Give America some credit

Sir,
I take exception to your editorial on Sunday, “What has America become?” Let me remind you that the United States is made up of 50 States, each with its own Governor, National Guard, Laws etc. The Federal Government could not act until it was asked to by the Governors of the States that were devastated by Katrina. 

People were told in advance to evacuate New Orleans and many thousands did so. Some did not choose to leave but to remain. Once the levees broke and New Orleans flooded, the infrastructure collapsed as there was no electricity, drinking water, sewage disposal etc. People were shooting at each other, looting shops for food and water, women were getting raped, in fact the whole law enforcement structure collapsed. Only then did the Governor of Louisiana seek help from the Federal Government and this we have seen has taken place very rapidly and with great effect.

So please give some credit to the United States for acting as it did. One other point I would like to bring up. The United States is always the first to help other countries that are hit with disasters but I see very few countries coming to the aid of the United States when we are in need of help.

George Christodoulou, Copperopolis, California

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.