Letter to the Editor: Starving children and the loss of USAID

Letters to the Editor
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Letter to the Editor: Starving children and the loss of USAID

Letters to the Editor
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Views 4578 | Comments 22

Dear Neighbors,

              For those of you who don’t know me, I am a retired Episcopal Priest, and I’ve lived in Fayetteville for 18 years.  I have always taught that we are to love our neighbor. Who is my neighbor, you may ask. Everyone! There is no distinction between people we know and people we don’t know; between immigrants and people who were born in our country. Jesus did not direct us to love only those on our side of national borders. The love of Christ transcends borders and languages and certainly transcends status. Someone with much is not better than someone with little. In fact, Jesus commands us to care for “the least of these”.

              With that said, I am distressed, dismayed and angry at what our Federal Government is doing to “the least of these” for whom Jesus commanded us to care! The wealthiest people in the world took food out of the mouths of starving children when they dismantled USAID. The argument of fraud, waste, and abuse does not hold up. It is simple hatred and greed. Food was allowed to rot in warehouses instead of being sent to feed people. Let that sink in for a minute. Is that not the very definition of evil, to watch a child die while you’re withholding food!

              If you, my neighbor, voted to starve children then we have a fundamental difference, not of opinion, but of morality.  I pray to God that is not the case.  I believe most folks voted in good faith.  Now is the time to stand up, in good faith, for the children, the immigrants, the asylum seekers, and for anyone who is hungry or sick. It is a mandate from Christ! It is not optional. It is required of all the Abrahamic faiths – Jewish, Muslim, and Christian.

              How do we stand against cruelty, greed, and corruption?  You might think you are powerless, only one person, you might say.  That’s why all people of faith, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Interfaith members must stand together, join hands and peacefully fight. Please join me and thousands of people across this country to protest, write letters, call our elected officials, to pray in public places. Let us pray for strength and courage, for it will not be an easy fight. Our brother, The Reverend Doctor William Barber was recently arrested for leading prayers in the Capitol rotunda in Washington, DC.  Let his courage be our guide.

In God’s Peace and Love,

Rev. Rita Henault

Fayetteville, GA

Letters to the Editor

22 responses to “Letter to the Editor: Starving children and the loss of USAID”

  1. Doug Tucker Avatar
    Doug Tucker

    02. When you attack something based on what you saw or heard from FOX News, you are an idiot.

    1. My.02 Avatar
      My.02

      Doug: I am puzzled at the Reverend’s letter above, and your and Doon’s emotional opposition to this common sense action that I thought everyone could agree on.

      What are you getting all worked up about? The charitable USAID programs that you all claim to be supporting are not getting cut.

      “The USAID programs that are being allowed to continue under the State Department involve “humanitarian assistance, global health functions, strategic investment, and limited national security programs,” according to USAID’s notification to Congress, obtained by CNN.” CNN.com 3/28/25

      Knee jerk reaction, perhaps? You ought to try staying up on the news. Fox viewers (and the dozen or so watching CNN) knew this.

      1. Doug Tucker Avatar
        Doug Tucker

        02. Be puzzled if you want. I am getting worked up about so many attempts to change our institutions (USAID has been around since 1961) without thorough review. The current Government is less than transparent with their numbers; not one Cabinet member is believable (include and underscore Rubio who seems to change everything but his chromosomes with regard to money); and the dismissals on our court judgements compels one to question everything everyone says. In fact, I don’t trust anything that anyone says to include you. I’ll check out some of your statements in response to Doon, but don’t hold your breath. I’m still looking at the smoke Stephen Miller created with Rubio’s “courts can’t dictate foreign policy.” Did the Government actually cut 83 percent of USAID and break over 5,000 contracts? That’s been reported but I cannot confirm it yet. One would think Brian Jack could serve us well and clear up a lot, but hey, it’s Brian Jack; he’s still toe licking.

        Now, as for “knee jerking,” when I get a whiff of something not being right about Government, I dig and dig deeply. There are plenty of holes that need digging with Humpty Dumpty and when I find something I am motivated to dig some more. Many of us have friends, among many others, who were killed by stupid and less than thought-out decisions.

      2. Doug Tucker Avatar
        Doug Tucker

        02. This is my reaction to your 29 May challenge to Doon (because you sometimes make life fun). An almost too easy example of the Secretary of State lying was before Congress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made this statement during a hearing before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 21, 2025, “No one has died because of USAID (cuts)” in response to Representative Sherman. Rubio seems to want to use what was once considered humanitarian assistance as a caveat to commercial transactions and compelling bribery for international support. I can buy into some of that, but I also consider whether Rubio has become as Machiavelli as Humpty Dumpty. I think we are transitioning from allowing China to become a threat to our making China a threat. Though it appears as mission creep from the foreign aid used by Truman and Eisenhower, Americans have enjoyed nearly six decades of extending international good will since Kennedy Act for International Development of 1961. All of which takes me back to when America was great. My answer remains our nation was at its greatest when I was a naive kid looking up to the ethics of the Holy Bible, the “Lone Ranger,” steps toward putting a man on the moon, and learning to surf.

