U.S. CITIES WITH POPULATION AROUND 100,000

Lafayette, LA is about an hour northwest of me and is considered the big city to the west for our area. Perspective enough for one day….

One person killed is too many. Add to the 100,000, all the people’s lives that have been turned upside down and their loss of loved ones. In so many ways, we are really such a small world. I wish we could get to a point where we are just humans, humans who need and protect each other. 100,000 or one.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

That number is just extremely hard to fathom until you get a visual like this! Thanks!!

This is so very SAD. I feel so bad for the people. I hope they are getting food and water.

Tim
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

How sad. My heart goes out to everyone in Myanmar.

Since I am originally from the Lafayette, Louisiana area, it scares the heck out of me.

I hope the government allows aid to come into this ravaged city. May God’s people stand in prayer for this asian country.

100,000 is indeed A LOT of people! The idea of Burbank disappearing overnight is nearly unfathomable for me.

Wow!

Thank you for this–really brings it home. I am currently posting this from Berkeley, CA…to imagine a city of this size completely off the map definitely quantifies things for me.

I live in Bellevue, Washington. It’s indeed a very scary thought, also frustrating that the Burmese government is being so stubborn

Numbers is one thing, but there is a human dimension that is difficult to express – imagine a people who has no expectations of aid, no sense of entitlement to helping hands, and the ingrained acceptance that they, alone, will need to pick themselves by the bootstraps and mourn their loss in silence. Just like Anderson Cooper, I’m applying for a visa to Burma. sitting around just seems irresponsible, when I know I have so much, and they have nothing.

Thanks for the visual…it is just so sad and unbelievable!
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims!

Jesus, I’m a highschool senior in San Francisco. Goodbye Berkeley? woah.

It is very sad that Mother Nature can be so destructive with so many lives lost and homes destroyed This makes Katrina seem mild.

Very clever- I was trying to get a grasp on that number and you laid it right out there for me. Thank you. Perhaps we could use this kind of comparison with the genocide in Darfur and other mass atrocities. It could also be very sobering.

Nothing like a little perspective – thanks David for the illustration. Even with your illustration I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the estimate of 100,000 killed. Those poor people….

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

I do not appreciate that CNN refers to Burma as “Myanmar”. The U.S. government does not recognize that name as it legitimizes a militant regime. I feel that CNN’s referring to Burma as Myanmar is a way of showing its supportive of the military junta that is enslaving the Burmese people. Shame on you!

THE ONLY OPTION ,I SEE IS FOR HILLARY CLINTON TO GO NUCLEAR… QUIT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, AND RUN AS A INDEPENDENT!!! SHE WOULD WIN BIG TIME IN THE GENERAL

So little words….. so much said

San Francisco, Ca

It is as if the tidal wave from a few years ago that killed over 100,000 has happened again. No, in this country we cannot imagine the devastation………..really terrible.

“It is very sad that Mother Nature can be so destructive with so many lives lost and homes destroyed This makes Katrina seem mild.”

The part about Katrina that was catastrophic was the government’s response.

It will be something the Bush administration and the state & local govts should always be ashamed of.

So the difference is – we had the resources right here – right in our own backyards and it didn’t get to these poor people!

The government (through negligence) let those people suffer! So it was terrible for different reasons. For that to happen in the US will never be acceptable. For initial aid to take days to get to New Orleans was just not right.

The number also works out to 4 or 5 fully packed NBA arenas. Or two sold out NFL stadiums. It’s a big number.

No matter how close we can get our imagination to visualize what the death of 100,000 people looks like, we cannot even get close to the level of grief that is in the hearts of each and every person who is directly related to those who died. The loss is dreadful, from mothers who lost their infants, to infants who were orphaned, to families that vanished, and most importantly to identities that had been shaken by the severity of this crisis.

For ONCE America has a chance to get it right! JUST DO IT! With a million people starving to death and bodies rotting in the streets, the world will finally applaud an invasion.
You know the good Samaritan rule? You can’t break into a house, but if it’s on fire you can break to rescue lives.
I’m not an historian. I don’t know the whole list of American invasions that were second guessed or wrong. Late entry into WW2, VietNam, Chile, Iraq times 2. Anybody remember Croatia and Serbia, and haven’t there been a some Central American operations.
The Americans have a relief fleet in the area and helicopters in Thailand. The USA are letting people starve to death because some petty dictator won’t give his permission to assist!? I give you permission! Go in and save some lives!
Let the dictator have a tantrum!
Wagons ho!!!!
GO GO GO! or sit on your thumbs like you did after Katrina?
GO

100,000 men, women, and children dead. Sad, and tragic. Some god huh?

Abilene Texas has a population of around 150,000. That would be like wiping the entire city out. It scares the crap out of me.

When I teach about disasters, I use Katrina and 9/11 as a unit of easement since we lost about 2,000 citizens in both. For students, that is the only way they can gauge the number in terms of disaster rather than just people. That makes this storm in Burma, as well as the Tsunami, each as devastating as 50 Katrinas, or a more extreme way of looking at it is; they are both the equivalent of a Katrina hitting each state at the same time, and not only killing huge number of people in each, but also leaving obscene numbers of people homeless and without water and power. For me that hits home a lot more than saying Green Bay disappeared.

junta junta …military evil….there uglyness brought this act of god…to show there ugly face and to awaken the world to what evil a junta does
!

It is not only 100,000 innocent victims of Nature’s vengeance because of the man’s greed in screwing with Mother Nature (deforestation, etc.). There are going to be at least 2 to 3 times of that in the next few months because of poor drainage, water borne diseases, lack of facilities to properly dispose of these 100,000+ corpses. I hope the ego, politics, etc are dumped into the sewer, and let the humanity take its course and help the innocent victims. How come there are no 911.org, Tsunami.org, Karina.org type organizations to help these victims?

