Haiti: A Chance to Practice International Metta.

Some people in America are complaining that the American government has given $100 million for relief efforts in Haiti. They argue that we should be spending that money here because we have our own problems. They think that people should donate on their own instead of using our tax dollars. I say that's cruel, selfish and irresponsible for a country with as much wealth as we have. I think we should do both -- donate and offer up tax dollars.

I know that we are having a deep recession but even still we have much, much more than Haiti has even before the earthquake. It's just the right thing to do to help the Haitians. It's the human thing to do. In my town's newspaper, we have a public comment forum on various issues. I thought the following comment (in today's paper) answered some peoples' selfish motives about the $100 million dollars quite well:

The $100 million that the U.S. government is spending on Haiti works out to about 30 cents for every person in the United States. The money is spent in the United States to buy food, water, building supplies and equipment, which is then spent to Haiti. So, the $100 million goes into the U.S. economy first before anything goes to Haiti. So, be generous. Give to Haiti.

James: So, it's a win, win. It helps Haiti to donate, our economy to donate and our sense of humanity to donate.

~Peace to all beings~