February 18 2008

In past posts, I've been critical of the United States about a number of issues.  I hope that I've been fair on those occasions, but I also believe that Americans deserve praise when they do the right thing.  I'm referring to the Pepfar Program that has been underway to fight AIDS and malaria in Africa.

As hard as I find it to laud the Bush Administration, there's no denying that America deserves a respectful tip of the hat for the billions of dollars that the US Government has poured into this program to provide drugs to poor Africans who would never have received them otherwise. Pepfar has saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives in Africa.  Initiatives like this counter the image of the "Ugly American" by showing that Americans can be tremendously generous too.

When citizens of the United States begin to wonder whether they can ever do anything right in the eyes of the World, they can look to programs like Pepfar. This kind of aid will  do much to counter those political extremists abroad who are trying to fan hatred toward America.  It's hard to get people to hate somebody who is supplying medicine to the sick and dying in their villages.

I'm not saying that Pepfar counterbalances Iraq and any number of other issues.  However, if the rest of the World wants to encourage the United States to show more positive leadership, then we must hand out the gold stars (when due) and not just the black marks.

George

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