African agencies ready for aid

To the editor:

Upon learning of the stand President Bush took in representing the United States at the G-8 summit, my heart broke. It's bad enough that President Bush is so far out of touch with the day-to-day lives of his fellow citizens here in the U.S. Now, after flying in on his presidential jet and being wined and dined on the grounds of a lavish resort, he ignorantly turns his back on the starving, disease-ridden, undereducated and disenfranchised people in Africa because we need to get a handle on the "corrupt government" of Africa before we increase our support.

The money from the eight wealthiest countries in the world doesn't go to the government of Africa. It goes to international aid groups already in place and dealing directly with those in need. There is no Medicare, Medicaid, welfare or Social Security in Africa. The people we could help are not concerned with owning cars, big screen televisions or computers. They just want food and shelter for their children and basic health-care needs to be met. They need our help. Is it really more logical for us as a nation to feed money into a war where life is taken and lost with no clear purpose than it is to give money to save life through a potentially united international community? If so, where is our hope and our salvation?

ELLEN DILLON, Cape Girardeau