Helping Japan..... Pros and Cons

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 10:20 AM

I worked for a Japanese company for three years... what an eye opener. I already have my opinion, but would like to hear yours.

So.... should we?

Why or why not

**DSM4Life** · 03-12-2011, 10:21 AM

We need to stop talking care of everyone else and fix the $hit in our own country.

**SlimmerMe** · 03-12-2011, 10:28 AM

I was thinking this thought earlier today:
the Greatest Generation or those close to it, are the biggest charitable donators in many ways.....and they remember all to well what happened years ago......and their children , the baby boomers, remember the conversation....and grand children usually mimic their grandparents.....

so....it will be interesting to watch how much aid makes it over there on a personal level....

and this sounds cynical but....I had the thought and you asked

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 10:36 AM

let's forget about WW2 for a moment.

let's ask one question, purely theoritical of course.

If the tables were turned and we had a disaster, how much aid could we expect from Japan?

**DSM4Life** · 03-12-2011, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

let's forget about WW2 for a moment.

let's ask one question, purely theoritical of course.

If the tables were turned and we had a disaster, how much aid could we expect from Japan?

We would maybe get a mention on the evening news. Thats about it.

**MBMETC** · 03-12-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by DSM4Life

We need to stop talking care of everyone else and fix the $hit in our own country.

i agree our deficit is so huge sending money to people of other countries only makes our problem larger. i feel terrible but japan can take care of it's self and our charity begins at home..

**bushido3374** · 03-12-2011, 10:41 AM

I've got family over there- I'm also minoring in Japanese language. I also tend to spend a fair amount of time volunteering for charity and cultural events- so I think I'd find it really rewarding to help out over there, immerse myself in the language and eat a lot of Japanese food and learn some pure Judo (which isn't necessarily practical in the really messed up areas that need help the most).

I know that's not what you were talking about- You wanted a more economical/political answer. I don't know much about that perspective though.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 10:46 AM

I don't give a fuk what individuals do on their own free time. I'm talking about politician faggots that think money doesn't mean anything and will pledge billions so they can win an election.

so the question remains....

if the tables were turned, how much aid do you think we could expect from Japan?

**DSM4Life** · 03-12-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

I don't give a fuk what individuals do on their own free time. I'm talking about politician faggots that think money doesn't mean anything and will pledge billions so they can win an election.

so the question remains....

if the tables were turned, how much aid do you think we could expect from Japan?

Chill with the F bomb pops !

**bushido3374** · 03-12-2011, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

I don't give a fuk what individuals do on their own free time. I'm talking about politician faggots that think money doesn't mean anything and will pledge billions so they can win an election.

so the question remains....

if the tables were turned, how much aid do you think we could expect from Japan?

Yeah, reading this post really doesn't match up with the character that I've perceived you to be.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 10:57 AM

yeah, that may have sounded a little up tight....

my apologies....

but the question still remains....?

and sorry about the fa**** FBomb DSM.... sometimes I engage mouth and the brain is still asleep at the wheel.... It was intended as a derogatory non orientation specific way....

.... and NO, I'm not back peddling... that is how I meant to represent it... could have use the Ahole word with it interchangeably

**SlimmerMe** · 03-12-2011, 11:15 AM

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**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:22 AM

The tables were turned when Katrina hit. I didn't see any little Japanese soldiers walking around down there pulling my friends and family out of there flooded homes. We barely get anything from these other countries.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:23 AM

we have given the japanese billions and billions of dollars... we rebuilt them after the war (didn't they attack us?), and now they are a major industrialize society (who do you think they ripped the technology off from?)

my opinion? individual donors can do anything they want, and I will support that decision 100%. as far as our tax paid government goes? japan is on thier own here mates. sorry, but my .02

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by stack_it

The tables were turned when Katrina hit. I didn't see any little Japanese soldiers walking around down there pulling my friends and family out of there flooded homes. We barely get anything from these other countries.

please define barely
please define anything

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by SlimmerMe

//////////

Slimmer, I read what you posted. why would you edit that out? it's ok to have an opinion.... really!

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:25 AM

I believe a few European countries donated a small amount of monetary aid. I'll have to look it up to see who and how much.

**SlimmerMe** · 03-12-2011, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

Slimmer, I read what you posted. why would you edit that out? it's ok to have an opinion.... really!

I know it is....but decided to let it go into cyberspace and for your eyes only!

BG · 03-12-2011, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by stack_it

The tables were turned when Katrina hit. I didn't see any little Japanese soldiers walking around down there pulling my friends and family out of there flooded homes. We barely get anything from these other countries.