Way To Go !!!!!! That does drive it home…thank you

Wow. I live in Fayetteville, NC and this visual really hits home. Equivalent to our WHOLE town. God bless the survivors.

This is an extreme tragedy that deserves the full attention of the United States and other countries. We should be sending food, building supplies, engineers, and doctors and nurses right away, and in great quantities. But, since there is nothing in Myanmar that we really want, such as oil, most likely none of this will happen.

This may sound cold, but 100,000 deaths doesn’t completely surprise me. The Myanmar infrastructure and public services aren’t capable of resisting such a strong natural force and the public is susceptible to high death tolls. What will surprise me is how much more the toll will climb because of the posturing of the Myanmar government over letting foreign aid in. Many countries are prepared to forward incredible relief efforts to assist the survivors and are met with resistance. The death toll could easily double or even triple or more in the next few weeks because of this. Can you imagine St. Louis or Pittsburgh or Salt Lake City vanishing over a period of days?

A 100,000 lost to a natural disaster is a catastrophe. One person lost because of a government that is incapable or worse, unwilling, is a crime against humanity. How many more victims will die as are result of feet dragging, bureaucracy and incompetence? These are the times when the elements of the UN need to unite and help the people of a nation even in the face of an unwilling host nation government.

ann arbor caught my attention actually. Imagine the Big House on a saturday for a Michigan University football game. That stadium fits a lil over 100k..imagine all those people gone..a catastrophic disaster

This is a tragedy. And another tragedy is blaming the Bush Administration for the slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Whatever happened to self-reliance and personal responsibility? What is truly tragic is that the EXACT same people who complain about Government want more of it. Think about it.

I live in a town next to Waterbury, CT – I cannot imagine the entire city of Waterbury being destroyed by water and wind. Thank you for giving us the perspective on how destructive this was. Prayers for the survivors and those who are trying so desperately to get into the area to help are very much needed.

10 die in that country when it rains.

Overpopulate an area so that they are living in shanties on the beach, add water = dead.

Its just a matter of time til it does “hit home.”

About two more generations of a single couple producing 5 or more children.

Do we really feel that there are more weather related disasters or is it just the fact that there are more people living in areas that until recently did not have a population that would cause anyone to notice when they were wiped out.

Harsh words or reality?

Its been said already in these notes, this makes the SECOND 100k+ death toll in that area in recent history.

Will we all get outraged and sympathetic when it happens again within 2 years?

This is a tragedy. The other half is the delay in getting in aid to these people…the survivors are the victims now.

Well said Gary… but here is another perspective (and it may hit even closer to home). Myanmar (or Burma if you prefer) is a major exporter of rice, and lost a major portion of it’s rice-growing region. Not only will it affect that country, it will affect the entire planet. Kind of brings it home to me how connected we all are.
My heart and prayers go out to these people; and the dictatorship should be dragged out of it’s palaces and handed to the people who suffer so much.

There are times when you question the purpose of a government. If it cannot take care of its own people in times of emergency, then it needs to step aside. It is clear that the government in Burma is an irresponsible group of incompetent and paranoid men who do not deserve to lead that country.

If the United Nations had any courage, it would declare the Burmese government defunct and take over.

This is an outrage!

What gets me is, if Myanmar doesn’t get rolling on the humanitarian aid, we might be looking at a MUCH larger death toll when starvation, cholera, malaria and other diseases set in. What about the people who have survived the initial disaster, but are elderly, very young or have compromised health? What happens to those people? Get over the politics and help your people!

At what point are we able to say that this Govt. is not capable of protecting its people and may be found negligent in this case and charged with crimes against humanity.

At the risk of comparing one tragedy to the next which is in noway productive to the those at “ground zero”, I must reply to one of the commenters and say, “No, this does not make Katrina seem “mild” “. When you compare Myanmar (Burma) and the US on home structure, the ability to warn people of potential storms, the ability to rescue those in need and the financial resources to recover from such a calamity it does not make Katrina seem mild it makes it even more apparent that there was a major, major problem with the US governments response (on all levels) to the disaster that STILL IS Katrina.

This is very sad, that number is huge.

To describe the 100,000 death toll disaster with a visual map for Americans to comprehend is a very good start. It is now up to Americans to figure out if they have the will to open the eyes to their hearts to make a difference. We can stand behind our great country thinking the best is what we are but the reality is disaster has already hit us as a nation. This tragedy continues today and will continue tomorrow. We just have to try to make a difference with action. And our constitution allows us to have rights that people around the world never realize in their lifetimes. I pray for our country in its dark hour of truth and justice.

Shocking! I just count my blessings every day because it could happen to us anytime — My prayers for all the one’s suffering and having lost loved ones.

It is sad to see this kind of devastation. Yes, 100,000 is a astronomical number to take in but it is small in comparison to the big picture here. That is that this planet is sick and it is going to fix itself with or without us here.

Wow…I am a teacher in Lafayette, Louisiana! I just showed my high school students this on the overhead projector and told them to imagine leaving school and not seeing a single person on the road, in stores, or even in your own home. It really hit home to them as to how much 100,000 people actually is! Thanks so much for this visual representation!

Wow. That brings it home

6.4 Billion people on the planet, everyone of them will be dead in 100 years. Of course, another 9 billion or so will have taken their place, but the numbers show that over 175,000 people die on the planet every day. ANY future disaster in any populated area statisticly demands that more people will be affected. I would say we need to get used to these types of death tolls or we will be in a constant state of depression and overwhelming empathy.

