It won't surprise anyone who knows me that I am embarrassed by my country's president, but the fact that it took him 4 days to simply issue a public statement of condolence over the catastrophe in Southeast Asia is beyond embarrassing.
While I often sign MoveOn's online petitions, I rarely complete the optional message field. But today, when MoveOn asked me to include my name on
a message to Congress and the President that Americans are supporting strong leadership in the relief effort, I added a personal note:
Please scale back 2nd term inaugural festivities as a sign of humanitarian solidarity. With 4 days of silence, President Bush has already represented Americans poorly – inappropriate celebrations will only compound the perceptions.
Tangentially, if you want to know that your personal donations are going to effective charities, take a look at the American Institute of Philanthropy's list of
top-rated charities.
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