Global Response to Hurrican Katrina

The unparalleled human suffering that occurred during last year’s tsunami has presented most countries of the world with a challenge that they must rise to meet, and they did. Again another catastrophe has stricken the globe but this time it hit closer to home, New Orleans to be precise. The world has once again shown its colors in response to the Katrina catastrophe. Flooding that occurred in New Orleans triggered a series of events that led up to the current situation. But as along with the aid that the world has sent the United States, which has been no small amount, has been an attitude of “I told you so.” While several countries have adopted this attitude of unvarying defiance to anything the United States does Germany stands out in particular. Directly after the hurricane, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder offered his condolences to the United States and to President Bush. “I greatly sympathize for the fate of those people affected by the hurricane.” Sure this was a nice gesture but it was followed by no action whatsoever.

Now I understand that some of you may be thinking to you’re self that the United States doesn’t need aid but the fact of the matter is that whether a crisis of this magnitude happens in a third world country or whether it happens to a first world country aid is needed or at least the good intentions that come with an offering