So where's the compassion?

Christian right's compassion deficit

More than 100,000 dead in south Asia, but it's business as usual at the web sites of America's Christian right organizations

It took President Bush three days to ready himself to go before the television cameras and make a public statement about Sunday's devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck southern Asia. Even though he was late, and much more money will be needed, the president pledged at least $35 million in aid to the victims of the disaster. But, as of December 30, some of the president's major family-values constituents have yet to be heard from: It's business as usual at the web sites of the American Family Association, the Family Research Council, the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, and the Coral Ridge Ministries.

These powerful and well-funded political Christian fundamentalist organizations appear to be suffering from a compassion deficit. Organizations which are amazingly quick to organize to fight against same-sex marriage, a woman's right to choose, and embryonic stem cell research are missing in action when it comes to responding to the disaster in southern Asia. None of their web sites are actively soliciting aid for the victims of the earthquake/tsunami.

In fact, there is no mention of the giant earthquake and tsunami that devastated southern Asia. There are no headlines about the dead, injured or the tremendous damage; there are no urgent appeals for donations; there are no phone numbers to call; there are no links to organizations collecting money and providing aid for the victims. [snip]

Well, that's a few days old, but the point is still very relevant, specifically that wingnut websites which can, for example, jump all over Arlen Specter within hours of someone suggesting he be made chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are apparently oblivious to this disaster even after the better part of a week has passed. Do they not care? Who knows. I suppose it could be pointed out that the people who run these sites may be expressing their concern in other ways, or on other sites. They are all members of various churches and charities, probably, and maybe they are helping out that way. But, on the other hand, isn't it a bit odd that not one of these sites even mentioned the tsunami?