Your illustrations makes me imagine how one city of 100K people become a no mans land overnight……THIS SCARES A HECK OUT OF ME……but if you think about it, I guess it’s pay back time for mother nature….We did a lot of things to destroy our environment for quite a while now and this catastrophe is sort of a reminder to us all that mother nature can also destroy us if she wishes to! This is a wake up call to all of us……poor Burmese brothers/ sisters!

100,000 people are dead. Natural disasters happen and foreign aid does not bring people back to life. We can’t prevent these from happening, and we can’t protect 3rd world nations who do not have proper transportation and communications to evacuate their population. These deadly storms can easily be detected 36hours out. That is why this comparison to the U.S. is unrealistic, at least those cities would evacuate before they were hit. Realistically Katrina was bad, but it could have been much worse then it was without the preliminary evacuations. The people who stayed behind in their homes took their own risks.

Also anyone who thinks that natural disasters are a result of “cutting down trees” and CO2 emissions needs to get their head checked. There is just zero evidence for this. History has shown that disasters happen, and our reliable recorded weather history barely goes back 200 years…and our planet is millions of years old…and we think we know what our average # of storms and guage their severity based on what has been recorded “lately”. History has also shown that our planet goes through various climate patterns and phases every couple hundred years, accompanied by a increased amount of natural disasters during the phase change.

I consider 100,000 people to be catastrophic, but instead of us swooping in to help after they are dead maybe we should fly in the aid before the storm and help them evacuate instead of cleaning up the mess.

In response to Richard’s comment above:
I highly agree that 100,000 men, women, and children is tragic and beyond sad. As to the comment “some god huh?” I would say that you’re right, he is some God. Obviously I am noting the sarcasm used in your comment.
The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the universe we inhabit. Everything in Creation is subject to devastation and tragedy, Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.
Why did God “allow” Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of hundreds of thousands of people? What we can know is this…God is good! There are many amazing miracles, in instances of natural disaster, that occurred – preventing an even greater loss of life.
God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies.

Since the USA is about 6 times as populous as Myanmar, to the US it would be like six of these cities being wiped out.

does anyone remember? 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake – 229,000 dead, 2005 Kashmir earthquake -79,000 dead, 150,000 dead in Iraq war. This list has no beginning and no end. 99% will say “Wow! that’s a lot of people” and will forget it by tomorrow’s breakfast. people are ignorant and no blog can change it. death of one is tradegy, death of many – statistics.

I went to Myanmar several years ago and it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The ordinary citizens were like angels, incredibly humble and gracious and so selfless. We in the West could learn a lot from the Burmese.

Richard said at May 8th, 2008 11:36 am ET – “100,000 men, women, and children dead. Sad, and tragic. Some god huh?”

If there was no God, this sort of event would really show you how small and insignificant we are in a harsh, purpose-less universe. However, belief in the Lord, comforts those of faith. The dead have been gathered to their people. Christians believe that if a person accepts God’s love and forgiveness, then these 100,000 people could be happier today than a week ago. They are alive, have bodies, and are living in a real, physical paradise with God. Some God! I will praise you in the storm!

We will keep you in our prayers Myanmar.

I feel bad for the people of Myanmar, however, I look at this as the world’s way of trying to fix the problems we have created. Over population is one of the earths biggest problems and its only getting worse. People should be more aware of the area they live in the inherent dangers it may pose. The people of Hurricane Katrina were living below sea level and common sense would lead one to believe that this is an inherent danger. My beliefs have nothing to do with race or social status. I will feel the same way when Manhattan starts to sink as the worlds oceans rise and when Los Angelas falls into the Sna Andreas fault.

I cant imagine a city like Cambridge, MA dissapearing from the map. I have close friends who live there and I would truly be devastated if anything like that happened here. This comparion does drive it home for me! God bless the people of Mayanmar. -OSR-

This is just sad….unimaginable!!

Why is it that we are sending them aid? Why can’t they use this catastrophe as a wake up call? Rise up against their government, build a society that is self-sufficient? I don’t want to sound cruel but, would it not be better to let them learn to use a fishing rod rather than to keep sending them fish?

With a world population of nearly 7 billion, the loss of 100,000 people is insignificant. Monies would be better spent helping them create an autonomous society so that they can fend for themselves.

If we keep sending them aid, will they never learn?

I know this may not be the exact forum for my comment, but listening to the news of this catastrophe has been both sad and frustrating. Frustrating because no one is talking about the elephant in the room here. As all of you may have heard, the government of Burma is not issuing visas to foreign aid workers at all, or at least not in a timely manner. I have heard scores of journalists speculate on why this may be and ususally their answer is that this is just “a strange country.” Anyone who has studied the recent history of Burma knows that the government is waging a campaign of genocide against its ethnic minorities, particularly the Karen people. The delta most affected by this natural disaster is predominantly populated by the Karen people. It is no mystery why the Burmese government is slow to respond, the victims of the cyclone are the very same poeple the Burmese government has been trying to eradicate for decades. The government of Burma has no real incentive to help these poor victims. Think Katrina to the tenth power.

Imagine the University of Michigan or University of Tennessee football stadiums filled to capacity …. but with children and babies occupying 50% of the seats. Each venue holds over 100,000. This tragedy is compounded by the evil of the military leaders of Myanmar.

We could do without Berkeley, CA. (jk)

Seriously, the tragedy of the situation is the government that won’t allow the humanitarian response that is needed in that catastrophe. They will make this tragedy worse than it already is.

