Watching the television with the benefit of “mute” a nuclear bomb as apparently dropped on Haiti. What the…
With the economic state in the U.S. there is an almost audible collective groan that only our God-given soul and moral nature keeps us from allowing to take over. Reading about the history of Haiti, our country and theirs have a heritage that is very intertwined. It’s as if we’re either looking at our inexpensive neighbor’s house collapsing, or looking away. We don’t hear about them much since we’re focused on other things and there is a very humid forest between our house and theirs, but they’re a neighbor nonetheless.
There are some great guys I was in the military with that I wouldn’t let within a mile radius of my sister or even my mother! But after going through that adversity together, there is solidarity. I’d be there for them when push comes to shove. Or as a friend of mine put it when he was being cool about indulging my questions and interest in his beliefs [paraphrased]:
“The companion on my mission has a personality I can’t be around for too long and we haven’t talked in a long time, but after going through that, we’re close.”
There’s not much for me to say about this disaster that you and I aren’t already reading or seeing on television if we choose to look. I have various mixed thoughts about it that even I don’t think are interesting enough to be worth posting about -- but maybe in the comments.
Regardless, I do think the subject of Haiti does need to at least be brought up, even all the way up here in beautiful Idaho. It reminds me of something one of our generals said in a television interview the other day -- and is something I believe as well [also paraphrased]: “Sincerely intentioned actions and demonstrations of warranted unselfish compassion from our soldiers make it many times more difficult for “terrorists” to recruit people. It’s also cheaper.”
When it comes down to actual long term measurable results, there’s nothing like sincere good deeds to discredit your enemies. And no one listens to someone who has been exposed to have no credibility. If you do want to lift a finger and have the ability to, just avoid the scams out there that will surely pop up. Stick with credible organizations. I’ll share a few below that are credible -- most of these receive 4/4 star rating at Charity Navigator and already have a presence in Haiti.
- Easily donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting “HAITI” to “90999.” I did this and thought it a clever idea to raise money as it makes it very easy for someone to help without use of a bank card.
- Oxfam America -- 200 relief personnel in Haiti
- Save the Children -- 200 relief personnel in Haiti
- Partners in Health -- 150 physicians; intact medical center in Haiti
- CARE -- 100 relief personnel in Haiti
- Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) -- 900 relief personnel in Haiti http://doctorswithoutborders.org
- There are more of course. The best credible list I could find is here: http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
With that out of the way, any thoughts on this whole thing -- besides the usual finger pointing political ones (but if that’s all you got, why not)? What should or shouldn’t be done?
As for me, I can’t help but feel more grateful for family and friends being alive, the great country I was fortunate to be born in, and everything else I have. This may be a cliche’ but I’m ok with that.
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Idaho Falls - Haiti relief donation warnings by Danica Lawrence -- KIDK CBS 3
LDS Church Sending Team of Doctors to Assist in Haiti
Message of help for Haitians from Catholic Bishop Driscoll
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Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
:@:)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What happened? Umm…where is Haiti? Ok so I need to watch the news more often.
Well written, Towelsnapper.
And very true as well. Since we live in a more severe and active earthquake zone, the humanity we show to Haiti now will eventually come back at a time when we here need it most.
Tiger Woods donated 3 million to the Haiti relief efforts yesterday.
President Obama gave Haitians who are here illegally temporary immunity from deportation for 18 months; but only to the thousands of them who are already known to be here illegally by IRS.
Some jerk off politician then responded than all the many thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants in the U.S. aught to be immidiately deported so they can be used to dig through the rubble. He aught to be struck with leprosy.
Last night the U.N. ordered all the visiting doctors and nurses caring for Haitian patients in a field/tent hospital to evacuate immidiately; leaving CNN reporter Sanjay Gupta to care for the injured quake victims:
Security Concerns Cause Doctors to leave hospital, quake victims
I was a missionary in Haiti and it has been difficult to check on people I know. For most people before this quake happened, the day is already spent working and struggling to get food and water. They are used to dealing with disasters so things have been pretty calm up to now compared to how people would react here in Idaho Falls. But I’m afraid that soon the natural human reaction of desperation and violence will emerge as people don’t have the basics to sustain life.
Here’s a news story/video of a guy from Salmon who survived the Haiti quake:
http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?s=11873173