I believe that we should focus on both. It doesn't make sense to me that focusing on one issue will make the world a better place. Balance is a good thing and continually working on every issue consistantly will get the job done.

may i point out that Katrina wouldn't have been as bad in the first place if we had paid attention to our homefront. I'm not saying ignore the rest of the world because we shouldn't but, had our government not been so caught up in foriegn affairs they may have noticed the danger at home. I think we should send as much as we can to Africa and other 3rd world countries. They need the money more than we do, especially if we're wasting it to finance some groundless unnecessary war.

but we have just enough time and money to get an unnecessary war going halfway around the world
if we can waste trillions of dollars to fight an unsupported, unnecessary war then can't we spare some time and money for more urgent causes like world hunger and poverty?

Who would you feed first? Your own children or your neighbors children?

I agree. Without first giving ourselves enough resources to start helping others, we would never be able to completely help out. Think of the U.S. as a family unit, with a father/mother to bring the income and spend it (the government), the rest of the family (the citizens) and household (the physical aspect of the country). Without enough income, we would either starve, die, or immigrate to another country. If the whole family was out helping the homeless, we wouldn't have a family (any soldiers, doctors, shopkeepers, etc.). And if we donated our house to charity, where would we live? It is a necessity to first help ourselves.

Look, I've always said how can you help other countries without even bothering to help ours? It's just that simple. You can't help other countries until you fix the problems here first. I'm totally with helping others since that's what I love doing, but at the same time we still need to focus on getting healthcare for all Americans because over 47 million of us do not have it. We still have the war deficit to pay off, etc. before we can go and help and other friend or ally in the world!

That's just how I view this issue. Global poverty is happening, yes we see it, but at the same time we need to concentrate on what's happening here in our own country first.

I would focus on more global matters.

Yes, natural disasters in America is depressing and a really big deal.

But, most people in the 3rd world countries have lived their life bad like that all of their lives.

For Americans it's most likely they had a pretty good life and then disaster struck.

But they still had a good life.

Both matters are important, I just care more about global things.

I think there is a need for help in America and abroad.

However, I wonder what would happen if the U.S. pulled out of giving so much? Seriously, would any of the other wealthy countries step up to the plate? Or would the poorest places just go to ruin? Sure, the U.S. has it's problems, but look at what the world would be like without us.
Maybe the American government should focus more on what's happening at home (as far as giving goes), and leave the problems of extreme poverty, child laborers, etc. to the American people. Like look at the privite organizations that give so much and make a great difference. (Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, etc.) And some celebrities do give some of their wealth. For instance, Switchfoot has a whole "help Africa thing" going on. And what about U2?! So what would happen: would we take that initiative or not?

It's really something to think about. But I do agree that when it comes to choosing, it's a personal issue. And this is one that I'm torn on. Anyway, thanks to the person who started this thread, it really got me thinking!

I think there is a need for both. There are serious issues affecting us here in the United States, as well as people worldwide.

We all must be responsible for doing what we can, where we can. I focus on solving problems here in America, because it's where I have the ability to accomplish the most good. Other people may have the resources to serve elsewhere in the world, and I encourage them to do that.

We enjoy a standard of living that is second to none... there is poverty and crime in the US but it's nothing compared to what the developing world faces. Ultimately, when we help them, we help ourselves by creating strong relationships around the world. In return, we have access to their talent and resources.

Our investment in supporting health and education in Asia and Africa is being returned by the thousands of skilled workers, engineers, and doctors who emigrate to the US. When we have shortages of American workers with those skills, we are able to fill those positions with qualified workers that the US has invested in developing.

So, there is a need for both, and it's up to each of us to decide where we fit in.

That's a really difficult question to answer.
I think that we need to save both issues.
It wouldn't be right to ignore just one of them.

We have to do as much as we can; and we can't do everything and rely on everyone.

I can't support the argument that we must focus 100% at home before going abroad because at what point would we be finished helping at home? When the gulf coast is rebuilt? When 100% of this country's children are literate? No homelessness? Health care for everyone regardless of income?
You can see that this list could go on and on...
My point is that focusing at home is a 'head in the sand' strategy that ignores people & groups around the world that are suffering far beyond anything the poorest American can imagine. I'm saying there is a balance.

