Driving home from our holidays, we were stunned to learn of the devasatation this tsunami caused in Southern Asia.

The human toll...well, it's just overwhelming. Of course, the loss of homes, properties, towns, livelihoods,...all gone.

And what do Americans do? We jump right in and send help, money, supplies, rescue crew and equipment, and dogs, even our citizens, to help out.

Then, Norwegian, Jan Egeland, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief says we're stingy.

How DARE he?!

Although America and Americans are under no obligation to help out anywhere on the planet (HECK, that's what the United Nations is supposed to be doing.), we are generally the first ones to step up to the plate and offer all kinds of assistance. Even before we're asked.

Excuse me - but how much help did Norway or the United Nations provide to the U.S. when we faced a series of devastating hurricanes on our eastern and southern shores last year?

I didn't hear Jan Egeland asking anyone in the world to help us? Which countries came to our aid to help clean up, to provide housing and food for our victims?

Oh, and was our devasatation somewhat less than it could have been because we have building codes and standards to protect our country's residents from harm?

How many of the countries in the affected areas have taken the time and responsibility to set up adequate building codes and barriers to the kinds of disasters they tend to have? Sure, that costs money and makes the administrators of those regulations unpopular with the people - but it does protect them from major harm.

Ironically, at the same time that Egeland so graciously called us stingy - Six U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo planes, loaded with relief supplies, were on standby in Japan awaiting orders to fly to Thailand.

Egeland asked for $977 million in aid. Several countries are stepping up to provide it - Australia, Germany, the US....but do you see Norway on the list? Can't he get his own country to contribute?

I know, you want to help. Here are agencies you can contact. Click here.

Please, please, do NOT simply send money to anyone sending you e-mails. (And your mailbox will be full of them!) Many of those are preying on your generosity. YOU contact the organizations you want to fund.

If you have direct contact with family and friends there to whom you're sending money - that's wonderful of you. At least you know the people who need it will get it. But don't expect to get a donation for those gifts.

[If you want to read a witty and clever commentary on the subject, read Mark Steyn in the Washington Times ]