The Generosity of the United States

     I find it ironic that worldwide view of the United States is so negative.  We hear it all the time, that Americans are greedy, fat, stupid, lazy and egocentric.  But then, something terrible happens that rocks the world.  Haiti is reduced to a pile of ruble by a 7.0 earthquake.  At count, 200,000 people died in this natural disaster.  

     So what happened,  The U.S. government pledged $100 million dollars(which the government  doesn't have).  But what really opened my eyes was the amount of money that has poured in from everyday Americans.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, Americans and charitable organizations have raised $457 million dollars so far, and the money keeps pouring in.  That does not sound like the same Americans we hear about overseas and in the media to me.  If these charitable acts of the American people does not restore your faith in humanity, I don't know what will.  I know around the world that millions of dollars are also pouring in.  

     Compassion is alive and well, within the boundaries of the United States as well as the rest of the world.  It is too bad that it takes a tragedy like Haiti to bring the world closer together.