As for the statement about America not giving as much as other nations I wasn't able to find any info on that... I did find that in 2006 the US gave 300billion to charity about 32% went to religious institutions, and 13% went to educational institutions (those were the two biggest %s) [source USA Today].

I have personally ask myself this question a lot of times becuase i see myself wanting to help homeless people in Africa when they are homeless people just down the block. Its like i need to be able to help the people in my community before i help people in another country but then again i think that you shouldn't have to chose. Just help people because it is the right thing to do. But i do think that while america is giving money to africa it needs to be giving some money america also. I know that i am contradicting my self but there is no other way to put it.

"Tohose of you who believe America is too "unstable" to help others out - get real!"

can you give us an example of how we are stable enough to help others and ourselves? i'm not denying it, but with the unemployment rate, social security, medicare, immigration, and other domestic issues -not to mention the 50-50 political split between Americans, we certainly have our plates full and not much time to go interfere with foreign affairs halfway around the world

Well in order to help other countries and improve the world the USA needs to be stable...right? It's like building a house. You need a foundation before you can continue with the rest of the house. The USA is one of the most powerful countries in the world so of course it is our responsibility to help others out, but we also can't forget about helping ourselves too. Tohose of you who believe America is too "unstable" to help others out - get real! We are perfectly cabable tof taking care of ourselves and others, but at the same time it is true that we can't forget about ourselves. Of course America has it's own issues but we can solve those while helping others. There needs to be a certain balance here.

Brookelyn0404 has it right. Because of our country's free trade agreements with countries whose workers make almost slave wages, we Americans save billions of dollars buying their cheap food and clothes. If I had to buy school clothes made in America for my kids, I'd spend at least twice as much. As Ben Franklin said, a penny saved is a penny earned, so if I save money because some unfortunate person is making low wages, then it is the same as if I earned that money.

Sure, we send money out to poor countries, but we get a lot back in return.

dwight

I think that America definietly needs to take care of itself bafore it goes around helping others. I mean its good to help others in all but we have starving dieng people in America too. Our victims of Katrina are without homes and food and running water. But we can send over millions of dollars to Africa to feed there starving children when we have our own right in the streets of America????

"We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers." Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is my first entry in Do Something. I mention this to emphasize my support of Alohanorm's entry since it resonated with me above all others I have read.

I am seeking opportunities to do my 'next' something since the successful founding of a local non-profit that partners with kids,teachers and parents to prepare for Success. After reading of Greg Mortenson's life in "Three cups of Tea" I now have an interest in education on a global scale.

I am disappointed by some of the reponders who suggest a parochial view. The answer to the debate that seems to being help here is YA. Yes And.

Thanks
Alohanorm for your wise response

I think we should take care of the US before we take care of any other country, I think that other countries can help africa were not alone i mean there is the UK and russia that could be out there helping africa. Africa shouldn't be the way it is anyway we should have let it get so bad over there but once again we let it until people starting dieing or it started affecting the US. Thats the sad part this should have been stopped a long time ago and thats sad the US is lazy and should have picked up on the trouble a long time ago. So should have the UK and Russia!

I THINK THAT THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITS AFFAIRS HERE FIRST BEFORE TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT IT'S LIKE THE OLD SAYING GOES "IT'S LIKE THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND" IT DOEST MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO HELP ANOTHER COUNTRIE WITH POVERTY WHEN THERES POVERTY HERE AND WE SEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THER TO HELP FEED WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVEN'T EATEN IN MONTHS OR YEAR

I think we have the resources to help both ourselves and the rest of the world at the same time and, because of that, we should take the needs of other countries into consideration.

Christianity is not about helping others because you fear God, it's about helping others because you love God and, you know it's the right thing to do.

yea or else according to Christianity you will spend eternity in hell...

how about instead of helping others out of fear of god, you just do it for the gratification you get through knowing you helped others in need? Ever think of that?

We may not have the responsibility to help...but it is our duty. Thats all i have to say...Helping others isn't just moral, it is the christian way to help those in need...

i do agree, because we have enough problems of our own that we need to take care of. we can't afford fixing our problems and other countries problems at the same time, its kinda of a take 1 step forward and 10 steps back kinda thing. though if we do not help those in need who will help us when we are in their shoes? thats when we need american people the most.

