Monday, January 03, 2005

A Great and Generous Nation

A tragedy reveals character. And I'm proud, once again, of the character of the United States in response to the unimaginable scope of the earthquake / tsunami disaster in Asia.

America, clearly, has the capacity and the will to bring to bear enormous resources of aid in that region to people who are not only strangers but are often hostile to the United States. It's not the first time we've stepped up to the plate and it's the reason that the world looks first to the United States, and not the United Nations, when disaster strikes.

Whether it's our government and it's offices with official aid, or private giving by individuals or through relief organizations we're there. With the military, flying in aid or purifying water, we're there. With our churches and their global reach, we're there. With today's announcement by President Bush of the work of ex-President's Bush and Clinton to raise disaster aid, we're there.

Despite the carping of petty minds or hostile bureaucrats, the United States is a great and generous nation and I'm proud to be a citizen. God bless those affected.

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