Kim_Carrigan's Blog

Are you kidding me? No one is trying to belittle the suffering of residents along the Texas coast. The full force of the Federal and State governments are responding to the needs of people affected by Ike in this country. Quite simply, Haiti is a destitute third world country, whose people would be left to die if not for volunteers from churches and other non-profit orgs. This isn't about turning his back on Texas victims, it's going where he think he can do the most good.

ahumbleman's response is so typical of one of the main problems that we face in this country. "The Government will take care of it". Maybe if there was a little more volunteerism and activism for problems and issues here at home, there would be less of a drain on state and federal government resources and perhaps more involvement from ordinary citizens.

KC, This one really shocks me. ahumbleman couldn't be more right. How you can compare Texas to Haiti is beyond me. Whether it's Matt Damon or J.Q. Public those people don't care who was helping them, but are just grateful for help. If you were talking about New Orleans, I might agree. Beside which those people in Texas who are so much in need Had almost a week to get out. Those people in Haiti had no place to hide. Sorry Kim, I guess we don't always see eye to eye.

Humbleman, I agree with what you said but there are a lot of poor people in Texas too. However, SirB is right. Texas isn't on the liberal celebrity cause d'jour list, especially since our current President is from there.

Matt Damon is on my "celebrities whose movies I'll NEVER see" list. He won't even get my $1 for rentals from Red Box...

I have never seen a Jane Fonda movie and I try not to see any movie that would put money in the pockets of the likes of Matt Damon.

If Matt Damon wants to change the world let him run for office instead of running his mouth. Oh that's right he has less qualifications then Obama and Palin together.

Should we poll all celebrities to find out what their political opinions are? People criticize Matt Damon because he had the nerve to express his feelings about Sarah Palin (I still haven't read or heard it). Hmmm. Isn't this America and doesn't he have the right to say it? Just because you don't agree you have to drag him all over the board? Give me a break. Don't any of you have friends of the opposite political "persuasion"? Matt Damon is not running for office. So what if he doesn't like Palin. Does it really matter? What really matters is that people in Haiti have lost everything and he's trying to help do something about it. Not a bad thing to do but since he's a liberal you criticize. You don't want the government helping, you don't want liberal celebrities helping. Who would you have there? I assume you're not going.

Why is it whenever there's a tragedy in one of these third world countries, it's always Americans who are always there to offer help and assistance to these people. Where are these other Countries and why aren’t they their as well? Do you think Cuba would ever help them?

I'm all for helping others, no matter where it may be. I don't disagree with ahumbleman. My point on this is we as Americans need to do more to help eachother. WE need to put ourselves first. I'm not seeing that. The USA needs to stop sucking up to the world and start caring more about eachother here in this great country. I really don't care what some B-list celeb like Matt Damon is doing or saying. I care about the American citizens as a whole, and we're in a bad situation over here. So if you have the resources to help a neighbor please do just that. Africa can wait. We can't help the world if we cannot help ourselves.

SirB

When that picture becomes clear, will you acknowledge that the Iraq War was validated by speeches and funding from both sides of the aisle?
If Matt Damon wants to help out Haitians rather than Americans, that's his decision. It's my decision to believe he is "less of an American" for doing it. When he empties his bank accounts on the streets of Haiti I will believe he truly believes in that cause. Until then, he's shunning Americans.


BrooklineRSfan
Sep 15, 2008 | 4:36 PM So let me get this straight:

it's ok to support a war that is costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars PER DAY that is "helping" NON-American citizens (Iraqis) and at the same time depleting Americans here of basic funding, YET when you support helping Haiti (or any other country in tragedy) then it's "liberals" who are being "unpatriotic." Okaaay...

Suddenly, the picture is becoming very clear...

Matt Damon was asked a question about Sarah Palin and he chose to answer it as is his right. He was not just shooting off his mouth. Every single one of us here on this message board are voicing their own opinions as is our right.

To say celebrities should keep their mouths shut is just ridiculous. Why? They can be just as informed (or not) on the issues as you or me. This is America. Freedom of Speech. If you don't agree with what one of these celebrities, news anchors or "political experts" are saying then pick up the remote and change the channel.

If he wants to help the people of Haiti that is his right as well. Does it really matter in the long run? He is helping people in need and that is a good thing regardless if it is Texas, Haiti or anywhere else.