LOL our country barely did anything about it ...........

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:28 AM

I've seen the numbers... I've seen communities more charitable

single digit millions, maybe tens of millions... BFD

just barely enough to say.... WE HELPED!

BG · 03-12-2011, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by stack_it

I believe a few European countries donated a small amount of monetary aid. I'll have to look it up to see who and how much.

I would like to see this...

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

please define barely
please define anything

I stand corrected on my previous post. It wasn't that the other countries did not offer aid. From what I've read the united states declined the aid of most countries.

Here's what japan offered but was never used.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry has said that it would provide USD 200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. Japan will also identify needs in affected regions via the U.S. government and will provide up to USD 300,000 in emergency supplies such as tents, blankets and power generators if they receive requests from the U.S. for such assistance. One Japanese individual, Takashi Endo, donated USD 1 million from his personal funds to Katrina relief efforts.

**DSM4Life** · 03-12-2011, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by BG

LOL our country barely did anything about it ...........

WRONG !

If you remember FEMA donated a bunch of free toxic trailers. Free formaldehyde for all.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by BG

LOL our country barely did anything about it ...........

actually we did, and still are.... here's the problem.... little boy george w flew around in airforce 1 playing big shot, running his mouth, saying he's gonna do this and that.... and never delivered. he created big expectations, and when it fell short, the perception is we did nothing. I admit, it was very slow, and not enough, but it's still coming....

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by BG

LOL our country barely did anything about it ...........

I'm bot saying our country did. The people were left to take care of themselves. I just got back from there the other day and there are still major grocery stores border up and hundreds of houses falling down and abandoned with the rescue/death numbers still painted on the front.

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

actually we did, and still are.... here's the problem.... little boy george w flew around in airforce 1 playing big shot, running his mouth, saying he's gonna do this and that.... and never delivered. he created big expectations, and when it fell short, the perception is we did nothing. I admit, it was very slow, and not enough, but it's still coming....

What are they doing there now? Last thing that was done pertaining to Katrina was FEMA kicked everyone still in there trailers out on the street. This was in December I believe.

**Tigershark** · 03-12-2011, 11:35 AM

I feel for those in need, but when Katrina hit us we hardly helped ourselves and no other country came to our aid that I can think of. But when the quake hit Haiti, stop the presses and let George Clooney throw a freaking benefit concert and all that other bull$hit.
I wish all those Japan the best and my prayer are with them, but I would like to see us spend some money over here for a change.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:36 AM

there are some basic problems in that area that politicians are not able to talk about.... normally, new orleans should be underwater.... and water levels are rising.... does it really make sense to rebuild when it will probably be underwater again in 10 to 15 years?

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Tigershark

I feel for those in need, but when Katrina hit us we hardly helped ourselves and no other country came to our aid that I can think of. But when the quake hit Haiti, stop the presses and let George Clooney throw a freaking benefit concert and all that other bull$hit.
I wish all those Japan the best and my prayer are with them, but I would like to see us spend some money over here for a change.

EXACTLY MATE!!!!!!

ding ding ding ding ding ding!!!!! Win a prize!!!!!

We spend hundreds of billions of dollars every year helping other countries, yet we refuse to rebuild our own infrastructures, bridges, roads, universities, schools,

stop and think for one second.

if we stopped paying every country with a hand out, and instead, paid ourselves

seriously. we could have most of our problems solved in just a few years.

get out of debt. healthcare. excellent education system.

why is it we do not do this?

well..... ? someone?

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

there are some basic problems in that area that politicians are not able to talk about.... normally, new orleans should be underwater.... and water levels are rising.... does it really make sense to rebuild when it will probably be underwater again in 10 to 15 years?

See this is exactly the shit that pisses me off. You are as misinformed on this as most people are on aas because of the media. Look up towns like bay st Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, pass Christian, longbeach, waveland, missisippi. All of them on the coast (above sea level) and were hit by Katrina before New Orleans. They took the brunt of this storm. New Orleans would not even have flooded that bad if the levee didn't break. The towns that I listed along with a lot of others were wiped out allay completely. There were a lot of casinos there and maybe half rebuilt. All of them were destroyed. That's a big hit to there economy. The jails, schools, grocery stores all gone. My friend that lives in bay st Louis has a two story house that sits on stilts (code there) so his second story is 30ft in the air. The tidal wave that came through went about two inches from the ceiling on the second floor. That's atleast a 28ft wave. The house I grew up in down there was pushed over and moved 3 blocks by this same wave. Keep in mind i live atleast 12 miles from the beach. All of the plantation style beach houses from the early 1800's that lined the coast were wiped out. Only there grand staircases remaining and leading to nothing. Many of these home owners have non rebuilt still. Over 5 years later. People down there are still living in campers on there property because they can't afford to rebuild.

