Although, the tradgedy in Haiti is tremedously sad and stories of heartbreak are told everyday on the nightly news, Why does it warrent more response than the Genocide taking place in Rwanda and the displaced families of Hurricaine Katrina?
Reports of 500,000 to 1,000,000 people were slaughtered and thousand of others displaced into tent cities in Ethiopia. Do you believe the current administration is doing the right thing by giving so much attention to the country of Haiti? Do you believe the previous administrations neglected Rwanda? If so, why? The Clinton administration did not allow genocide to happen in Kosovo. On the day of the Columbine shootings, the Clinton administration dropped a record amount of ordinance on the “insurgence,” in Kosovo.
I decided to add to this post the more I thought about the situation in Haiti. Last night there was a telethon to help those in Haiti, everyone and their brother was on it. PLEASE do not take my questioning the aide as not supporting it, but why wasn’t there a world-wide cry for help when the greatest disaster on american soil took place. Yes, I’m talking about Hurricane Katrina. No medical care, people watching their parents and children die before their eyes. Communities shooting at those displaced because of flood waters saying they are not welcome in their communities. Now they are asking for people to adopt Haitian Orphans, please! There are still people displaced all over the United States because of Katrina. Families separated, children orphaned, homes and business destroyed, people still living in trailers at the risk of their health, schools have not been rebuilt. It still looks like a disaster down there. Only MTV, VH1 and BET aired telethon. ABC, CBS and NBC did not take part. Why does the government, hollywood and the average american citizen refuse to take care of their own? Or are people of color in america still considered “second” or “third” class citizens now? Without a doubt his reaction and out cry shows me we are not worthy of support, aide or help. It would almost be easier to return to separate but equal conditions, at least we would have lines and nothing would be blurred giving us the illusion we are equal in their eyes. Board rooms across america show this, big business show this, the United States Senate show this, the prisons and sentencing show this, traffic stops show this, the job market show this. We have an american President who is a product of an interracial marriage and the country believes it has came a long way from it’s past. I’m sorry, as soon as he attempted to pass something which would benefit minorities he was quickly reminded of the old rule of thumb, “one drop of black blood makes you black!” And he has been treated as such. Is this the america I believe in? No. I believe in the america that has a statue of liberty with the inscription on her stating:
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
If our countrymen truly believe in this inscription or as the bill of rights states, which has been repeated by Dr. King and President Lincoln: ”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!” We should be the america I believe in.
By attacking this travesty the way the world has, we have the nerve to debate about health care for everyone in this country and the cost. There’s no return on the investment assisting the Haitians, but doing the right thing. So, should it be different for United States Citizens to do the right thing by taking care of it’s own?
I’m jus sayin
Wow! I dont know how to respond except that I agree with you and WOW!!!!!!!
I actually agree with you. I told my dad a couple days ago how sad it was that all this happened for Haiti (which no doubt is sad and heartbreaking)but what about Katrina? What about OUR poor, homeless, orphaned, those in foster care wanting a family, etc? I think we need to concentrate on helping our own so that we are a greater force to be able to help others. Its all about paying it forward.
I am saddened to see that this country is still as divided as ever, if not WORSE. I wish we could learn from the past and not make the same mistakes, but alas that hasn’t happened.
Hey KB, can you post these a little earlier in the day so my brain is still functioning?