        Now, will somebody write a letter to the editor and open another round of discussion? It’s getting difficult to find a slot for replies or comments.

        1. My.02 Avatar
          My.02

          Doug – You almost sound rational, especially when you look back at a time when we all could truly agree that America was in much better shape, if not great. USAID in 1961 focused on its core mission, not on trans-sex activism, DEI musicals, opium production and all the other wackadoodle rot that is detailed elsewhere here.

          That was back when our federal government was so much smaller and spending was under control, when we didn’t have 52 pronouns, “toxic masculinity”, DEI, “misgendering”, Hamas apologists, Antifa or cancel culture. Back when kids played outside until the lights came on, students said the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school, when we had one National Anthem and people could leave their doors unlocked at night.

          Yeah, I want to make America Great Again.

          But back to today, you and Doon still have not shown – – at all – – that Secretary of State Marco Rubio lied to Congress. No one died as a result of USAID cuts.

          In fact, the whole premise of the Reverend’s editorial – – that humanitarian aid was eliminated – – is false. C’mon, man!

          1. Doug Tucker Avatar
            Doug Tucker

            O2. Thus far, humanitarian aid had not been totally eliminated, only curtailed.

            Yes. Rubio obviously lied to the House Committee. When USAID medical aid was cut, people died (some from not getting needed medication, oxygen, or injury treatments from closed and/or reduced resourced clinics). There are literally hundreds of examples available. You can look them up and verify them for yourself. Open your eyes and you shall see. Pinpointing food distribution is going to be a difficult task, because the data isn’t readily available. Your challenge to Doon was to identify Rubio lying. I gave you an example of Rubio lying (1:10:16 into the 3:56:10 video of the hearing). It’s not a big deal among the things going on in Washington though. Rubio is a politician and lied before. Most politicians lie; that’s one of the reasons we have Humpty Dumpty and the toe-lickers now.

            Also, my thoughts of when America was great are mixed. I think most will say America was great when they were children without a care in the world. My kids referred to the mid-to late 1990s when I asked them. I like the late 50s to early 60s. My parents like the days before and immediately after WWII. I don’t advocate legislating “giveaways” any more than I do morality. I don’t have a problem with cutting, reorganizing, or even eliminating USAID. I do have a problem with the lawless way it is being done. International aid is a political tool as is the military. They are not the same, but both, among other things, are politically used and have political consequences when not used well. What I do want to see is an American people who are willing to give of themselves to help others. However, rather than place my trust in politicians, I place my trust in a “Higher Power” to make that happen.

            As to whether I appear rational or not, my perspective is what I stated above, “Open your eyes and you shall see.”

  2. Doug Tucker Avatar
    Doug Tucker

    02. I don’t believe anything coming from Rubio or any other Humpty Dumpty appointee. KATV.com is probably accurate in their reporting, but Rubio is dirt.

    1. Doon Avatar
      Doon

      Mr. Tucker, I don’t presume to know a lot, ok I do, and I do know too to check “my.02” sources from time to time. So here goes. KATV.com, this is an ABC affiliated TV news station in Little Rock, Arkansas. The story line source referenced however is actually TNND which stands for The National News Desk. Both this news station and The News Desk are owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

      Sinclair’s marketing plan is simple, to reduce coverage of local politics in that targeted area instead for, increased national political coverage. However more importantly, it has moved its ideological tone to a much more conservative direction. Hey nothing wrong there, however as a trusted news source (?), well consider …

      The company has been criticized for requiring its stations to broadcast packaged video segments and have its news anchors read prepared scripts that contain very pro-Trump editorial content, including warnings about purported “fake news” in the mainstream media. [Sounds familiar to early 1930s Ger …]

      And the kicker actually is that DJT (or Humpty-Dumpty as you referred to him) has actually tweeted “support for watching Sinclair’s news coverage and content over CNN and NBC.” Well for me, that says it all.

      1. Doug Tucker Avatar
        Doug Tucker

        Doon. You make a good point, given the relationship between Humpty Dumpty’s Deputy Assistant, Sebastian Gorka and the Sinclaire Broadcast Group. I can imagine a Gorka’s far-right (even beyond fascism and as far right as absolute monarchism or reactionary ultraconservatism) influence on KATV’s reporting. However, as intricate as the web’s weaving, KATV does have a reputation for accurate reporting.

