Poll: 3 in 10 in U.S. Give Tsunami Aid

An issue that I think is often overlooked in news reports of America's contribution to other societies in need, is the strong contributions of Aerican individuals, companies, and charitable organizations.

This report mentions that private giving virtually matches the amount of aid given by the US government for tsunami relief. And I am sure many more dollars are given through countless small chrities in the US that will never be reported or accounted for.

The US has a strong history of charitable giving for social issues, both in its own societies and for other countries in need. Americans believe in personal responsibility and not just relying on the government to act.

I recall an Afghan woman in the US commenting on the different attitude by Americans following the Afghan war - "If I show a picture of starving children to American friends, they will inevitably ask me, 'How can I give?' I never get that response from Europeans or Middle Easterners."

Americans are compassionate and generous, whether it is disaster relief or regime change. They want to get personally involved and help the hurting or oppressed.

Other societies may cynically attribute America's generosity to a desire to gain politically. But if they look at the response of private Americans, I think they need to honestly ask what are the social values that lead to this kind of response from Americans, and why don't we find it as often in other societies?

Yahoo! News - AP Poll: 3 in 10 in U.S. Give Tsunami Aid