I had the same thoughts that Gary Chandler from Canada had. Invasion!! At least it would be an invasion with good reason. I grew up in Fayetteville, NC as as army brat, Anderson’s visual puts the numbers into perspective. Unbelievable!!!

I get chastised by my liberal friends about how the US is always intervening in the affairs of other countries, mostly referring to our policy in Iraq. Now they seem to have forgotten that – we aren’t wanted in Myanmar and have been told specifically to stay out – but they don’t want to. Is the suffering of the people in Myanmar different than all the people who suffered under Hussein in Iraq?

Back there, people are really poor and they can’t afford any furniture and live in huts built around 4 wooden poles and stitched with palm leaves. Wind over 150MPH and rising tides are just like instant death sentence from many people. And people who are left alive just doesn’t have anything at all, no farm, no fishing boats, no cattle.

All because the military junta negelected their basic needs and left them poor. Now they don’t let American supply planes into the country.

I wonder if there is any UN clause that allows UN to enter a country forcefully on humanitarian grounds;especially when you have a regime like the one you have in Burma? Agreed 100000 died but there are probably 400K or 500K humans left in the affected area who face disease and death due to lack of food,clothing,shelter and the danger of epidemics like cholera,malaria…etc is the world going to watch while a civilization rots away or are we going to do something about this?

How devastating. I just hope help gets to the survivors and FAST!

I think Sven had a good idea. If people have a bad government sooner or later they will be able to overcome it. It’s not our job to go in and “rescue” them.ie Iraq.

All you bleeding heart people should ask the real qusestion…. Why with two days notice, did no one warn these people and have them prepare for the storm????? And do you really think the aid you send will go to these people or to their oppressive government…..

News from Radio Free Asia confrimed that the ruling Generals are aiding their names on the Relief Food packages from Thai, as they are the one whose supporting the people. Shame…..

Now that many of you have realized how terrible of a loss has occurred in Burma, why not do something to help. I just donated $50 to World Vision which has provided aid in the country for more than 40 years and was specifically asked by the ruling junta to help cyclone survivors. If we really care we should be moved to act. Although its not alot of money if thousands more at least do something our collective efforts will amount to something great that can save the lives of thousands who are in need.

I feel very sorry for this happening, I feel very sorry for the people of Iraq, I feel very sorry for all the down and out, hopeless of the world… but, i live in america, and we have just as much tradegy, suffering, forgotten people, hungry children, in just about any location of teh United States. When are we going to stop allowing our hard earned wages and resoursces taken from our mouths, to help the masses elsewhere. Where are the Saudi’s with aid for the needy of the world, when are all of the billions OWED to the United states in loans, maybe we should allocate a couple of weeks of the Bush War Chest, to help our own first, then we can help others.

This is truly the worst diaster I’ve seen in my life time but at the same time it’s not for me to ask why. I can’t see how some of this magnitude could have been avoided.

As bad as I believe that tragedy is, I do see a touch of irony in the US voicing complaint that they are not allowing aid in. The US refused tons of foreign aid during Katrina. Not just supplies but the offer of rescue workers, etc. The reasoning was that we had no protocol for accepting aid like that from foreign countries. That being said, there should just be a focus on help and not on condemnation for a govt ill equipped to handle the situation, ill equipped to help themselves. After all our own track record is not so great on this.

From reading a number of these comments, I can see that our existence on this earth has been a lucky existence. Luck to see that America, with all its grace bestowed on it, harbors shallow attitudes from it American populace. On one hand there are those that send out their prayers for the afflicted. And on the other, those that don’t give a rats a_s. This tragedy is a message we did not comprehend the first time around with the
Indonesian Tsunami. After seeing such peril, those that feel they are untouchable have close their hearts to the truth. We are not gods, but children of a higher being, that is where the truth lies. Not in shortsighted selfish attitudes.

We (USA) are always so willing to help others, even when they don’t want it. How about we start taking care of our own people?????

Sad to see so many people die. May all souls rest in peace…Thanks for the analogy..

As sad as this is, it’s disgusting to see how apathetic people are to the disaster. On fark.com, only one thread has been posted about the cyclone, and people used the opportunity to talk about Battlestar Galactica. Any attempts to change the conversation to this horrid disaster were met with scorn and ridicule.

Seems we as americans are turning our backs on the problems of the world more and more. Just because it’s on the other side of the world apparently gives us reason to crack jokes about it and act like it never happened.

If the world powers want to flex their muscles now is the time!!!!

They are the best at fighting a war or humanitarian aid, which would you pick to spend millions on?

I hate to say this, but 100,000 people to the junta means their military gets to take a vacation–from their regular killing spree. Something has to be done about this junta– and this devastation is unreal– the satellite photos are very telling. I just hope China can convince them to let aid workers in– this is just horrible.

It’s really insane, Burmese government still hesitates to grant visa to aid teams to enter into country even though they (gov) are not able to help the people in need by themselves. No matter how people are suffering, they only think for their own good, in other words, to hold the power, rule the country and hide their harsh dictatorship. They can seal the mouths of its own people by gun and prison but they are not able to control foreigners and aid teams members. That’s why, they are not letting them to enter into country. I don’t know why UN is so patient. It’s 100,000 lives already!! Please decide something to help people in there as soon as possible, before death toll doubling or tripling. Don’t wait to throw that military regime by international forces. They are not worth to try diplomatically.