      2. My.02 Avatar
        My.02

        When you have to defend the indefensible and have no substance to offer, attack the messenger: Saul Alinsky’s “Rules For Radicals” Number 14.

        Progressives here baselessly attack a communications company (and Rubio, and Trump) rather than address the waste, fraud and abuse of USAID. It’s the only way to avoid the conclusion that USAID is mis-spending billions of our tax money, and so it deserves to go.

        Still trillions more in federal spending yet to be cut to start getting us out of a $37,000,000,000,000 debt spiral.

        1. Doon Avatar
          Doon

          Saul Alinsky’s Rules have 13 in number I’m reading, so your #14 must be sarcasm. Most of the funding projects highlighted by the current administration back in February were actually funded by the State Department, not USAID, which was pretty much a Homer Simpson “doh” moment when wanting accuracy and accountability within one’s statements.

          Another thing to consider here however is the amount funded to USAID which is really less than 1% of the total federal budget. And is there some waste and inefficiency within? Probably, just like most things. But I do find amusing your comment, “mis-spending billions of our tax money, and so deserves to go.” And I say damn right he should go.

          1. Doon Avatar
            Doon

            My.02 …
            1) Whoever approved the spending? That would be Congress.
            2) Taxpayer money funneled by the Biden’s for ridiculous purposes through USAID? Nope, not correct.
            3) $.12 of each dollar went to its intended recipients? Nope, not correct again.

            You can’t seem to distract yourself from the fact that you get your info from unreliable news sources that quote the likes of E Musk and M Rubio as if they were trusted sources.

            And you seem to be in need of another reminder (on these pages again) that federal spending jumped in 2019 going forward, not because “most of our elected officials, like you, have little financial knowledge …” But rather, it was because of needed spending associated with two wars; the war on Covid that crossed our borders so easily and then the invasion and war in Ukraine. You have a short memory span quiz-kid.

          2. My.02 Avatar
            My.02

            Doon: Yes, Congress approved the overall spending. The blame for our out-of-control federal budget lies with them and the President who signed it.

            However, Congress did not decide to fund the sex changes and LGBT activism in Guatemala, the Taliban’s illegal drug production or any of the other wackadoodle programs you so vigorously defend. That was on Joe Biden, or whoever among his minions in the Executive branch bureaucracy thought it was a good idea.

            I’m open for any proof you have that Marco Rubio lied in his testimony to Congress about USAID. Bring it or move on.

            As far as the budget skyrocketing since 2019, you lie by omission, starting with my comment about you and elected officials having little financial knowledge AND as I stated, “little sense of responsibility in the use of taxpayers’ money”.

            Some Covid spending in 2019-20 can be justified, but the peak ended almost 5 years ago. Ukraine got $128 Billion in direct aid from the US through April 2024 (Council for Foreign Relations cfr.org 3/11/2025).

            How does that explain continued federal over-spending in 2024 to the tune of 52% above 2019? You’re trillions short in your attempted justification.

            I’ll help you. You omit over a trillion in discretionary over-spending, highlighted by the “Inflation Reduction Act”, which was really “(Biden’s) premier climate law”, part of which spent $7.5 Billion to build just 8 charging stations. (Politico.com “Biden Trillion Dollar Spending Tracker” 2024)

            You also left out the $150+ Billion financial impact of 10,000,000+ illegal immigrants (budget.house.gov) that Biden’s Open Border policy let in. It wasn’t just Covid that “crossed our borders so easily”.

            Bottom line: you leave out facts and fail to address the key questions about USAID and the bloated federal budget. Care to try again?

          3. Doon Avatar
            Doon

            To the my.02 comments (5/29) … On May 20 (2025) Rubio addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the State Department Budget and said, “At USAID, 12 cents of every dollar was reaching the recipient. That means that in order for us to get aid to somebody, we had to spend all this other money supporting this foreign aid industrial complex.” 12 cents is not a recognized figure and was pulled out of the air by “little Marco.” But of course you accept it as the truth because, well you know why, and we don’t need to beat that dead horse (again).

          4. My.02 Avatar
            My.02

            Doon – Secretary of State Rubio was under oath in Senate testimony, and he has a team of analysts to pour through the financials of USAID. Yet somehow you – – without proof – – know that he was lying. Riiiiiight.

            You may sit down now. No cookie for you today.

        2. My.02 Avatar
          My.02

          Doom: Yes, indeed. There are 13 official Rules for Radicals. You took your re-education at camp well.

