Those unaffected by disasters cannot turn away from need

House Editorial

One man survived by hanging onto a coconut tree.

The Indonesian president said his country is living a nightmare.

Nine women fought over a three- or four-month-old live boy, all insisting that he was their baby — some going so far as threatening suicide.

Some compare the disaster to an ancient Indian town, “kodalkol,” meaning “swallowed by the sea.”

Six high school boys in Indonesia now pray each day after seeing “the fury of God.”

A threat of malaria concerns health officials as residents continue drinking dirty water.

In most places, there are no toilets.

The tsunami that took the lives of more than 130,000 people in Asia last month is by far the worst disaster in recorded history. However, there is one burning question too many Americans forget to ask and don’t know how to answer: Why should I care?

The emotional aftermath in countries such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India is overwhelming — thousands are walking through swamps of bodies or scanning walls of photos to locate their loved ones right this very minute.

Why should you care? It’s not like your home was demolished. It’s not like your mother, brother, father, aunt, uncle, grandma, cousin and best friend currently are lying underneath a sea of disease-infested soil.

While convicts in Malaysia donate money earned from prison work, many Americans are going on with their lives as if nothing has changed.

Well, has it?

The entire world was affected by the tsunami tragedy, whether directly or indirectly, and Americans need to come to this realization. The United States and its citizens have not reacted to the proper extent that they should.

Compare monetary donations, for example. Australia donated $810 million, and Germany donated $674 million. America? $350 million.

While millions of dollars don’t deserve the title of “stingy,” as the United Nations humanitarian chief stated when the United States made its initial donation, it isn’t generous, either.

America is a predominantly Christian nation. What happened to helping your neighbor? It went into Thursday’s inauguration, on which private donors have dropped $40 million. Yes, swearing in the President of the United States is important, but a one-day extravaganza is not as important as helping the future of hundreds of thousands of individuals. It’s time to touch lives after so many lives have been lost.