Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Haiti, Help and Hope

Haiti is in rough shape right now.

The good news is that over 90% of Haiti's citizens are alive.

The bad news is that almost 2% aren't. Haiti's major city and capital are in ruins. If something isn't done, quickly, plagues will kill off many of the survivors. The country was in bad shape, economically, to begin with. Having a corrupt government didn't help.

So what?

Haiti's a neighbor of America. Quite a few Haitians are living in America today: and more probably want to come over.

Now, why isn't this American citizen appalled at all these foreigners coming to America? Because this American citizen as a pretty good memory:

"My Ancestors were 'Them Furriners' "

"My ancestors, not all that long ago, got into this country for about the same reason as today's Haitians. They came in legally - although there was the bunch that came in through Canada. It's a little complicated.

"I suppose a 'red white and blue-blooded American' response could be to be appalled and shocked and horrified at these foreigners breaking into this fair land - getting jobs - and sending that 100 percent all-American money back to Haiti.

"Some of it, anyway. They'll have to eat, and live somewhere. And maybe buy work clothes.

"Besides, looking at it as an investment - I think America would profit, in the long run, if we can help Haiti get on its feet economically. A nation of desperately poor people can't buy our exports. A nation of stinking-rich people can.

"So, my inclination is to think: 'legal-schmegal, let them stay, let them get jobs, and with any luck they'll stay longer and open some new businesses.'..."
(Apathetic Lemming of the North (January 20, 2010))
I've told my kids that altruism is, in a sense, impossible for someone who's able to think ahead. That's because helping someone else, indirectly and eventually, benefits the person giving help. Or that person's descendants. The 'payoff' on altruism can be a long time coming.

People living in Port au Prince and other places hit by the quake are, in a way, pretty well off for now. Haiti's climate is warmer than where I live, in Minnesota: and they won't freeze to death.

The rainy season is coming in May, though. Haitians whose homes are no longer available will need a place to get in out of the rain.

If you haven't given to a charity that's helping Haiti, there's still time. Folks there will need help for quite a while yet.

Related posts:In the news:
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Imperialist American Aggressors Occupy Haiti?

I've had the news on, from a couple different networks, off and on yesterday and today. Nothing unusual there, for me.

And, nothing unusual in what I heard.
"The US has denied its military has taken charge of Haiti amid claims by France that the Americans were "occupying" the earthquake-ravaged country.

"Alain Joyandet, the French Cooperation Minister, has called on the UN to 'clarify' the American role in the impoverished country, which was previously colonised by both countries. 'This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti,' he said...."
(Telegraph.co.uk)
It's true, by the way: Americans troops are on the ground in Haiti. Big, rough American soldiers with awful, nasty guns. 'Obviously' the work of an imperialistic warmonger aggressor.

Or, maybe, the work of a nation that doesn't particularly want big people in Haiti killing little people in Haiti, to get at supplies. Or, just for the fun of it.

I heard, this morning, about a doctor in a hospital in Haiti (sorry: that's as precise as it gets for me) say that he didn't see any need for those soldiers being in Haiti. His hospital hadn't been looted.

Normally, the Haitian government would be maintaining law and order with its usual efficiency. Since about 5:00 p.m., Haiti time, last week: a noticeable percentage of the Haitian government isn't there any more. Sure, they'll get reorganized in a while: but right now, the place is a mess.

America: Damned if We Do, Damned if We Don't

The way I see it, America has two basic options, when it comes to Haitians and the little matter of keeping bullies - armed and otherwise - from hurting people who may not be big, strong, and armed themselves.
  1. Do nothing
  2. Send troops in to keep that doctor alive
Option one might work: until that doctor stopped a bullet or some other person in Haiti got hurt. Then whatever happened would be the fault of heartless, uncaring America.

Option two has resulted in the usual 'Yankee imperialism' line. No surprises there. On the up side, that doctor will probably survive to complain about something else that the Americans did - or didn't do.

Why Send Big, Rough Soldiers?

America doesn't have much of a national police force. And can you imagine the fuss, if the Yankee imperialists sent FBI or CIA agents to Haiti?

The American military is under the command of the American government, in the person of the President. And - believe it or not - American soldiers really are trained for peacekeeping. Also building bridges and roads, if it comes to that.

