Once again, to no one's surprise, the U.S. government was at the front of the column of massive relief pouring into earthquake-devastated Haiti—mobile hospital units, food, fuel, military security units, rescuers for searching through debris and $100 million in initial cash.
Whether bringing comfort to victims of a Pacific tsunami, a Turkish earthquake, African famine or terrorism in Afghanistan, American government and private aid are Johnny-on-the-spot with no questions asked.
Humanitarianism is a major pillar of the U.S. culture and character, even in times when the country's own resources are scarce and stretched thin by domestic demands brought on by a record economic recession and war.
If the rest of the world is aware and grateful for this spontaneous and unconditional reaction to the desperation of others, leave it to that rare, dark and despicably callous voice to distort American beneficence into political motive. The acknowledged conscience of America's Far Right, Rush Limbaugh, dismisses President Obama's lightning-fast aid to Haiti as an attempt to buy political points with black Americans.
How obscenely inhumane, given the spectacle of the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation's suffering 50,000 to 100,000 dead and 3 million of its 9 million wretchedly impoverished people touched painfully by the earthquake horror.
Except for the grotesque racist hostility of a few, most Americans will show their pride—and charitable giving—by providing comfort and aid to a stricken nation, regardless of its people's skin color.
