Some Nations Understand Help Is A Two-Way Street

Cyrano · 07-12-2008, 06:18 PM

A complaint I've read off and on here on G&G pertains to America always being called on to help other countries when they run into trouble; yet, when America needs help, all of a sudden nobody's home anywhere in the world. The members have, to put it politely, expressed more than a little annoyance over this hypocrisy.

Well, for once it's occurred to other nations that this time it's America who needs help, and a few of them have responded. This is from an AP report on the California wildfires.

"As hundreds of blazes continue to char California, additional National Guard troops and overseas crews are being called in to assist exhausted firefighters, and President Bush has scheduled a visit to the state.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered 2,000 more National Guard troops to join the 400 already on firefighting duty. Australia, Canada, Greece, Mexico and New Zealand are also sending firefighters and equipment, federal officials said. (Emphasis mine.)

"We are stretched thin, and our firefighters are exhausted," Schwarzenegger said. "The fire season as we've known it is pretty much over..... Now we have fire season all year round."

With the exception of Mexico, which may just be trying to be a good neighbor for once, you'll notice the nations that are sending us firefighters and firefighting equipment are countries we have aided in wartime and that have stood side by side with us in wars going back to World War II and the attempted Communist insurrection in Greece in 1948. I guess blood is thicker than water, and it's occurred to them that they owe us something for helping to keep them free.

I wonder if this is the start of a trend? That when America gets whacked by a natural disaster, other nations send us more than letters expressing sympathy for our problems? Be interesting to see what happens.

DWFan · 07-12-2008, 09:53 PM

Greece recently had a serious fire that threatened several towns and American firefighters went to help. Nice to see it goes both ways.

SwedeSteve · 07-12-2008, 10:10 PM

Greece has always offered help in many situations.

KGunner · 07-12-2008, 10:19 PM

Greece, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have always been our silent allies in almost any situation. Mexico I feel is being more opportunist here. It is nice to see some help, but then again, before we never really NEEDED help, we could always handle it, at least with natural disasters.

Mike Franklin · 07-12-2008, 10:25 PM

When the Katrina refugees came to San Antonio, the Mexican Army sent a unit with a Field Kitchen. They wound up feeding the National Guard Troops and Cops doing security. The Cops said that the Mexicans did excellent service and served great food.

Windwalker · 07-13-2008, 08:12 AM

It helps keep the faith that good people try to help each other when someone is in need. Thanks to all the Nations that have sent help.

Big Dog · 07-13-2008, 08:16 AM

The Maldives (an archipelogo south of Ceylon) sent some $25,000 in aid to help the victims of Katrina in 2005.
The thing making this of note, is that the Maldives (average height above sea level - about one meter!) was nearly wiped from the map by the Tsunami of 2004 - THEY needed that money more than WE did! Yet, they helped as they could. BRAVO!

My ship stopped there back in '82 - very friendly people, of MUSLIM faith.

We still have friends out there.

wily1 · 07-13-2008, 11:25 AM

You had better beleive you have friends even if you don't always realize it. Even though Canada and the US don't always agree on some things both Countries share a common bond and have and will always be good friends and neighbours.

knightRider · 07-13-2008, 11:31 AM

knightRider · 07-13-2008, 11:31 AM

<---- Canada accent aye get it !

ArkansasHunter · 07-13-2008, 11:32 AM

There were some middle eastern countrys offer money after Katrina. Kuwait was one I remember.

Brother Bob · 07-13-2008, 12:11 PM

There was also a lot of countries that sent money, prayers, and aid when the Twin Towers went down.

Coeloptera · 07-13-2008, 09:01 PM

Well that is extremely nice of them to do.

Huh...some hope for the world yet.

