April 21, 2007

SINGAPORE

"Why are the Shootings in America World News?"

I was reading the newspaper over breakfast this morning when my Indonesian roommate sat down to join me. After several minutes of chatting about various happenings in Singapore, he asked out of the blue, "Why is the school shooting in America getting so much attention?" I was taken aback that he would ask such a thing, but I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because he has always seemed like a non-malicious person. After all, he has Buddhist teachings posted on our walls, and I often walk into the room to find him meditating.

So, I calmly responded that such a flagrant attack on innocent people is always going to be big news - especially since it occurred on a college campus in one of the world's most highly developed countries. Additionally, the repercussions are being felt around the world as the dead and wounded came from places like Israel, India, Puerto Rico, Lebanon, Indonesia, China and South Korea.

Then, as I began thinking about his question some more, I realized my roommate was implying that the school shooting is only worldwide news because it happened in the United States.

Excuse me, but what an outright disgraceful question to ask.

I don't remember a single person in America saying, "Why is the tsunami that killed people in Sumatra (Indonesia) getting so much attention?" or "Why is the bombing in Bali (Indonesia) getting so much attention?" or most importantly, "Why are we giving so much of our money to aid Indonesia's tsunami victims?"

In case my roommate isn't the only person who has been living under a rock, the United States was estimated to provide nearly $50 billion in overseas aid during 2006. This figure obviously hasn't taken into account the recent philanthropic efforts from world's two wealthiest men - Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Warren Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway) - both of whom earned their money "the old fashioned way," and still see fit to donate billions of dollars to overseas efforts.

But people such as my roommate don't give a damn about these facts. They still see America as an entity that forces itself on the rest of the world. All such people care to talk about is Iraq, and the arrogant American powers who are at the heart of many worldwide conflicts.

Well, here is a long overdue newsflash: the American people do not deserve such unfair harassment for they are easily among the world's most generous and hard working. I'm not asking you take my word for it because perhaps I am biased, so just seriously consider the following:

       - The world's largest economy, which is four times larger than its closest competitor, could not possibly have been built by a nation of "incompetents."

       - The army that drove off the Japanese and German forces, freeing half the world in the process, could not possibly have been manned by "lazy slobs."

       - The nation that put a man on the moon - likely signifying the greatest achievement in mankind's history - could not possibly have been performed by the "technically inferior."

       - And lastly, the nation that gives endless aid and support to those who are less fortunate in the world is not the "arrogant and selfish demon" it is made out to be.

Of course, I did not say any of these things to my roommate, just as Americans do not go about glorifying their contributions.

Why?

Because Americans are raised to believe that actions speak louder than words, and actions should be performed because they are the right thing to do - not because we want a recognition for them.

I would at least hope that when our country is struck down by a horrific attack people would have the decency to show a little respect and not ask why we receive undue attention. For those friends of mine who have taken the time to offer your condolences, I promise it means more than you could imagine because I am a long way from home.

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