A wave of support for tsunami victims

It's been two weeks since the world as we know it was altered in a way that's still hard to comprehend.

More than 156,000 people have died since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian coast, unleashing devastating tsunamis from Thailand to Tanzania. UNICEF estimates a third of the victims were children.

Roughly 29,000 people are still missing, and it's anyone's guess how many will die from disease in the weeks and months to come.

Tsunami is now a household word, no matter where on earth you live.

Heart-wrenching stories poured out in the aftermath of the huge waves - toddlers who slipped from the arms of their parents, families and generations of families who simply vanished in the crushing waves. Survival stories seemed few and far between.

A few survivors were found floating on mattresses, other scaled trees, some just happened to be in the right spot at the right time.

In the tsunami's wake, every one of us has been awash with some level of concern and grief.

Our first impulse was to ask, what can we do?

Countries from all over the world have pledged more than $3 billion in aid. That includes the $350 million in government relief from the United States. We've pledged even more money if needed. We've sent troops and equipment.

Impromptu fund drives have sprung up everywhere, and the Flathead Valley is no exception. School children are pooling pennies, holding read-a-thons and conducting all sorts of fund-raisers to help tsunami victims. Lifeline of Hope, a Kalispell international orphan aid agency, is gathering supplies for orphanages in India. The local Red Cross is taking donations. Churches are organizing relief efforts.

Private relief efforts may well surpass the amount promised by the Bush administration. Quantifying the support may be as difficult as quantifying the number of dead.

The United States was criticized early on for not pledging to do more for tsunami victims. The chiding was premature and unfounded, given this country's track record for humanitarian giving. We're confident that after all is said and done, the U.S. will emerge as the leader it has always been in providing relief support.

Instead of bickering over who's giving what, the international community needs to approach the disaster as an opportunity to work toward world unity.

The tsunami played no favorites when it came to race or religion. The poor perished alongside those with posh lifestyles.

So too should our compassion know no barriers.