I love how our government shakes it’s fist at Burma’s (proper name) junta for lack-luster response to this disaster. Where were these pecker-heads when Katrina hit the south?! I know, if Katrina had blasted the U.S. northeast or the west coast then that would have been worthy of a better response; the south is still getting kicked in the 21st century. I like that “we” are trying to help the Burmese people, I just hate our governments double standards…

For delkid, please don’t say that about global warming! That is the only way to get people to reduce, reuse and recycle! Even if it is just another earth cycle, people still need to quit using and throwing away. We take for granted so much and will eventually pay for it in one way or another. As far as the cyclone victims are concerned, it’s a horific loss of life but natural disasters are going to happen no matter what we try to do about it. All we can do is heed the warnings, if any were given, and take responisibility for the consequences of our actions. Death is a necessary part of life and there is no avoiding it. We can be there to help rebuild but can’t be everywhere at once.

This is absolutely incredible. AC, are you heading over to do some investigative reporting? I hope he does because they do such a great job of covering all the angles and at the same time attract interest which creates a global response. Keep up the hard hitting style of news AC 360! Stories need to be told with facts in mind, not spin.

This should be an eye opener for all Americans about how we have become viewed in the eyes around the world. They have a horrific tragedy on their hands, and when we try to reach out with aid – they say no thanks. Our image needs repaired !

CNN needs to analyze what humanitarian assistance means. It is assistance provided under the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality. That means no military support, and no political posturing against the government in Myanmar.

A key problem here is that the US and apparently now France are politically positioning on the delivery of humanitarian aid. This aid must arrive very quickly, and the Myanmar military junta must be convinced that there is no secondary ‘agenda’ in order to allow that aid to come. President Bush’s offer of $3 million is minimal, and the offer of US Navy assistance is provocative. The use of military in these situations should be avoided, the only thing of importance is getting aid to the people of Myanmar who my die without it. Criticizing the government is something that may sound fine to Bush or Sarkozy, but now is NOT the time. Sarkozy has even gone so far as to propose ‘forcible’ assistance by the UN. So the UN should invade Mynamar? How prepostourous, even were it an option it is entirely unfeasible given that we need aid there in 1 or 2 days. Now UN workers are in danger of being seen as the forefront of a military invasion by paranoid junta members. With each passing comment fewer visas will be expedited.

The response by the US Government is awful – $250,000. You have 350,000,000 people, could you all not give $1. Canada has only 35,000,000 people and have given 8 times what the US. Sadness does not help, AID can!

Knowing what we went through here in NOLA, it is sad to see another country go through something like this and what’s worse, of such a magnitude and to a people already hurting so because of the unethical, oppressive regime under which they live. My prayers go to them and that their officials let in the badly needed aid. New Orleanians know first hand – TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

I feel for the children caught in this situation. I fear

When a government displays a complete lack of regard in caring for its people as this government has, it is a moral imperative for the international community to come together and use all means necessary to come in and provide that care for the people. I pray that men and women of courage (in leadership here and internationally) will do just this. Every moment counts. ( I’ve been sad to see how narcicistic we as a nation in the US have been with our preoccupation over our Democratic primary soap opera! )

It’s a sad situation going on in Myanmar right now with all the devastation from the cyclone. But it is more sad that the government of that country will not let U.S. aid planes land to deliver needed supplies. It’s times like this where I say, if they don’t want our help, then we should honor their wishes, but don’t ask for our help for anything in the future.

Counting my many blessings everyday

Maybe it will help put into perspective the 650,000 plus Iraqis killed since 2003. That was a result of simply delivering democracy.

If this is the worst disaster some people have ever seen in their life, they have short memories.

Annie- let’s keep in mind that the US has many enemies that would like to do us harm, and a lack of protocol for allowing folks into the country would provide an increased security risk. I’m certainly not defending the handling, or mis-handling, of Katrina. Those issues are well-documented.

One single act of nature and a loss of 100,000+ lives. It is shocking and makes for great photos for the media. What about the hundreds of thousands of lives lost annually in the United States to cancer and yet our leadership continues to cut cancer research funds and turn their backs on the opportunities and cures that stem cell treatments can provide. What is more shocking – that our own let 100,000 die one at a time? Long miserable deaths? Or that nature takes 100,000 quickly in one punch? Seems to me that nature is almost the kinder killer of the two.

Could it be that the country of Burma is slowing the aid because it sees this as an easy way of removing the unwanted from its land?

First of all, there NOT 100,000 dead. An official simply said that the death toll COULD reach that number. It hasn’t happened yet.

Secondly, the mere idea of the military junta stalling visas is paramount to genocide. This should be reason enough for the UN Security Council to pass a resolution authorizing military action to oust this regime. Burma should be free to choose their own government. One that will protect and respond to disasters like this one.

I feel terrible for these people. I feel terrible for all people experiencing such grief and tragedy but America is suffering as well, only our government is ignoring it. We have people losing their homes. Those people have children. School aged children and perhaps even younger. But no one talks about this. No one talks about the rise in requests for federal aid, be it in welfare or WIC program. I know this may sound terrible but before we go giving away billions to other countries, how about taking care of our own first? We have homeless war veterens begging for money. We have children living on the streets. As a parent I know if I do not have enough money to feed my own family, I cannot possibly help another.

Our politicians have no right to criticize — Look how FEMA handled New Orleans. We should be reaching out to their government and not verbally attacking them. Maybe then they would accept our aid offers.

I am from burma but i don’t have any of my family member living in the lower part of the country. I do feel the pain for the victims and I feel very angry by the government not letting the aid come in. I am sure many people are hoping for the foreign aid. I am speechless how inhumane the military government is. this is not the time to discuss, this is the time to act. Can UN force the military for the sake of the victims. people don’t have much time. I bet the military government will not care about the victims whether 100000 or more fatalities. Believe me because I am from burma. So, I’d like to urge UN or the other powerful organizations to force the government to allow international aids to the country to save the victims. otherwise, i can only imagine the worse. so please help them.

