Charity Must Begin at Home
By Bradley Blakeman
Newsmax.com
America is facing the toughest economic
challenges in our nation’s history. Now is the time
to put America first and curtail our
foreign aid.
The American people are the most charitable and
generous on the face of the earth. Having said that,
we must now as a nation concentrate on our own
economic well being before we devote resources we
can’t afford to others.
Now is the time for other nations to pick up the
slack and step up to the plate and be as helpful as
we have been. It is about time that the world
communities help more and look to the U.S. less. The
United States has done more than its fair share for
others since our birth as a nation.
Let’s just take a look at the latest public records
of the top 10 countries that receive U.S. foreign
aid keeping in mind that these statistics do not
even take into account the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq:
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Israel $2.4 billion: Virtually all of this money is used to buy weapons (up to 75 percent made in the U.S.). Beginning in 2009, the U.S. plans to give $30 billion over 10 years.
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Egypt $1.7 billion: $1.3 billion to buy weapons, $103 million for education, $74 million for health care, $45 million to promote civic participation and human rights.
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Pakistan $798 million: $330 million for security efforts, including military-equipment upgrades and border security, $20 million for infrastructure.
-
Jordan $688 million: $326 million to fight terrorism and promote regional stability through equipment upgrades and training, $163 million cash payment to the Jordanian government.
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Kenya $586 million: $501 million to fight HIV/AIDS through drug treatment and abstinence education and to combat malaria, $15 million for agricultural development, $5.4 million for programs that promote government accountability.
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South Africa: $574 million, $557 million to fight tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, $3 million for education.
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Mexico: $551 million.
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Colombia: $541 million.
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Nigeria: $491 million.
-
Sudan: $479 million.
In 2008, the U.S. gave an estimated $26 billion
of foreign aid to some 150 countries.
At this critical time to our country’s financial
well-being it is imperative that we curtail our
charity to others.
Many want from America but the test for assistance
should be need.
With national unemployment hovering nationally at 8
percent, home foreclosures at record levels, our
national deficit soaring, a crisis looming for
Social Security and Medicare, war, states on the
brink of bankruptcy — just to name a few of our
immediate challenges — we must get our own house in
order first and foremost.
The American people should demand that our
government leaders put America first. We need to
come together as a nation and vow to solve our own
problems before we seek to solve the problems of
others. We have a long and proud history of helping
others and we should be proud of that. But, when
times are tough in America, I do not see others
rushing to our side. One reason is because many
nations are in the same boat economically as we are.
Now is a time for national sacrifice and
responsibility. All Americans must be prepared to do
their part to restore America to her greatness. Lets
take a lesson America from the unrest we are
witnessing throughout Europe. We cannot allow
ourselves to blame others. Our problems in many
cases are self-inflicted. There is no one to blame
but us.
So let’s not cast blame — let’s seek solutions.
Our current challenges pale in comparison to the
monumental challenges faced by those who came before
us. Washington did not give up when he was faced
with great obstacles while fighting the
Revolutionary War. Conditions were horrendous and
troop morale was low. He knew that the promise of
freedom was worth the battle over tyranny. So
against great odds he fought on and led his troops
to victory and gave birth to the greatest nation in
the history of the World.
Our history is chock-full of overcoming diversity at
great odds.
America is at its best when challenged.
We never give up and always manage to put our
principles above ourselves. We have done it before
and we must do it again.
Some politicians seek to pit us against each other.
But, our renewal requires shared sacrifice and
respect for each other. We are one nation.
A strong and prosperous America is important to the
stability and prosperity of the world.
We have an obligation as a world power to get
healthy as soon as possible for our own well-being
and the well-being of others.
A weak America — whether it be economic, political
or concerning national security — means a more
dangerous and less secure world.
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