Few thoughts, why don’t we as American’s stand up and assist our brothers and sisters that were effected by Hurricane Katrina? Why do we need our government to show us how or what to do? We have the freedom to create anything we want. We have the ability to create a movement in this country… power in numbers. Why don’t we do it together and not worry about the administration. (which by the way, isn’t the hope haiti put together by clinton & bush?) Additionally, I believe there are several Hollywood profiles that are involved with the rebuilding of New Orleans… Dave Matthews, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Angelina. We have had Farm Aid here on our soil – to save our country – the roots of our country (no pun intended), but who has contributed and who has become involved? Granted it’s not murders, natural disaster, but it’s vitally important. Generally speaking, why must something earth shattering occur before we as humans get our asses off the couch and do something to prevent? To quote the wise Ghandi – we must be the change we wish to see in this world. Peace and Love, TP
ps. the people of Haiti are our brother’s and sister’s. They deserve to be taken care of, too. Borders should not create boundaries. We all share one God and we should love as one. Yes, I went there. I’ll debate the healthcare crap another time… two different topics in my mind. just sayin’
I think it is getting the same amount of coverage as Katrina had. But with the Haiti earthquake it is just the shear human toll that has been taken is of an apocalyptic disaster. Not to downplay Katrina but the death toll in Haiti has been astronomical, unfathanable, unthinkable. The Katrina death toll was reported in the few thousands while Haiti has been in the hundred of thousands. And as human beings we can’t ignore them. They didn’t have much to start with and where left with nothing after the earthquake. Thousands of children without parents. And when just the basic needs are finally met with food, water, and medical supplies the impoverished people who did survive won’t be left with Fema trailers to live in. Which to them would be a luxury.
sorry not to be rude or anything, but if you could kindly point the poor katrina victims i met with a couple of years ago where those fema trailers are i’ll let them know so they’ll have someplace to live. lol
Hey Uncle KB,
Well you asked for me to comment so let’s see what I can do for you.
The small amount of experience that I have with the US government has been as a “Super Power”(hereafter referred to as SP) and for the majority of my life we’ve really been the only SP around. Now because of this fact we, for some reason unknown to yours truly, have to play the youthful parent of the world. (Supermom/dad if you will) This right here is the only reason I can see why we as a country tend to help out the rest of the world rather than focus in on ourselves. Showing any of our own weaknesses would potentially shatter our standing as the world’s sole SP, or something along those lines. This is something you really see everywhere in this country, from the disasters to the feed the children organizations where you can adopt some random child in some random country for $.38/day that the child probably receives about $.08-$.10 of that, but that’s okay because in return you receive some real tear-jerking photos that you can showcase to all of your friends/coworkers in the office and everyone will think that you’re just a big shot philanthropist (although with the state of our education programs in most of the country they’ll probably just think that you’re generous, seeing how they probably don’t even know what that F-sounding word even means.) But it’s okay though because at the end of the day when everyone goes to sleep, we can sleep soundly knowing that we help our fellow human everywhere, except for Africa and our own country. To be honest though can we blame ourselves for the Africa deal, most of us tend to pretend slavery never happened and that all of us darkies just popped up out of nowhere sometime during the revolutionary war.
Now in case you haven’t noticed I’m not a big fan of it myself Uncle haha. But I believe it goes along with what this country is good at. Ignoring our own bad history and trying to sweep it under a rug and a way for us to do this as a country is shelve out millions of dollars to other countries because people like me who only make $171/week with approx. $500/month in bills, but still somehow make too much money for any kind of fed help, don’t really need that help to begin with anyway.
Now like your friend Theresa I was going to to leave the healthcare deal for another time, but I’m a bit on the sleepy side and I might just forget to reply on that later haha, but it’s okay cause this one will be much shorter.
While I appreciate the feds trying to make a healthcare system that people like me who just can’t afford to pay for it outright I still don’t think that they have the right to tell me that i have to take it or they’ll fine me such and such amount at the end of the year. It wouldn’t really matter that much because I wouldn’t be able to pay them anyway, and with the way they’ve changed taxes they couldn’t take it from me because i now don’t make enough money to be taxed on my weekly check haha. But that’s pretty much it in a nutshell.
Sorry about the rambling Uncle. maybe tomorrow after i’ve slept some i’ll re read it and write something a bit less incoherent lol.
Peace and love
MCJB
I found this today on the Onion website before realizing that it related to your latest post… It is sarcasm and parody, but makes one “think” nonetheless…
Peace, Cb
P.S. – you have to click the word “this” …
Peace, Cb
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/massive_earthquake_reveals_entire