This was pointed out to me by Tony today, as he was reading the paper. On the front page of the newspaper, were two headlines:

The first:
"Nations, relief agencies brace for `unprecedented' need"

"Some 20-plus-thousand lives have been lost in a few moments, but the lingering effects will be there for years," said Secretary of State Colin Powell, referring to the need for a sustained aid effort in the weeks to come.

U.S. pledges $15 million in aid

The United States already has pledged about $15 million in cash and commodities such as food, water and medicine.

Addressing reporters Monday at the State Department, moments after speaking by telephone with President Bush, Powell said the U.S. expected to donate about $4 million in emergency relief to the Red Cross by the end of the day.

The headline right next to this story:
"Bush gala has big donations pouring in:
Businesses, individuals to provide $40 million for 2nd inauguration, set to military theme"

WASHINGTON -- Soldiers will dance free of charge at President Bush's second inauguration, a record $40 million-plus celebration for "a nation at war" financed by some of the same big donors who bankrolled Bush's re-election campaign.

The president's private inaugural committee, calling on corporate and individual donors to contribute as much as $250,000 apiece, has struck a military-minded theme for a three-day series of events leading to the swearing-in on Jan. 20.

What the fuck is this? Don't even get me started that we're at war here, AND that our country is heavily in debt. But just to have these two headlines on the same page is just sickening to me.

Yes, I understand that the money for Bush's inauguration was raised by private donations and businesses, and that the money pledged by the US for the relief fund comes out of our tax money (this being something I'm proud to pay taxes for), but still, doesn't something not feel right about this?

Posted by Yano at December 28, 2004 10:16 PM

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