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A year ago today, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands of people and devastating a nation.
People all over the world rushed to help. They made text-message donations, bought shirts, sent care packages and prayers. Haiti became a trend for a spell. There was even the “We are the World” remix.
And then it was off to the next big news — the oil spill, the miners and such. Those things were important, and we needed to pay attention.
But Haiti still needs our help. The Haitian people needed us before the disaster, and they will need us long after. Hollywood great Sean Penn says the work to be done is endless.
In addition to the political uproar and the cholera outbreak, more than 1 million people are still living in tent cities. Penn is among them. He has established one of his very own in a former Port-au-Prince suburb. It’s his home now, where he says he’ll be whenever he isn’t acting. He co-founded one of the most successful organizations to help save lives and bring sustainable programs to Haiti: the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization.
His generosity and commitment are admirable. But we all can’t dedicate our lives to a cause. Some of us are just trying to get by.
Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t help. There is a lot we can do, and every dollar helps.
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/11/2574741/lets-help-haiti-any-way-we-can.html#ixzz1AombZgk0
Unfortunately, for most of us, once the headlines move onto the next big story, our concern and donations stop. However, the human tragedy and need for assistance continue daily. As you reminded us, this is true in Haiti today, one year later.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend, for bringing this matter to our attention. Regardless of the amount, our money can ease the suffering and make a big difference in the life of another.
These people don't need our help rebuilding.
ReplyDeleteThey need our help RELOCATING.
And who exactly are we helping by the way?
Every time I see something about this tiny island the reports are saying hundreds of thousands died the first time last year and now cholera is killing hundreds of thousands more.
One of two things are happening.
One; the number of people dying has been and continues to be GREATLY exaggerated or
Two; the laws of spacial and mechanical physics somehow don't apply to this island and it is able to contain millions of people despite being smaller than most counties in Texas.
And come on.
Does anyone seriously believe this place isn't also facing a mass exodus the likes of which pale in comparison to the already staggering number of Haitians who were jumping ship, literally, and swimming to Florida even before this shit happened?
How is there anyone left to send money to or save from poverty and disease?
If they haven't already died then they're damn sure already on their way to American in whatever dung heap they scrapped together with enough plastic to make it float the 90 miles between them and us.
We ought to be saving all the money we plan to send and use it to help these people relocate once they cross our borders illegally and start demanding things like free government assistance and an education paid for by the American tax dollar.
I would also like the UN to know I'm happily accepting donations to spear head a rescue effort for all the tall, muscular, statuesque men still alive in Haiti.
I'll be sponsoring any I kind find for Visa's and green cards.
Haiti is a tiny country that occupies approximately one-third of the island of Hispanola in the Caribbean. Despite years of exploitation, indifference, intervention and overall neglect by benevolent North Americans, it remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
ReplyDeleteThe massive earthquake destroyed the fragile infrastructure of services that previously existed. Many of the disabled, the elderly and the orphaned lack the means to provide their proverbial "Last Supper." Unfortunately for the people of Haiti, the time that they need foreign involvement the most, it just isn't forthcoming.
As a Deaf man, I know all to well of the paucity of support the Deaf community of Haiti received prior to this disaster. In simple terms, there is no support to my community present at this time. The needs of the general populace outweigh those of a differently-abled (manual communicated) group.
As a result of this devastation, an already marginilized community is denied basic survival. And this calamity is just respective to Deaf-Haitian culture. Imagine the results on the general population.
My maternal aunt, a Greek Orthodox nun, recently returned from six months of service in Haiti. She is fluent in ASL (American Sign Language). She witnessed first-hand the needs and the nonexistance of resources available to the persons there.
As a nation that collectively attempted to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina and failed, we can only recoil in horror at what the Haitians are experiencing. Yes, our donations are necessary and they are needed now!
A year later and I'm still unable to talk about the devastation that took place in Haiti. My heart aches to this day, my prayers are with the people of Haiti. i was just watching a news special the other day about Haiti.
ReplyDeleteROGER - I HAD TO BRING THIS BECAUSE IT NEVER LEFT ME!
ReplyDeleteCOGENT - YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!
ReplyDeleteCHET - CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THE HAITIANS MUST FEEL?
ReplyDelete