In video messages, Clinton appeals for Pakistan flood-relief donations

In two moving video messages released by the Ad Council today, Secretary Clinton appeals to her fellow Americans to donate to flood relief in Pakistan through the Pakistan Relief Fund, set up by the U.S. government through the State Department. With poignant music playing in the background, Clinton says, "Americans have always shown great generosity to others facing crises around the world. And I call on you to do what you can."

Just text "FLOOD" to 27722 to contribute $10. (You can also donate online or via postal mail by clicking here.)

Donations to help with flood relief have been dismally low compared with those after other natural disasters, such as the Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake. A recent FP piece, "Why Doesn’t the World Care About Pakistanis?", states the simple truth: People don’t care because the victims are in the country of Pakistan. In other words, "the humanity of Pakistan’s victims takes a backseat to the preconceived image that Westerners have of Pakistan as a country." The piece concludes:

Pakistan has suffered from desperately poor moral leadership, but punishing the helpless and homeless millions of the 2010 floods is the worst possible way to express our rejection of the Pakistani elite and their duplicity and corruption. The poor, hungry, and homeless are not an ISI conspiracy to bilk you of your cash. They are a test of your humanity. Do not follow in the footsteps of the Pakistani elite by failing them. That would be immoral and inhumane. This is a time to ask only one question. And that question is: "How can I help?"

Below is the first video, which is 30 seconds long, followed by the second one, which is 60 seconds long.

(By the way, does the photo above remind you of Dorothea Lange’s famous Migrant Mother photo from the Great Depression?)