The recent Tsunami in South Asia has dominated the public discourse in a way no event has since 911. Individuals, aid organizations, corporations and governments from around the world have donated funds and resources in excess of 3 billion dollars US to the ongoing aid effort. Every day more is promised; concurrently, the death toll climbs higher.
There’s something simultaneously affirming and disturbing about how loss of life on a mass scale can unite the world. On the one hand, after 4 solid years of polarizing war hysteria it’s almost relieving to have something bring the world together in common cause that doesn’t involve blowing up, shooting or maiming somebody else. The massive outpouring of promised financial aid in all quarters is to be lauded (let’s just hope that all funds are received in a timely manner, and are distributed directly to those most in need - just ask last year’s earthquake victims in Bam, Iran who were promised $1 billion in aid and have to date only received $17 million).
That being said, there are 150,000+ people dead, regardless of how they ended up on the other side of the pale. Rejoicing over how good the relief effort makes us (’us’ referring to the western world at large) feel (and look) seems rather crass in light of the massive devestation. Already there are accounts of con-artists who have taken advantage of the public’s desire to provide financial assistance, as well as those searching for missing loved ones. And of course political leaders (as well as celebrities) are using this event to score points with the public. But this is to be expected; most charitible actions are, in the end, partially self-serving. What matters most is the need, and addressing said need.
Veteran war correspondent Chris Hedges, in his superlative book War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning, notes the unifying effect war can have on a society. War provides a common enemy, a common goal, an identity. The reaction by the global community to the tsunami has shown that war doesn’t hold the trademark on collective mobilization. I’m not so naive as to envision a utopian revolution in 2005 as a result of residual goodwill from this disaster. But I’ll be happy if, after all the media hooplah has died down and bleeding hearts have scabbed over, the victims continue to receive the aid they need to rebuild their lives.