Thats a great idea RainbowSmiles and its difficult to imagine that that not enough people care about the welfare of todays children. Maybe if everyone organized small local projects, like you said, helping every individual we can, we could start to make a difference. Try spreading the word around your community and organizing some kind of fundraiser or awareness project for local children.

To be honest, its not like we cant focus on both issues. my personal opinion is that children come first, its important to help those who have had dramatic trauma and sexual abuse. However, it is also important to help those who are suffering from starvation and illness. the children suffer either way.... so its not so much whats more important... but what we can do to help every single individual we can. one can of food here, one criminal put behind bars there. There are enough people in this world, that we can focus on both issues and even maybe succeed in finding a resolution. The problem is, not enough people want to get involved. If everyone put forth there best effort and did a little something for someone else, then our goals would be far past met. However, there are not enough people who care... So its up to the few that do to just do the best they can and hope for the best.

I definately think that it is important to put our time into helping our own country, because it is always important to help yourself...even when others may be hurting more. Those in Africa are in dire need of help efforts too, and we should be helping them as much if not more. As long as we are always looking at where we can make improvements and start solutions.

I also think we need to watch where we put our money. It is much easier to throw money at an orginazation or effort rather than to go help, but it is more rewarding for yourself and those in need, to use our own hands-on efforts.

Whenever another country is in a crisis such as a natural disaster who is there helping America and almost everyone else, but when hurricane Katrina hit U.S.A who helped us we helped ourselves. Not many other countries came to our aid. We may have the money and resources to help other countries and ourselves, but it did not show during the hurricane. If we are going to help them you would think they would at least try to help. We also have to spend some time thinking whether it is right to help. An example is when we went to stabilize Iraq we
may have helped in some ways but over all we destroyed there country and killed many of there people and ours. They may have attacked us but there was no reason for revenge. In the beginning the Iraq war seemed like a good idea to me but I now realize it is really an act of revenge which America is not about!

Josh L

When you ask people to choose who to help first, you will always get a different answer. When you have to choose who to save, who to devote your time and effort to and who to care for, it can become a very personal debate. My own belief is that we must start small. The world is alone, and we must all help eachother.

No one country can afford to just forget about everyone else, to just worry about themselves and let every other country suffer around them...

I think that if political figures reach celebrity status, and that helps them to reach millions of Americans and the world, and they're doing positive things, then that's great. The only worry of course is when that power is abused.

Well, the United States is viewed basically as a money bank. I mean honestly, we DO have all these amazing technological adcances and WE acn afford to buy phones for four-hundred dollars (cough-iPhone-cough). So, from the other countries point of view, I can understand why they aren't helping us.

My opinion? I think that the U.S. is VERY messed up. We're spiraling downwards. We care more about Paris Hilton getting out of jail and getting our nails done than people and countries who need to get help - Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Africa, )(and yes, even the) United States.

Well I think we should help both ourselves and other countries. But you know that saying "you must help yourself before you help others"? Well thats kind of true, so maybe we should try putting more focus on ourselves than other countries, but still help others

go_global, we are rebuilding New Orleans because almost no one believes that it is futile. Hurricanes have hit that region for millions of years, just like tornadoes have hit Kansas and earthquakes have hit Tokyo. To hold global warming to blame for Katrina is foolish - unless you think that global warming has been around forever. Global warming's turned into a scapegoat, a catchphrase. Global warming is causing hurricanes. Global warming killed my crops. Global warming ate my homework. Sometimes, nature itself is the cause.

To say that rebuilding New Orleans is pointless is almost bizarre - if that's so stupid, then why have we bothered to rebuild Tokyo? It's just going to get shook up again. Billions and billions of dollars have been shed on the environment already from this country, starting mostly in 1973 after the Arab Oil Embargo, when gas prices were even higher than they are now. What is the point? WHAT IS THE POINT!?

