Haiti....Your opinions.....?

It has been a very tragic event over there. Between the earthquake, and the aftershocks.
My heart was saddened when this occured, and sure, I was proud we (the USA) came to help- as we always do.
But when is enough?
Do you guys think we have gone above & beyond? Or do you think we should continue to help?

Personally, I think we should slow it down. I see something wrong with the fact that we can give them an extreme amount of monetary donations, food, water, medical supplies, and offer hands-on help ....yet....there are millions of Americans in our own country sufferring. Why can't we reach out to our own country? 

My personal opinon, they need us.. and we should be there, when i see those pictures, the news and video clips, the people of haiti suffering, the children, the elders, those families with absolutely nothing.. america is no where near that in suffering, so spoiled i am as an american, i myself could never handle the amount of suffering and devastation they are in.. for now put our troubles behind us, come together.. this could be our wake-up call

Haiti was almost just as much of a hole prior to the earthquake. To a certain degree it has been a blessing in disguise for them because they are finally getting the help they've needed for decades.

My mom on the other hand is "all haitied out". She questions if there really is a god. She wonders why its always these poor areas that get mass devestation and if god truly existed how could he let this happen.

To those who wonder about why this all happend, then consult the book of Job in the bible.


Anyway, the rebuilding of Haiti will take alot of time, the sad part is that a new group asked a bunch of people if they're going to stay to help rebuilding.

They started chanting "USA" "USA!" In other words, they'd rather come here (Which is not bad in a way) mainly as life here is obviously better then Haiti. Their is obviously NO PRIDE for their country, or a willingness to help rebuild what could be a glorious rebirth.

That is what saddens me the most.

Yeah, blaming God for man's injustice is quite a stretch.

I think we should continue helping, they are in need, desperate need, I shall continue to help all I can, but my little help is nothing compared to what they need, but I am doing the best I can do right now.  God Bless Haiti!

I'm with you on the "continue helping" front but my concern is that the BBC reported that trucks are turning around with all the supplies on board and not delivering them for reasons unknown.

It's chaos over there and people are still being found alive albeit they had something like a drink and food - depending on where they were when it hit.

The people are sifting through the rubble of known shops or food halls looking for food. 

Why is all the help that has been sent from all over the world not there?  Why are people still starving to death and food trucks being turned away?

blue

blue...its a logistical nightmare.  They don't have decent roads and the airport is small.  The Haitians have poor internal infastructure, hence, it will take longer to get food and supplies inland.

I understand that ......so why were the trucks turning round without dropping off their goods for the people?

blue

The Haitians are receiving help, it is a small island this is true, America's Most Wanted moderator is scheduled to become this week, he is hiring 200 social workers to help with the children, kudoes to him.  The world has showed an outpouring of love and yes the trucks have been turned away, mistakes have been made, this is a lesson for all.  I live in California, originally from the City of Compton, California, and I remember when we had an strong earthquake and had to stay home from school, it was scary, but noone died and noone was buried under the rubble that I can remember.  I was just thinking how blessed I was then and how blessed I am now.  I remember the little things that I am blessed with today, little to some but much to others; food on my table, my own business at home; my two cadillacs, my husband, my two dogs, my health, and my strength, my willlingness to sacrifice and help others despite being tired, I am thankful to God for waking up this morning and some didnt.  God Bless Haiti, and her people, God is still in the miracle making business and I pray they will overcome.  America the Beautiful has shown its beauty in helping the people of Haiti during this crisis, despite the problems here, they have been beautiful!

I think Americans as a whole, are very generous people when tragedy strikes.  We all seem to join in and help in disasterous situations, without a problem.  Its the one on one we need a little help with...

Blue, I don't know the full reason for turning them around, but I have heard (Isolated cases) of trucks being hijacked. One was of medical supplies only doctors and nurses could know how to use.

Not knocking the people, desperation will cause anyone to do things they normally wouldn't. It will take time and yes, more will die, but from what I have seen of the roads and such it's not going to be starting to settle for months I'd guess.

They [BBC] have estimated 10 years to get back to where they were originally.  That seems a very very long time but as things are at the moment, I can well believe it.

blue

I was recently in New Orleans...and they are still recovering from Katrina.....sadly, it takes a long, long time.

Nal,

I do agree with you that Americans are a very generous people when tragedy strikes.

I think one thing that does bother me is our country is the first to be looked at and scrutinized in times of crisis. I have read quotes in moments like this...."where is the US"........aren't they going to help"???

Should there be doubt? When as a whole we are very very "generous". I think once in awhile we deserve a pat on the back in moments of crisis because we are ALWAYS there.

acgofer,

I understand your concern given the devastation our country is in. It can be worrisome considering our National debt. I have to admit, it crossed my mind as well. But what i really had to think about was though there is poverty here......nothing compares to the magnitude of crisis in Haiti. Because of this it is the only righteous thing for us to do.

Sometimes i can be so hard on our good ole USA with my opinions, but for me the reality check here is .....i'm proud of how we are known to come to the aid of other countries in need and we are among the first to help out.

Lips

It is very very sad!  I do feel for them, especially the children.  
 

I am glad for HOPE for Haiti and everyone that is donating their own money to help out.  That is great!  I guess it is hard for me to understand how/why can the USA send any country $100M when we have a TRILLION dollar deficit.

Most people don't know how Haiti was "born", well a long time ago when slavers were shipping kidnapped Africans to the colonies,they made the mistake of picking the wrong group of people, people who would rather die than becoming a slave, so they fought, and fought fiercely and without a care who died, to the point where the slavers realized they had a real situation on hand, so instead of taking these high spirited fighters to the colonies or even carribean islands farther north, they were advised to take the, to an island which was much farther south away from everything, until they could be "broken" enough to ensure they would be docile enough to enslave. The Africans would not be broken and continued to rebel and fight, until after a major coup, the slavers decided it was best to just abandon them on move on,so they are really a displaced people who have been struggling ever since,I am not Haitian, but I am a human who has a lot of compassion for all underdogs, and people who have been broken and beaten down for no reason other than someone elses greed, the Aborigines are indiginous people and most are in poverty, Hawaiins (real Hawaiins) usually cant' afford homes in Hawaii, some are homeless, there were millions of Native Americans, now just thousands, and they have a lot of problems with alcoholism, etc. I'm done with my ranting, but one last thing, I would rather keep helping people who are starvng anywhere in the world than send money to dogs and cats, and I do love animals too. I'm just saying

I agree with u 100% about helping some1 who is starving instead of animals.