          Red herring alert: the State Department is still part of the federal government. Whoever approved the spending, 1) they’re gone, 2) taxpayer money was funneled by the Bidens through USAID for ridiculous purposes, and 3) only $.12 of each dollar went to intended recipients. You can’t distract from the facts.

          Dismissing the relevance of billions of taxpayer dollars vaporized in waste, fraud and abuse is one way we got into this budget mess in the first place. Federal spending jumped from $4.45 trillion in 2019 to $6.75 trillion in 2024 – – that’s 52% in 5 years – – because most of our elected officials, like you, have little financial knowledge or sense of responsibility in the use of taxpayers’ money.

  3. My.02 Avatar
    My.02

    Let’s not get too caught up in the one-sided hysteria over cutting waste, fraud and abuse in USAID. It is a federal bureaucracy that may have started with noble beginnings, but has clearly lost its way and needs to be fixed.

    First off, taxpayer funding for USAID doubled at the start of Biden’s term from $20.5 Billion to $42.4 Billion in 2023 (KATV.com 2/4/2025) with no clear goals. Even worse, only 12 cents of each taxpayer dollar (!) spent by USAID reached the intended recipients, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in recent Congressional testimony.

    Can anyone justify continuing to fund any charity or humanitarian organization that only gets $.12 of each dollar to fulfill its mission? That, Reverend Henault, is a real cause for protest here.

    Unfortunately, it’s not the only reason we should be up in arms over USAID. While the good Reverend portrays USAID only as a humanitarian provider of food to those who have none, that is sadly not the case. Here’s a partial list of where our tax money was going under the Biden administration:

    A grant to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”; for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland; for electric vehicles for Vietnam; for a “transgender opera” in Colombia, and a “transgender comic book” in Peru; for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala; to fund tourism in Egypt; and hundreds of millions of dollars to the Taliban to fund irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used for poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan (TulsaToday.com 2/3/2025). The list goes on and on . . .

    The funding process under Biden was ripe for abuse. Dollars went out without strict financial controls to Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (and sometimes on to other NGOs) to eventually provide services or goods. These same NGOs are also major donors to incumbent politicians, using taxpayer dollars to do so.

    The US isn’t getting out of international assistance; it’s just moving its operations out of USAID to the State Department. In the future, the State Department will rely less on NGOs, and will make sure foreign aid lines up with American interests.

    For those who are concerned with the well-being of our neighbors everywhere, which should be all of us, it is far better for each of us to directly contribute to a reputable charity where 90%+ of donated funds go to goods and services for the intended individuals. USAID is not that, and so it deserves to be dismantled.

  4. the_wing_t Avatar
    the_wing_t

    While a portion of the USAID funding did go to legitimate humanitarian causes, the majority of USAID was earmarked for left-wing, largely irrelevant wastes of taxpayer dollars, some of which got funneled back to corrupt members of Congress.

    PS – your “peaceful pastor” who got arrested for praying isn’t such a saint…..”Bishop William J. Barber II, the former head of the North Carolina NAACP who now leads a nonprofit focused on economic and racial justice, is being accused of redirecting funds from that group for alimony payments and other personal uses.”

    1. Rebuttle5 Avatar
      Rebuttle5

      If you have any proof of that funneling of money to corrupt members of Congress, let’s hear it. People should be arrested. Otherwise don’t make unsubstantiated accusations.

      1. Stranger Than Fiction Avatar
        Stranger Than Fiction

        A Fox newscaster believes this, so what other proof do you need? Get with the program, Rebuttle.

    2. Doug Tucker Avatar
      Doug Tucker

      For those who have an interest in our nation and security, I have personal and professional experience working with USAID while I was in the Army. Not everything about USAID is publicly known and acknowledged.

      USAID played crucial roles to support many U.S. military and other operations overseas, particularly through formal and declared Overseas Contingency Operations. The agency collaborated with the Departments of Defense and State, developing joint strategic oversight plans for various military operations. For example, USAID contributed to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve, focusing, advising and assisting coalition forces in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIS. Additionally, USAID was involved in Operation Enduring Sentinel, conducting counterterrorism operations against threats from Afghanistan while engaging with regional partners to promote stability.

      USAID helped enhance transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in overseas operations, ensuring that humanitarian and development assistance were aligned with military objectives. As far as I am concerned, there was no more waste in USAID than in the Departments of Defense, State, or other Government Departments and/or organizations.

  5. Rebuttle5 Avatar
    Rebuttle5

    I agree. The slashing of funding for USAID is tragic. It’s not a big part of the budget, it saves lives, and it creates goodwill for America at a time when our country is increasingly mistrusted around the globe.

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