America's first, again
By PETER WORTHINGTON -- For the Toronto Sun

Whenever and wherever disaster strikes on the globe, the U.S. responds immediately with relief and medical supplies as they have in Asia, writes Peter Worthington. Thank goodness for the Americans. What would this world would be like without the U.S.?

Especially in times of natural disasters like the Boxing Day tsunami that killed so many and shocked the world into unprecedented humanitarian generosity. Such generosity often seems muted. Not this time. The world's people have responded more ardently than their governments, and in case after case governments have taken a cue from their citizens, and increased their initial aid response.

Canada is just one example, but typical of the world. Prime Minister Paul Martin started by pledging $1 million, then $4 million, then $40 million and now $80 million -- not because our government now realizes as it didn't before that the catastrophe was so severe, but because Canadians from every strata of society have opened their hearts and wallets.

The U.S. initial pledge of $35 million, later upped to $350 million is just the start. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell anticipates $1 billion from the U.S. -- double the $500 million pledged by Japan, which will likely also up its giving. Read full article here.

Interesting Juxtaposition

From The American Spectator
Political Hay
Torturing Alberto

By George Neumayr

The platform of the Democratic Party is built on a human rights abuse -- abortion. Yet Democrats still pose as champions of human rights. Today Senate Democrats will saddle up on their high horses to trample Alberto Gonzales for allegedly sanctioning human rights abuses against terrorists and detainees. The party of abortion will inveigh against "torture." Democrats who rationalize the near-infanticide of partial-birth abortion will accuse Gonzales of rationalizing detainee mistreatment.

Read the full story

Are We a Democracy?

Walter Williams has written a good instructional piece that appears in World Net Daily entitled, Are We a Republic or a Democracy? where he makes somes interesting points. Read it here:

As I recall, right after the tsunami disaster, Pres. Bush was being criticized by the U.N. for being "stingy" when we pledged the initial $15 million in aid. It didn't take long for his critics at home to join in on the criticism. He came out shortly thereafter, and upped the amount to $35 million. And he said there would be more aid pleged once we are able to evaluate exactly what was needed, not focusing only on the present, but what would be needed in the future. Of course, since then, it has been increased tenfold to $350 million.

Interestingly (to all you detractors out there) this is being reported by the Financial Times:

....diplomats say the challenge over the next few months will be to coordinate the delivery of aid rather than to raise more money.

Louis Michel, the EU’s development Commissioner, who is touring the affected area, said there was too much emphasis on money and not enough on longer term projects.

(emphasis mine - ed.)

French resentment of the United states hits a new low. To those who think the U.S is arrogant, if that is indeed the case, at least we have something to be arrogant about. The French have nothing I need or want. The French are the arrogant ones, making them even "sillier" than the U.S. since there is no basis for such arrogance.

From CNSNews:
Migration pamphlet draws fire in U.S.
Mexico defends its guide as a way to promote safety
By IOAN GRILLLO
Chronicle Foreign Service

Baghdad Poll

This morning the Iraqi Arabic newspaper Alsabaah reported these poll results:

Do you support military action against the terrorists?
Yes = 87.7 %
No = 11.1%
Don’t Know = 1.2%

Will the security problems cause you to?
(A) Not come out and vote the day of elections = 18.3%
(B) Come out and vote the day of elections = 78.3%
(C) No opinion = 3.4%

They polled 4,974 Iraqis living in and around the city of Baghdad:
(Hat tip Powerline)

I know, I know. To the moonbats out there, the CIA (and aided, I am sure, by the evil Karl Rove - the brains behind the scenes) concocted/fabricated/skewed/manipulated the poll results. (Just like the exit polls during the last election - right?)

People in Need

The countries hit by the tsunamis need our help.

Here’s how to make a difference:

Captain’s Quarters has established January 12, 2005 as World Relief Day:

“At Captain’s Quarters, we’re declaring January 12th World Relief Day. I ask that CQ readers donate their take-home pay for January 12th to the tsunami relief effort at World Vision. Obviously, we cannot hope to match the funds raised by governments – but we can show what a handful of determined private individuals can do to help. If you can’t afford to donate all of your take-home pay for that day, please donate what you can.”

Let's do what we can folks. Let's make a difference.

Gay Marriage

FEDERAL COURT ASKED TO FORCE FLORIDA TO RECOGNIZE MASSACHUSETTS' GAY MARRIAGE.

Just as many opponents of gay marriage anticipated, a lawsuit has been filed in federal court in attempt to force a state that does not recognize gay marriage into accepting the Massachusetts "marriage" of two lesbians performed in 2004.

There are currently 39 states, Florida being one, that have enacted DOMA (the defense of marriage act); this suit asks the Federal Court to overturn the will of the citizens of Florida. Gay couples from at least 46 states have gone to Massachusetts to get marriage licenses; more suits are likely to come in the near future in other federal courts.

Those who are opposed to gay marriages, will see this as validation to their argument and support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Only 48 senators voted in favor of such an amendment last summer. Expect it to be a hot topic again.

Addendum:

Thirteen states have passed initiatives for state constitutional amendments to defend traditional marriages. More states, encouraged by these results, are considering amendments as well. Texas, Virginia, Washington, Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts are considering/working on state constitutional amendments.

The ACLU, which is opposed to such amendments, is offering free help to those who are fighting against these constitutional measures. They are hoping to find friendly federal judges to overturn existing and any future statutes and legislation.