Disaster should elicit best from us

Nature plays no favorites. Well-heeled tourists from around the world together with poverty-stricken natives – plus people reflecting the gamut of circumstances in between – all contribute to the staggering total of victims from the tsunami that slammed into a handful of Third World countries in South Asia a week ago.

Television images, mostly from vacationers’ video cameras, have brought the terrifying reality of the disaster directly into our homes and our consciousness, dazing us with a sense of shared grief and helplessness.

But we aren’t helpless. Individuals, businesses, governments and relief organizations are pouring resources into the area to help meet a variety of urgent needs.

Is the response sufficient? Inevitably it is not. It cannot restore the lives of more than 120,000 victims. It cannot undo billions of dollars worth of property damage. It cannot quickly repair the infrastructure that the towering wall of water overwhelmed, leaving the area vulnerable to more death and illness as a result of sanitation deficiencies.

But in the United States and elsewhere there is a universal need to respond the best we can. Americans have no monopoly on charity and compassion, of course, but they know they are blessed more than most, and they have a tradition of coming through when misfortune strikes others. Millions of dollars in private giving has been channeled this week to myriad nonprofit organizations that specialize in disaster relief. Both businesses and individuals have contributed.

At the governmental level, the United States now has pledged $350 million to the cause. It could go higher still as details of the need are clearer. In addition to the financial contribution, American military personnel and equipment can be counted on to pitch in on the scene.

Sadly, the initial level of U.S. governmental response, which started out at $15 million, has been politicized – exploited for partisan advantage with criticisms of its adequacy, especially in comparison with the billions being spent on the war in Iraq or the millions that Bush’s inauguration ceremonies are expected to cost later this month.

Indeed, there may be a time to reflect on our priorities as a nation, but now is not that time. Now is the time to focus on the heart-breaking calamity that has afflicted hundreds of thousands of human beings in Thailand, Sumatra, Indonesia and the rest of the devastated region.

The essence of American generosity resides in the people, not the government. This is a time to shake off the nagging hangover from the distasteful political campaign season of 2004.

Forget the image-polishing, either domestic or geopolitical. Let’s just show the sincere face of American compassion. There’s a need to be met.