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Disaster Relief
CarpetbaggersPosted by Jeremy Goldkorn on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 12:49 PM
 A carpetbagger The word 'carpetbagger' was first used after the American Civil War to refer to northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, between 1865 and 1877. They often traveled with their luggage packed in cheap and durable bags made from old carpets known as carpetbags. Carpetbaggers were perceived as outsiders who arrived in the South at a time of great difficulties, seeking to profit from the chaos. Nowadays the words can also refer to politicians who seek election in an area to which they have no ties or connections. In short, a carpetbagger is an unethical opportunist. Such as the company behind this Google ad that recently appeared in your correspondent's Gmail inbox:  Translation:
The company's website offers a cheap calling service between the U.S. and China, but nothing at all connected with the earthquake and disaster relief. There is a word in Chinese that refers to this specific type of carpetbagger: 'fa guonan cai' (发国难财): getting rich off national disaster. Articles about other Sichuan earthquake carpetbaggers are linked below. Links and Sources
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Comments on Carpetbaggers
There are also carpetbaggers who are in China--foreigners who pretend to know the country without benefit of language or study except since they went to teach English.
Now, they refer to themselves as professors, or even experts on the Chinese media.
It's a shame LoudClear has reduced themselves to such tactics in order to promote their business. My wife and I started purchasing their calling cards earlier this year and have been very pleased with the rates and customer service. Every time we've purchased a card from them, we've also received an additional 30 minute card as a token of thanks for doing business with them and they've always been quick to resolve any issues that we've had.
Hmm... I didn't know that those "looters" were also quake victims, although nowadays I take a grain of salt when looking at news photos. Thanks for clearing it up.
gswafford - if you live in the US, try Vonage, 6 dollars a month for unlimited calls to China. Beats any calling card!