The room fell silent. My hindi friend then said quietly to the Euros:
"Can you let your hatred of George Bush end for just one minute? There are people dying! And what are your countries doing? Amazon.com has helped more than France has. You all have a role to play in the world, why can't you see that? Thank God for the US Navy, they dont have to come and help, but they are. They helped you once and you should all thank God they did. They didnt have to, and no one but them would have done so. I'm ashamed of you all..."
He left the room, shaking and in tears. The frustration of being on the other side of the globe, unable to do anything to assist and faced with people who could not set aside their asininity long enough to reach out and help was too much for him to bear. I just shook my head and left. The Euros stood speechless.
The sad part is, for so many--both Euros and the Euros at heart--the hatred is all they have. Nothing we do is good or done with good motives. We are scorned while our sailors and Marines are rushed to the scene to help when the locals may not even care.
Thank God for the US Navy. And for the nation and people who send it out to protect us and help strangers in need.
You know, "coalition of the willing," which is used to describe us and our friends who help in Iraq or in rescuing tsunami victims, is insufficiently descriptive. I suggest "coalition of those who give a damn."
