Setting aside differences...

Many countries have answered the call from hurricane Katrina victims. Humanitarian aid cuts across political boundaries. A Washington Times article lists the countries as of Sept. 2 :

"By yesterday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela."

It is good to see Cuba and Venezuela in this list. Even China, who according to another story by Bill Gertz Sept 1, is planning a nuclear war with the U. S. Over Taiwan is helping. Natural disasters do bring countries together to aid human suffering.

Then the same countries go to war and create more human suffering. The countries that are not there really stand out. Not because they have different political aims; but because they do not have compassion on human suffering. Some of course are to poor to send aid; but all can do something. A phone call would be nice.

What will America do if one of the missing countries suffer a national crisis? Will we turn our backs on them? No, we will be in the forefront with aid as Australia states in the first article. And that is one of the things that makes our great country great.