Reply to Gary Chandler in Canada

Why are you talking about what the USA should do to help and “giving your permission” like we asked for it. What was the last thing productive Canada did on the world stage? Sit back and gripe about America is pretty much all it adds up to.

Everybody (including way too many Americans) want to complain about the American government and blame America for all the worlds’ troubles, but you always want big old America to jump in and save the day to every tragedy around the world.

Give me a break.

As much as my heart goes out to the people of Myanmar and all the lives lost, I can’t help but see how hypocritical the US government is acting in this situation. As soon as word of this tragedy hit, First Lady Laura Bush was on television, begging the government of Burma to allow aid into the country. Yet, this government was so slow to react when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As horrible as the cyclone was, this goveernment is still not giving New Orleans what it needs to completely recover from Katrina. Lets do all we can to help the people of Myanmar, but lets not forget about our own citizens still struggling to recover from a hurricane that occurred over two and half years ago

We need to go in with or without the people holding the guns permission. Period. They wanted democracy a couple months ago and we did nothing about it and now they are dying and we are doing nothing about it.

We offered 3.25 million dollars to them, is that a joke??

The United States of America is turning into the most pathetic country in the world. Hypocrisy and no morals seem to be the standing virtue of American Government. Shame on us. Shame on us.

Numbers are overinflated….I’ll put good money on it that this “country” if you can call it that has not held a true census ever. Another spin by the press.

Per my conversation with my relatives in Rangoon, the people there believe that the current death toll is higher than 100,000. If the victims don’t get any aid soon, the toll will rise dramatically. The situation there is absolutely unimaginable. Thanks to CNN Dan Rivers and journalists to bring the truth to the world. The images and news will pressure on the inhumane government to cooperate with the international community.

To put this in human perspective, all you need is one mother mourning the loss of one child. Regardless of where, how, or why it happened, we humans have an obligation to help those in need. Katrina, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and monsoons. Help the living recover. Action is needed NOW. Prayers are good, but money, effort and labor are the requirements NOW. Invade- land the planes, feed the victims, vaccinate everyone and help bury or burn the dead!
Don’t rave about Americans versus any other nationality, Don’t rant about global warming. Don’t pine about an uncaring government. Do the right thing NOW.

Donate money to any charity listed. Give excess clothing to the Goodwill, Salvation Army or church of your choice. Give of yourself and help. Your one hour of time, your one pledge of 10 dollars, your one bag of clothing helps God wipe a million tears. HELP NOW, bicker later about how to stop the next one.

The Ruling Military Class is very afraid. When turmoil natural or man made devastates a country or region then there is a unit of vulnerability that exists. This vulnerability can be utilized for infiltration by any nation that might have an interest in this region. So with that said the ruling military is afraid that with aid from any part of the World maybe a point of entry to topple this ruling class or infiltrate this country via unorthodox means.

Why don’t we get a similar visual for how many people have died in Iraq?

U.S doesn’t have to air drop its aid. It is very dangerous and inefficient. Since three U.S military aircrafts carrying relief materials are already in Thailand, it could also request the Thai Royal Air Force to transport them to Burma. Yes, it will take a bit longer but it may be the most efficient and least risky way to send the relief assistance to Burma.

Charities are flawed, as has been shown in recent disasters. How does any charity account to where money goes or that it even gets used for a certain purpose? I could donate but with the government denying assistance sending products/goods or whatever to the borders is useless next to mounting money reserves of charities waiting to send. The next thing you know, the money you gave is unaccounted for. This isnt me being selfish. It is me being realistic. We give for so many outworld events but cant even save ourselves in the middle of the greatest crisis. We dont get the outside assistance either. We are often left to fend for ourselves.

Many parts of me may be hardened by the state of Illinois’s scandel problems and other issues in my fed government. I dont need someone telling me I am a bad person for not sending something that likely wont get beyond someones pocket if Myanmar’s government doesnt face that they cant protect thier people like any other nation on the globe. If people are tight on money, they are tight on money. The U.S. is severly TIGHT on money. We are borrowing from everyone else.

People are not required to give to every last charity in order to be decent human beings. I already give to charities where I know it will benefit people that truly need it and they get it. The likes of heaven dont demand that I be a fool, but they do demand that I be smart so I can keep giving in the best capacities.

It’s called population cleansing…

I am an immigrant from Burma. It has been 21 long years since I left Burma and miss her a lot. Now, I have a very heavy heart seeing so many lives were lost. Most likely, I do not know them but I am seeing the faces. Come to think of it, I was not given a chance to leave 21 years ago; I could have been one of those numbers. These simple people have little in their lives and they have lost a lot. Think of the village of 400 where only 4 survived. To add on that, I feel a deep sorrow for the fact that current military Junta is not allowing much needed help from outside.

Burma needs help in all fronts. This disaster is just one example. It is a big lost for the country. A sane government (elected or not) should take rational action in this kind of situation for the sake of the people.

Glad I was born in the most powerful and stable country in the world. Couldn’t imagine the daily hell these people go through over there.

Nothing is going to change though, we’ll give aid and still remain hated and then next year another cyclone will come through killing yet another 1000’s more and we’ll give aid again then to.

I agree with Jay. Why are we forcing help on people who don’t want it? We have plenty of children right here in this country that will go to bed hungry tonight, haven’t seen a dentist or doctor in years, and don’t have access to the educational materials needed to succeed. Many of them will sleep in cold beds because their parents (or parent in many cases) can’t afford to turn the heat on. It is always politically correct to help during and after tragedy, but we have our own tragedies brewing here. And we have past incidents that still need to be fully addressed – Katrina & Rita victims and tornado victims ( as recently as today) still homeless. I think this whole country is ADHD – we can only concentrate on one thing and only for about three minutes. What will tomorrow’s “cause” be?