The media wanted to portray New orleans as the biggest victim because it showed mostly low class people that were effected and they knew the majority of the public would forget about it or overlook it easily. Think about it. Bourbon street was back open within a couple weeks. That's in the heart of the French quarter. One of the lower parts of NO. Flood damage was the big hitter there. Not hurricane damage.

On top of that the Mississippi gulf coast gets hit with the bp oil spill just a few years later. The beaches in all those towns I mentioned were black but yet again all the focus was on New Orleans.

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 12:03 PM

no. you have a point. there are many towns in the area that are not below sea level. but the levees broke. let me ask a real question, and I don't really know the answer... so I'm not trying to bait you. But who's responsibility is it to maintain the levees?

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 12:07 PM

but we digress... katrina is old news... the issue is aid to japan, should we or shouldn't we?

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

no. you have a point. there are many towns in the area that are not below sea level. but the levees broke. let me ask a real question, and I don't really know the answer... so I'm not trying to bait you. But who's responsibility is it to maintain the levees?

See I think you missed my point all together. It's louisiannas responsibility I know this. The towns I was speaking of are not in louisianna and don't even have levees in them. Disregard louisianna all together just for the sake of my post and read it again. All of the towns I was referring to are in MS. Whether or not LA maintained their levees or not should not effect the citizens of MS's govnt help.

I'm going back down there in a couple weeks. I'll take some pictures so everyone can see that after over 5 years the damage still exists. It would be easy to think a hurricane had just hit within the last month or so. I've been through several hurricanes down there and it looks worse now 5 years later than what most hurricane stricken areas look a month later.

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Times Roman

but we digress... katrina is old news... the issue is aid to japan, should we or shouldn't we?

No. Would you help your neighbor from across towns child before you helped your own?

**bruary17** · 03-12-2011, 12:26 PM

Red white and blue courses through my veins...I'm patriotic to the bone. As big a debt as the man says were in....I can still be anything I want to be....a cop, a fire man a ****ing astronaut....I can protect the president, run for mayor...the sky's the limit in this country. Even with our country's current financial status...I can borrow money from the government to pay for school and be whatever the fvck I want to be...

We have options available to us that people in other countrys would die to have...we have FREEDOM and CHOICE....

when some shit pops off in another country and we see it as wron....we poke our nose in it and stick up and defend what is right and good in this world. Were one of a kind...were the big bouncer who picks you up and drops you on your head for acting like an asshole...but is quick to help you back to your feet and allow you to redeem yourself.

If japan needs our help I'd fly the plane over there...the actions of others will never change my integrity...if I allowed that, am I really in control...or are they?

**Times Roman** · 03-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by stack_it

No. Would you help your neighbor from across towns child before you helped your own?

Well, of course I would help my own first... i think that is natural enough. but honestly, i'm not an ogre... I do try to help people around me... helped that lady I was telling you guys about... i give money to the kids around here.... donate blood without having to be asked....

maybe your right and Im just getting tired. I think I will crash just as soon as I figure out who this paula character is... thought it was our buddy D** for a moment, but naw... not him. could be wrong... we'll see

BG · 03-12-2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by stack_it

there are still major grocery stores border up and hundreds of houses falling down and abandoned with the rescue/death numbers still painted on the front.

This is the shit that needs to be taking care of so people can forget and move on....

**cro** · 03-12-2011, 02:41 PM

were 100s of billions in debt to japan.

Originally Posted by MBMETC

i agree our deficit is so huge sending money to people of other countries only makes our problem larger. i feel terrible but japan can take care of it's self and our charity begins at home..

**stack_it** · 03-12-2011, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by cro

were 100s of billions in debt to japan.

Maybe they'll let us work some off lol. Like doing the dishes at a restaurant when you can't pay your tab.....

**cro** · 03-12-2011, 02:50 PM

i would die for anychild 4 sure .no boundaries. when i was in japan they would through you the peace sign which i found out meant( we owe you 2) hiroshima /nagasaki. . but i will say they were very hospitable people and they dont deserve this. this world is fu----........natural disasters are running rampid.scary shit no matter were your from.i dont like to believe the prophecy crap but WTF....

Originally Posted by stack_it

No. Would you help your neighbor from across towns child before you helped your own?