Discrimination? Bigotry? What's Behind The Appeals for Help For One Group Which Isn't the Group Most Greatly Affected?

I've raised the issue of double standards and discrimination many times since Bush America decided to become a non-stop warrior nation as well as in the grave situation in the Middle East. Here's (sadly) another example of it.

I don't know if you've seen them, but I've noticed a number of different TV, print, and online ads appealing for financial help for Jews in Israel hurt by the recent violence. I have zero problem with Jews in Israel getting help. My problem is that the appeal is only for one particular group out of a whole, especially when it isn't the group anywhere near as badly affected in the Israel-Hezbollah-Lebanese carnage a trois.

Let's break this down into some real numbers. According to figures from Israel, 42 civilians (not counting soldiers or those working in some official capacity) died as a result of the Hezbollah rockets fired into mostly Northern Israel. Among these 42, Jews predominate but several were Arab Israelis. The latter would be excluded from this aid request which is bad enough.

But according to less than official numbers from Lebanon - where the infrastructure crippling has made it impossible to tabulate an exact death toll - more than 1700 civilians have died. Unlike Israel, the Lebanese saw their entire infrastructure destroyed, along with hospitals, medical clinics, schools... you name it. They are also excluded from this aid request and they were far more crippled than Israel.

Israel already gets a phenomenal amount of aid, mostly from the U.S. I understand we're giving them extra money to help those hurt in Israel (with a much more paltry amount alloted to Lebanon). So why a request aimed at only one type of individual in just one of the countries hit?

Add to that an interesting reality: in Bush America, it is very difficult to donate money to an Arab- or Muslim-based organization without running the risk that you will be investigated as a "financer" of terrorism because of the rules the Bushies drew up. Not true if you give to even the most violent Zionist organizations based in Israel.

Now, I feel the people of Israel certainly deserve our help as well as our prayers. But why limit it to Jews in Israel, and why purposely exclude the group that has been hardest hit of all?

I think I know why, but it is not a good reason. In fact, it's a pretty craptastic reason.