You know what ticks me off? People who applaud capitalism, but decide to laugh in its face when it works. America's success is only BECAUSE of capitalism. And do you know what celebrities are? People who have played the game well and won millions as a result. These are not millions that they stole from poor people. These are millions that they were payed by the companies that operate them, which were in turn given cash by theatergoers and advertisers and magazine-buyers. Sure, the money could be put to better use, but that's not how capitalism work. If you want to see every dime go to precisely the one who deserves it, move to China. Communism is more your style.

I don't agree. Although America has a few rough spots, we are still a high standing country with enormous power throughout the world. Like in Spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibilities"! A little cliche, but completely accurate. Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, yes, and there actually have been a lot of relief efforts by mission trips, social work organizations, and others from around the entire country. It probably will never be enough, of course, but in all honesty...what is the point in spending millions of dollars in rebuiliding an area that is going to get hit by another hurricane sooner or later? I believe that more money should be spent to educate people on global warming, and finding solutions to this problem, because it effects everyones lifestyles more than we realize. I also believe that since the U.S. is such a high-profile country, we should aid developing countries and suffering areas around the world even more. I'm not a supporter of the war in Iraq, but there are so many devastating events happening around the globe that can't be ignored. Those events mostly AREN'T from hurricanes and natural disasters, which can't be prevented, they are political and deal with human rights. That, we CAN help. We CAN solve, and we should.

Actually, you know what really ticks me off? The fact that random, un-important people are getting millions of dollars on game shows, for modeling, movies, television shows, and computerizing their non-talanted voices to make one-hit wonder CD's. Sure, a few of them are decent people who get involved with some good organizations, but honestly....that money could be put to a lot better use than buying couture and fancy cars. Just thought I'd state that.

It seems to me that the comparison between a human body and the body of Christians cited in the scriptures is apt here. We need eyes, arms, feet, mouth, ears, etc... for a body to function. By the same token we need people who are passionate about Africa, those who care about autistic children at home, others who protect the environment, etc...

A person will do the most good when they are passionate about what they are doing. I personally have not felt comfortable helping the mentally disabled. It is not that they are not worthy of help, it is simply that my make up does not feel comfortable around them. On the other hand, I have been more successful in working with the poor around the world through microfinance. I am equally passionate about protecting our natural environment. By focusing on where I have the most aptitude and desire, I feel that I am doing the most good. And, I remain very grateful to those who serve the mentally challenged.

The amount of foreign aid from the United States is a lesser percentage than almost every other developed country in the world. When the aid given to Israel in the form of weapons is subtracted, the number goes down even further. It is clear from the international aid data that we are not particularly generous when it comes to giving abroad.

i think we should focus on what is happening around everyone other than just our community who said we needed to chose. i think we should work on all communities than just concerning ourselves that is kind of selfish dont you think?

You ask what other countrie have done to help us (well the US)? Consider that most people in 3rd world countries live off of $30 a month. $30 is nothing to us here. So if we send a 3rd world family $30 rather than blowing it on things we dont need in america, we've provided them with a month worth of living. They could maybe save $30 a year to send to us, which isn't much help to our billion dollar problems and deprives them of neccessities.

<3

America helps other countries...but since when has any other country donated money to help the starving kids in OUR streets?

I don't necessarily think that foreign aid should be stopped, but it should be DRASTICALLY reduced. If Europe hates us, and China means that we are no longer the only superpower, and if our country is supposedly divided over Iraq, then who says that it's us who should be giving to others? If our country is in as much trouble as the media and (dare I say) liberals say it is, then we are in no position to help anyone but ourselves.

Hah. I don't think America is that messed up. We're still the big dawgs on the global block. But we do NOT have any responsibility to help any other country. None. If we had such a responsibility, then so would every other free nation - yet we give much, much more than they do. We aren't morally superior to anyone. We don't have a responsibility to help anyone except ourselves. Anything else we do is extra.

Well, I don't think you need to choose and we don't have to. We need to try to help everyone. We have some people helping only America and others only helping Africa. Without helping ourselves we can't help anyone, so we need to make sure we're stable and helping ourselves, but the people in Africa need it more than we do. Africa needs desperate assistance, but we can't just give everything to them of what we own. I know that's not what you mean. We need to make sure we can still provide for ourselves when helping others.