- Coeloptera

stalebiscuit · 07-14-2008, 04:59 PM

i can understand why mexico sent firefighters to california, it directly affects them (after all california is where most of mexicos money comes from haha)

but australia, new zealand, and greece, cool

07-12-2008, 06:18 PM	#1
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,981	Some Nations Understand Help Is A Two-Way Street A complaint I've read off and on here on G&G pertains to America always being called on to help other countries when they run into trouble; yet, when America needs help, all of a sudden nobody's home anywhere in the world. The members have, to put it politely, expressed more than a little annoyance over this hypocrisy. Well, for once it's occurred to other nations that this time it's America who needs help, and a few of them have responded. This is from an AP report on the California wildfires. "As hundreds of blazes continue to char California, additional National Guard troops and overseas crews are being called in to assist exhausted firefighters, and President Bush has scheduled a visit to the state. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered 2,000 more National Guard troops to join the 400 already on firefighting duty. Australia, Canada, Greece, Mexico and New Zealand are also sending firefighters and equipment, federal officials said. (Emphasis mine.) "We are stretched thin, and our firefighters are exhausted," Schwarzenegger said. "The fire season as we've known it is pretty much over..... Now we have fire season all year round." With the exception of Mexico, which may just be trying to be a good neighbor for once, you'll notice the nations that are sending us firefighters and firefighting equipment are countries we have aided in wartime and that have stood side by side with us in wars going back to World War II and the attempted Communist insurrection in Greece in 1948. I guess blood is thicker than water, and it's occurred to them that they owe us something for helping to keep them free. I wonder if this is the start of a trend? That when America gets whacked by a natural disaster, other nations send us more than letters expressing sympathy for our problems? Be interesting to see what happens.

07-12-2008, 10:10 PM	#3
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 12,538 Images: 1	Greece has always offered help in many situations. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-12-2008, 10:19 PM	#4
KGunner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 515 Blog Entries: 5	Greece, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have always been our silent allies in almost any situation. Mexico I feel is being more opportunist here. It is nice to see some help, but then again, before we never really NEEDED help, we could always handle it, at least with natural disasters. __________________ If the Founding Fathers were alive today, they'd probably rather be dead.

07-12-2008, 10:25 PM	#5
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	When the Katrina refugees came to San Antonio, the Mexican Army sent a unit with a Field Kitchen. They wound up feeding the National Guard Troops and Cops doing security. The Cops said that the Mexicans did excellent service and served great food. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-13-2008, 08:12 AM	#6
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,997	It helps keep the faith that good people try to help each other when someone is in need. Thanks to all the Nations that have sent help. __________________ America: Love it and protect it or leave it

07-12-2008, 09:53 PM	#2
DWFan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N. Texas Posts: 921 Blog Entries: 2	Greece recently had a serious fire that threatened several towns and American firefighters went to help. Nice to see it goes both ways.

07-13-2008, 08:16 AM	#7
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,412	The Maldives (an archipelogo south of Ceylon) sent some $25,000 in aid to help the victims of Katrina in 2005. The thing making this of note, is that the Maldives (average height above sea level - about one meter!) was nearly wiped from the map by the Tsunami of 2004 - THEY needed that money more than WE did! Yet, they helped as they could. BRAVO! My ship stopped there back in '82 - very friendly people, of MUSLIM faith. We still have friends out there. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-13-2008, 11:25 AM	#8
wily1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 207	You had better beleive you have friends even if you don't always realize it. Even though Canada and the US don't always agree on some things both Countries share a common bond and have and will always be good friends and neighbours.

07-13-2008, 11:31 AM	#9
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 2,793 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	eh __________________ I'm part kalishnakov, part heckler and Koch.

07-13-2008, 11:31 AM	#10
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 2,793 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	<---- Canada accent aye get it ! __________________ I'm part kalishnakov, part heckler and Koch.

07-13-2008, 11:32 AM	#11
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,984	There were some middle eastern countrys offer money after Katrina. Kuwait was one I remember.

07-13-2008, 12:11 PM	#12
Brother Bob The Mayor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Olive Branch, MS. Posts: 3,046 Blog Entries: 3	There was also a lot of countries that sent money, prayers, and aid when the Twin Towers went down.

07-13-2008, 09:01 PM	#13
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,144	Well that is extremely nice of them to do. Huh...some hope for the world yet. - Coeloptera

07-14-2008, 04:59 PM	#14
stalebiscuit Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: atlanta, but much rather be in valdosta Posts: 1,793	i can understand why mexico sent firefighters to california, it directly affects them (after all california is where most of mexicos money comes from haha) but australia, new zealand, and greece, cool