Shame on everyone!

When Myanmar was hit by a killer cyclone early in May, nobody looked at its government before deciding to send aid.

When the military regime that rules the country imposed limitations on foreign assistance entering the country, the world's outcry was enormous.

In times of a natural disaster, politics should be ignored. Humanitarian aid should be the first priority. And if the country raises objections, the world should raise its voice loudly and shame it into allowing the assistance to flow into the country.

More than 130,000 people died in Myanmar as a result of the cyclone and how slow the government allowed foreign organizations to come to assist those who had survived.

Now much closer to home, Cuba and Haiti are suffering similar tragedies, albeit on a much smaller scale.

In Haiti, foreign assistance and international organizations are already helping. In Cuba, people and governments on both sides of the Florida Straits still debate if assistance can be provided, and if so, in what form.

Shame on all! These disasters make no distinctions between governments or political affiliations.