Each blog has its own culture, which seems to be a product of many things -the temperament, beliefs and style of its blogger defines the kind of correspondent it attracts, and ultimately establishes the level of value and intelligence of the discussion therein.
I find that blog response to the catastrophe in East Asia is an interesting indicator of a blog’s real spirit. A depressingly large number have simply used this horror as yet another opportunity to climb on a soapbox and beat their favorite drums one more time, as though this were no more than simply another welcome opportunity to flame the target of their choice.
My congratulations to the folks who have largely ducked all that nonsense, and are using their blogs as a tool to facilitate donations. Well done, Tree Hugger, Thoughtcrimes, Andrew (whose site has an excellent list of links), Upper Canadian, Damian and those others of the left and right who see their blog as a tool for more than just cheap shots.
Here are a few more folks who could use your help.
Canadian Red Cross: 1-800-418-1111 or on-line at http://www.redcross.ca
Medecins Sans Frontieres: 1-800-982-7903 or on-line at http://www.msf.ca
Unicef Canada: 1-877-955-3111 or on-line at http://www.unicef.ca
Oxfam Canada: 1-800-466-9326 or on-line at http://www.oxfam.ca
Care Canada: 1-800-267-5232 or on-line at http://www.care.ca
World Vision: 1-800-268-5528 or on-line at http://www.worldvision.ca
The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace: 1-888-664-3387 or on-line at http://www.devp.org
The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: 1-613-233-8449 or on-line at http://www.srilankahcottawa.org
The Mennonite Central Committee: 1-888-622-6337 or on-line at http://www.mcc.org/
(BTW, the highly incensed tone of the above was not meant to imply any disparagement for cheap shots. I LOVE cheap shots. But not now. There’s more important work for you to do.)
To quote from a very wise blogger, who I just happen to be:
Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there making this a political issue, including the so-called “leaders” of the countries involved, and even the pencil pushers at the UN. Yet nothing, politics included, has stopped people from being ultra-generous and donating their hearts out.
Just goes to show that most people are smarter than the leaders they elect and know when to donate, when to be generous, and when help is really needed. We’re seeing that now, despite the blatant insult of being called stingy, the anti-Semitism in Indonesia, and the ineptitude of the muslim governments of the Middle East in helping their “brothers.”
I think the true story is not that there is no politics, but that the people of the world are overcoming it and doing the right thing anyway.