Korea Donates $30 Million to Hurricane Relief

I have figured that with the US facing probably it’s worst natural disaster ever that we as a country would find out who our real friends are. Korea has stepped up and offered immediate aid assistance:

Korea on Sunday shamed critics by deciding to send US$30 million in aid including private donations to help in the rebuilding of areas in the U.S. South devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It will also dispatch a 50-man rescue team to the area together with emergency relief supplies under a team headed by Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-shik, who has been tentatively named Korean ambassador to Washington.

Thank you Korea, and your rescue team I can assure you will have a lot of fun dealing with General Honore. Here is a list of other countries providing donations:

Korea’s contribution is reportedly the largest aid offer behind Qatar’s $100 million pledge. In Asia, China and India have pledged $5 million each, Japan $500,000, and Australia $10 million. The government will meet with the nation’s business groups and religious leaders to discuss the exact size of the government and civilian aid package on Monday. Deployment of military forces was not on the agenda since there has been no request from the U.S. If there is, the government will discuss the matter with the National Assembly, he said.

I find it a little surprising that China has offered $5 million and Japan only $500,000. Qatar’s offer of $100 million dollars is really impressive for such a small country though they are wealthy. The Chosun article also brings up what will be the coming political battle once the rescue operations are complete:

There was a widespread sense that the city’s African Americans were left stranded for five days while the city was allowed to descend into anarchy because authorities concentrated on rescuing and protecting more affluent Caucasians. The Rev. Yun Jeong-su (48), who spent four days on the second floor of his church in downtown New Orleans, said, “The rescue operations concentrated on the west side, where white people are concentrated. There was also a lot of police deployed and almost no looting. On the other hand, in the black neighborhood in the southeast, there was almost no police seen, and only black people could be seen wandering the streets.” It was not clear whether the U.S. government intentionally discriminated against the African American community, but New Orleans is transforming into a powder keg that could ignite deeply rooted racial tensions in U.S. society.

I don’t know much about New Orleans or the racial make up of the city but I’m assuming the police were doing the best job possible under these difficult circumstances. Don’t always believe what the MSM puts out. They grossly exaggerate and distort to cause controversy because that creates higher ratings. Plus certain organizations are going to use this to blame the government for being racist for their own political agendas.

That is why I felt it was smart that the police did not shoot the looters, even though the governor was pushing it, because it would come back to haunt them as being racially motivated. The National Guard as well needs to be smart about using force on people because they are under the microscope as well and any shooting of a civilian will be used by certain groups to spark anger and outrage against the government. There is enough anger and outrage already. We as a country don’t need any more.