Thypoon Haiyan aftermath is a global issue

Last week, several websites, including Facebook, were taken up by banners asking for donations to fund relief in the Philippines. The response on Facebook was disappointingly negative.

Several local people and students updated their status to complain that there had been no efforts to raise money after the damage that Atlas had brought. Some even went so far as to say “I care about America, not the Philippines.”

Around this time of year, it’s important that we look at how lucky we are. Granted, Atlas did hurt ranchers. Hundreds of heads of cattle were killed in the surprise storm. Yes, it was unfortunate.

Now think about the thousands of deaths caused by Typhoon Haiyan. These were deaths of human beings. It is unlikely that they will ever know a final death count.

This isn’t to say that our local problems are less important. Of course Atlas was terrible.

That doesn’t mean that we can brush off the tragedy of Typhoon Haiyan.

When people do brush it off, it just shows that they are self-involved to the point of ignorance. Saying “I care about America, not the Philippines,” is practically the same as saying, “Death? Who cares?”

With Thanksgiving coming up, now is the time to look at how privileged we are. Did you get a hot meal today? Go on your computer to watch your favorite television show? Text your friend on your iPhone?

You are already luckier than millions of people in the world. And you are definitely luckier than the people in the Philippines who have lost friends, family, and homes to Haiyan.

Take some time to think about the fact that you are alive and well, that you live in a country that lets you update your Facebook status to say whatever you want, even when it is disgustingly ignorant.

Before you stuff your face next Thursday, take a moment to be gracious about the fact that you can.