Sure, it would be nice if everybody in Haiti were perfectly calm, collected, law-abiding people who would never dream of taking advantage of a lack of law enforcement. It'd be nice, but the last I checked: Haitians are human beings. Some of us aren't all that nice. And many Haitians have little reason to be perfectly calm and collected right now.

Related posts: In the news:
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Friday, January 15, 2010

Americans and Generosity: Just a Thought

From the news:
"Haitian Community in Florida Sending Aid Back Home"
Voice of America (January 14, 2010)

"Members of Haitian communities across the globe are trying to reach their loved ones in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake. One of the largest communities of Haitians outside of the country itself is in Central Florida.

"Staff at an aid agency in Orlando sort through food, clothes and other items donated by members of the public. Harvest Time International sends thousands of kilos of aid to countries around the world. Special bins are for contributions for the people of Haiti...."

"...Florida businessman Michel Dorcean heads Orlando's Haitian American Chamber of Commerce. He is one of nearly 200,000 Haitians in Florida. Dorcean says Haitians around the world feel they need to contribute resources to help those back in their homeland. He said, 'There is more than four to five million people throughout the world in the Diaspora, and that is a very strong number. And this Diaspora - it is time for them to get together and pick up the plate and help out.'..."
Well, that's not so surprising. People who moved to America often kept in touch with family back home, wherever that was, and sent help when it was needed.
"Corporate America offers help to Haiti"
MyFoxOrlando (January 15, 2010)

"A broad range of U.S. corporations has already provided millions of dollars to fund relief efforts for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, helping provide urgently-needed food, supplies and disaster-management specialists.

"Haiti was stuck with a massive, 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday, leaving the capital city Port-au-Prince in ruins, killing an estimated 50,000 people and leaving millions without access to food and housing.

"President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. government will provide $100 million for relief in Haiti and companies, too, are pitching in to help.

"Roger Lowe, senior vice president of communications at the American Red Cross, said that retailer Lowe's Companies Inc, Coca-Cola Co. and Bank of America Corp. have each donated $1 million to the organization to fund its earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

"News Corporation, the parent company of FOX 35 has also announced that it will pledge $250,000 to the Haiti relief effort to be divided between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

"In addition, News Corporation will match -- dollar for dollar -- contributions made by United States-based employees, up to $250,000 for the next four weeks to the following organizations: American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Real Medicine, Salvation Army, UNICEF, Save the Children and Yele Haiti...."
Okay: That's a little odd. Aren't the bourgeois oppressing the working class something fierce, and tearing bread from the bleeding lips of the poor? Or something like that?

America Did Something Right?!

Being upbeat - or anything other than being derisive or dismissive, at best - about America and things American simply hasn't been fashionable for most of my life. Americans, if they're to appear sophisticated and intelligent, have been expected to keep up appearances by at least being apologetic about their citizenship.

In some circles, at least. The better ones, of course.

Don't Worry: You Can Believe This is All Lies

My guess is that, among the brightest and best - just ask them - in America, Voice of America is still decried as a tool of the imperialist oppressors. And MyFox Orlando? That's part of the infamous FOX news network: and 'everybody knows' they lie. All the time.

America Isn't Perfect

I'm half-Irish. I've never seen an "Irish Need Not Apply" sign: and don't feel at all bad about that. I think it helped that an Irishman could drop his accent, get a haircut, learn to be boring, wear dull clothes - and pass for 'Anglo.'

Whether the John F. Kennedy's election to the presidency was a cause or an effect in the acceptance of those papist Irish is debatable - but I'm getting off-topic.

Right now, Somali-Americans are among those who are enriching this country: and occasionally being disrespected by the usual jerks.

Like I said, America isn't perfect.

Let's put it this way: Pat 'blame Haitians' Robertson is an American.

America isn't All That Bad, Either

Fashionable anti-Americanism notwithstanding, I think that America is okay.

I hope that didn't offend anybody.

I ran into an aphorism today, on televised news. Didn't catch who said it, and this is probably more of a paraphrase than a quote. Anyway, here it is:

Americans aren't generous because they're rich. They're rich because they're generous.

I think there's an element of truth to that.

About America, from my point of view: About Haiti earthquake, in Apathetic Lemming of the North. About Haiti, from A Catholic Citizen in America
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