My heart goes out to those poor people in that region because I survived Hurricane Katrina. We left before the storm, but we had friends and relatives that stayed behind.

I cringe when I hear our own U. S. government leaders so appalled at the Burma’s government “no or slow” response to help the people. To me, the U. S. was guilty of failing to provide swift aid to those Americans who where dying and suffering days after Hurricane Katrina. Our government’s, local, state and federal played a power struggle game with people lives to see who would flinch. It took the president 5 days before he even acknowledged Katrina’s devastation. Aid should have come sooner and not with strings attached. Aid that should have taken hours took days. Some people who died in New Orleans could have been saved. I shake my head when I hear how fast the military was able to mobilize to provide aid to a foreign nation that doesn’t want help when our own government wasn’t there for us. We do pay taxes in New Orleans.

I know the people of Burma desperately need help, but for the U. S to condemn Burma’s government for playing politics, is disgusting. That is just what they did in New Orleans while aid was being withheld to the people that needed help. We were not looking for a hand out; we were looking for a hand up out of the flooded waters.

Why are U.S and France so eager and insistent upon helping Burmese cyclone victims with their military (warships, helicopters and aircrafts)? They might not plan to invade the country. They just want to encourage the would-be protestors who want to overthrow the military government non-violently and to intimidate the generals if they plan to crack down.

Are we so shortsighted that we need a map to realize how much is 100,000 people?

The bottom line is if the Myanmar people will not overthrow there government themselves then this is the future they should come to get used to. Commonsense would tell me if my family members where all killed by the wrath of a cyclone and I was still alive with no food or shelter it’s time to overthrow the government. If the government continues to not allow food and aid especially from the UN then the only country who can do anything to sway the Hilter like regime would be china. And we all know china does not care about anything but China. Maybe the us could fire off a couple of tomhack cruise missile’s and perhaps wake up the regime in that country.

The Burmese government didn’t refuse the international humanitarian assistance for storm relief. It even humbly requested the assistance. It welcomes the assistance, but not the military aircrafts and navy warships from U.S.

Just the thoughts of U.S Navy warships and aircrafts send the shiver down my spine, man. The Burmese government wants the draft constitution to be approved in the referendum scheduled in two days. Their opponents want it to be rejected and U.S supports their opponents.

100,000 is 1/10th of the number of people who are without homes, food, clean water and sanitation in Burma’s Eastern border areas. The IDP’s also count forced labor, rape and murder on their list of misery! The SPDC is a more effective killer than any natural disaster.

While I feel sorry for the people of Myanmar, I don’t want to see more of our (U.S.) government resources going to another country while we in so much more need here in America. We have numerous people going hungry daily, millions are jobless right now and we want to help some southeast asian country that doesn’t even want to let us in to help. We need to stop being the police and the hospital of the world.

And for the people who want to compare this to Katrina, you all need to drop that line and realize the following: It is a much larger area than New Orleans, Louisiana area; and the population of NOLA is less than 10% the size of Myanmar; and lastly, the people of NOLA had many warnings (not that that is an excuse for our governments poor response) to evacuate which is a luxury some of the people of Myanmar never had due to the lack of technology is some areas.

Wow! It feels good to know that if anything like that ever happened here our government would respond immediately with unparalleled relief efforts. Our government would never just sit there and do noth….oh wait…um……..never mind.

Wow…I live near Allentown, Pennsylvania and to imagine the city destroyed is mind boggling. Thank you–the map helps put the situation into perspective.

My paternal great-grand father was from Burma and traveled in the late 19th century as a Indenture labor to the British colonies. Just the thought that I might have potential unknown family there.

I am surprised that Rev. Wright hasn’t come forward to tell the Burmese people that their chickens have come home to roost.

as i feel bad for all the family that has been lost and those still trying to come to some comprehension of what has happened, we tend to forget that our country suffered major devastation with katrina and how many people are still homeless and how many have yet to make it back because there is nothing for them. i understand the need for aid over there, but it seems we let our own country down in terms of aid a fews years ago and we still are.

Forget ‘em. If they don’t want the aid then tough. It would likely be squandered away by corrupt officials anyhow. Lets help our own first.

I have a question. When do acts, or inactions (as the case may be) rise to the level of “crimes against humanity”? We have seen this junta place the legitimately elected leader of the country (and Nobel Peace prize winner to boot) in custody for over 10 years, and the world has stood by. We have seen them bludgeon Bhuddist monks, and other demonstrators, to death, time and again, and the world has stood by. We have seen entire rural populations relocated, dispossessed and local cultures destroyed so as to construct a new capital city in the middle of nowhere, and the world has stood by.

Now we see this Cyclone. The junta had at least 2 days warning from Indian authorities (and from who knows who else?) and they did nothing…and tens of thousands have died. Now they are, for political expediency, resisting the infusion of aid, again for political reasons, and tens of thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands more) are going to die.

You cite estimates of 100,000 dead, but some other estimates are now reaching a half million people dead or about to die because of the Junta’s complete disregard for the lives of their people.

So, I ask again, when do we get to the stage at which there are crimes against humanity… crimes which are committed not just against the burmese but against all humanity as a species? Because there are multiple international treaties and conventions(such as the genocide Convention and the Rome Statute) which cover off such conduct and there is also customary international law which has a lot to say about mass killing on this scale.

