Give, But Give Wisely

I'm all for helping the victims and have made my own contributions, but through churches which are sending the money directly to missionaries and not through third parties like the United Nations.

Some of these charities and humanitarian aid organizations have a checkered past in dealing with such funds.

The problem now is not money.

Secretary of State Colin Powell says there is enough money for now.

The problem is on the ground - getting the aid to the people who need it and rebuilding their lives.

This is a logistical problem, not a financial one.

There is something else.

More people are dying from aids, civil and religious war, terrorism and other horrors than have died in the tsunami.

Why have those people not received as compassionate a response as the tsunami victims?

Part of it has to do with the timing of this event, so close to Christmas.

But let's not forget others who suffer out of the reach of cameras and reporters.

Give, but give wisely.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.