or if we can right some wrongs, then let`s do it.

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Dave Ruston

Screw the politics and help out where it's needed. Let's not forget the citizens of Iraq who will now be ignored. Let's not forget to buy a meal for our own impoverished homeless folk who are no doubt freezing outside today.

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gina

Well I've got to admit that the Americans have really surprised me. I really didn't expect them to give as much as they have. I know it isn't as much as the little country of Japan and I know it isn't as much per capita as the under-populated country of Canada but it is a substantial amount. They (the Bush Administration) actually seems to be fighting the "war on terror" in a positive way, although they could fight harder, they have acknowledged that their contributions to disaster relief will be seen as a positive step toward reconcilliation with Islamic people.

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Canada for Canadians

I do not think that bombing on the one hand and offering aid with the [mostly privately funded] other hand is the way to reconciliation. I think that the humanitarian effort speaks much more for the kindness of individuals than anything to do with politics.

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Canadians are asking, why do americans hate us? They hate our freedoms: our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to disagree with each other.

you must be confused, the only bombing in Indonesia has been carried out by Islamic extremists, not Americans. Nor have the Americans bombed Sri Lanka or India or Thailand or Malaysia. And it is the US gov't giving millions of dollars in aid.

The US did nothing for almost a week. Then to win brownie points and because they were looking real bad they had to give money to the relief effort. But they still cynically manipulated this thing by subverting the UN on this thing and making their latest "coalition" on which Martin gleefully jumped aboard. The US is still giving only about half per capita of what Canada is and Japan and some European nations make them look ridiculously selfish. Way to go George!

<blockquote>disaster relief will be seen as a positive step toward reconcilliation with Islamic people.</blockquote> <p> The above quote is what I was referring to with my bombing comment. I'm aware that current US military efforts are concentrated elsewhere in "the Islamic world". </p><p>---<br>Canadians are asking, why do americans hate us? They hate our freedoms: our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to disagree with each other.