But, if none of it is invoked; if China is able to block any effort to hold the Burmese accountable, I am left with my second question…of what use is international law, and of what use are all our glorious treaties and conventions?

Just asking.

So the Govt of Myanmar does not want our aid, they are afraid that Americans might foment unrest with the persecuted people of that country. I say we dont give it to them or even try to force it on them, only the people of that country can take their freedom back. The US should let the rest of the world take care of the problems for awhile.

I’ve been to Asia a couple of times and have seen how the locals live in good times. I can’t imagine how they are coping in these extreme situations.

In regards to robert (and not intended to be a direct criticism), in addition to urging this government to accept our support , I think it is critical for us to be introspective and realize that perhaps if myanmar doesnt want our help (even during this period of time) that maybe it is due to our general foreign policy in that and all regions of the world. Essentially, our willingness to help (as offered by the Bush administration) should not be viewed as unique in the eyes of the world nor should the resentment and reservation that such a country has towards us be. I find it appalling that we are loathed that much, that a government and country in this position would refuse aid.

when i heard 100000 i was thinking wow thats like all of green bay being gone( thats where i live) and then i saw it on the map, thats crazy talk. cnn get out of my head

I am in tears just thinking about what is taking place. My town is a little over 100 000 people. At the same time I am outraged at the thought that dictators can sit in there comfy homes while millions are suffering. It’s unimaginable. My heart and prayers goes out to all those that is suffering.

While I disagree with the ‘Wagons Ho’ approach of breaching a soveriegn nations borders, the historical references in the same post are interesting since it is a similar belief that General Pershing had in WWI that is holding much of the US aid in Thailand.
Because the US agencies will only operate as US agencies and not in concert with other world agencies, the aid sits until US agencies are given visas. The Myanmar government is fearful of letting US military equipment, including transports into their country, so the humane thing for the US to do here is to get the aid supplies to the Chinese or the Indian governments, who the Burmese ‘trust’.
Unfortunately, this robs the US government of the photo opportunities it craves, and the US people are misled into believing that there was no other option for their government to pursue. And yes, other governments are doing this…

Nyeinc,
I am Burmese by birth and American by choice. Please understand that all the junta wants from US is money. My mom used to say don’t give anything unless you can give whole heartedly. Well, I am not going to give the junta the money. But aid , absolutely. I have beeen in US for 28 years. I do also misss Burma whole a lot. I wish there is more I can do other than typing to message board for AC. God blessed the Burmese people and it is BURMA. I refused to accept the other name.

Ana writes:
“I wonder if there is any UN clause that allows UN to enter a country forcefully on humanitarian grounds;especially when you have a regime like the one you have in Burma?”

There is Ana. It’s just that no one has the “courage” (I’m tempering my tongue tremendously here…) to put it to the test because they’re afraid of setting a precedent. Our diplomats are more afraid of being proper than doing the right thing. Sometime’s doing the right thing means being very frank about your expectations.

How many years after Rwanda and we’re still dealing with a UN less effective than a boy scout troop? If there’s a bully on the block you’ve got to stand up to him, and sometimes that means bloodying his nose. Our leaders need to tell the UN that we expect them to invoke their discretion to use force.

Why do we continue to fund an organization that can’t be depended upon to stand up for the most helpless in our society?

Go rent the movie “Hotel Rwanda” and note the scene where Don Cheadle’s character is driving in the fog. He gets out of his vehicle to find out why there’s this thumping sound under his tires.

It’s because he’s driving over bodies.

The UN didn’t stop it then, they aren’t stopping it now.

A good friend of mine escaped the Khmer Rouge by the skin of his teeth when the helicopter his uncle had chartered (the uncle was in the government that was being overthrown) dipped in Rambo-style to rescue him and other family members. They fled in a hail of gunfire. They survived. He’s an ordinary guy. If ordinary people can have that kind of courage, the UN, and anyone else that wants to, can find a way in.

It is sad once again the junta government is punishing its people. With the constant detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and others, we should have guessed that they don’t care about their people by blocking aid from countries who want democracies. The problem is the junta runs the government so we have to have permission to go in to give aid.

I’m from Burma. The house i grew up in has roof blown up and trees fall down. but on one get hurt.
Usually Burmese people are very friendly and would like to help anyone and everyone.
It is sad that because of these idiotic generals, the country has go down the drain. we have vast natual resources. country is very rich naturally. imagine British stayed there for over 100 years. the generals are very greedy and they are not educated people. they only rose up the ranks because they know how to kill people.
for now the most concern is people who are still surviving. who need help the most. 40% of the dead people are children. also lots of children lost their parents.
some of the people might think that if the goverment don’t want it, why bother.
Burmese have been fighting for Democracy for a long time. People get arrested just for offering the monks for water at last up rising. We who live in America can exercise the freedome. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave up her life, and family and everyting to bring Democracy to Burma.
Let’s face it, not alot of people know anything about Burma until recently. Burma general wants Burma to be forgetted. The world forget about Burma.
Well it’s about time that we who love freedome let these generals know that it won’t last forever. their time is up.

Where is our military in all this? How can we let some gang of two bit thugs that call themselves a “government” get in the way of getting desparately needed aid to starving people. Land our Marines, drop some paratroopers. take out the Myanmar generals and get the aid to the suffering. It is more important to aid needy people in a catastrophe than to respect the sovereignty of this so-called government in Myanmar.

I just hate that govt…..it’s like killing their own ppl slowly….I wish I have to power to kill the guy in charge of the country…..stupid….selfish….an animal-minded.

I pray god that atleast children and Infants they shoud not suffer…
Oh..God..I pray for all burmans who lost their Loved ones.