How Can Anyone Celebrate Tonight?

[Stephanie]

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041231/wl_sthasia_afp/asiaquake&cid=1535&ncid=2337

Tsunami death toll tops 125,000 as global aid pledges exceed 1.1 billion
25 minutes ago

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AFP) - More than 1.1 billion dollars have been pledged to an unprecedented aid effort after last week's Asian tsunamis, the United Nations (news - web sites) said, while devastated countries race to get food and water to millions facing starvation as the death toll topped 125,000.

The UN's emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, said the death toll "may be approaching" 150,000, cautioning the true figure may never be known.

"What we see is that the figures may be approcahing 150,000 dead. The vast majority of those are in Indonesia and Aceh, which is the least assessed area because of logistical constraints," Egeland told reporters.

"It may therefore raise further," he said.

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Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunamis Relief Efforts

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This week President Bush has only been seen in public, briefly, last Sunday:



and on Wednesday, when he made his statement:



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[Not_Giving_Up]

1. * never has a problem partying

I'll be sitting at home, trying to find something non-depressing to watch on TV. I'll probably end up here.

[KSAtheist]

2. Easy.

Liquor is all it takes!

[purduejake]

3. I am going to celebrate...

for being alive, healthy, and relatively fortunate compared to most of the people in this world.

[Stephanie]

4. good point

[kcass1954]

18. Going to a very small party...

Mostly family, all repugs except me and my son, wearing our new "Not Me!" bracelets. Just me and my bottle of vodka - 'bout 3 drinks in, I oughta be jammin'!

It has been a very terrible year, but we still have a lot to be thankful for.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. No party -- but I will quietly celebrate

the fact that this really horrible year is over. Me, a couple of cats and a bottle of wine; no TV, not gonna watch the ball drop in Times Square. Just glad it's over, hoping '05 won't be even worse.

[Stephanie]

6. yes, celebrate the end of this year

good riddance

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stephanie]

8. I understand the first point.

But not the second. Many more will.

[nostamj]

9. my worst year ever

glad it's over.

[MercutioATC]

10. Yes, there's tragedy in the world. Let's all be intentionally morose.

:eyes:

Look, if you can't celebrate the good things in life, even in the face of tragedy, you're completely screwed (as always, IMHO).

[nymd81]

11. what are you taling about?

There are parties all over this country tonight. A tsunami isn't going to stop the New Years Eve parties! I'll be in Times Square having a BLAST!!

[Stephanie]

12. yeah

that's what I don't understand

[Padraig18]

13. My wearing sackcloth and ashes won't help those poor people.

I'm doing and will continue doing whatever I can to help those poor souls, but my sitting here crying in my beer won't comfort them one bit.

[flygal]

14. We rang the year in quietly with our friends

We had a moment of silence at midnight. We needed it. We've all been in shock all week. It's been a mixed year. I gave birth to a healthy beautiful daughter. Had lots of friends and family around.

But then mixed with the war, the election, and the tsunami - I hope 2005 brings peace. But with * in the wh it looks glim. We needed to be happy for our kids.

So yeah, we celebrated, but it was respectful and muted, and much needed.

[AgadorSparticus]

15. it's been an absolutely HORRIBLE year for me personally that i

can't imagine celebrating. besides, i've got a nasty cold and i don't want to be anywhere but in bed with my cup of tea, my dog, and my book. maybe laptop too.

i just want this year to be over and done with. instead of singing, i will say a prayer quietly.

[housewolf]

16. Marking the passing of one rollercoaster of a year -

But not celebrating. Just glad to assign 2004 to the dust bins of history.

But I am not wildly excited and optomistic about 2005, so not celebrating.

[Shopaholic]

17. I saw where the Australians observed a moment of silence

in memory of the victims of the Tsumani before their annual celebration in Sydney. Gee, are they planning on doing that in NYC this year before they let the ball drop????