A 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Haiti

[parfait]

Oh, and if you're so outraged, get off the Journey Internet forum, book a flight to Haiti, and offer your personal services.

This is a reply to your two last posts.

My aunt lives in Port-au-Prince (she's okay, though) so yes, both me, my brother and my dad is going down to Haiti to help out.

France is doing the same as any country with a tiny bit of empathy - they're sending troops, money and food. And the states is not the first or only one to help out. That's bullshit.

[Saint John]

Matt's right. No one is obligated to mourn. And assuming Sammy Sosa is ok I won't be. I'll give blood, though. That seems easy enough.

[Michigan Girl]

This is sad and all, but I just have to laugh at how quick we in the United States are so quick to send a bunch of money, troops, and on the personal level, ourselves want to donate shit to them. When's the last time you donated to an inner city program in America? The last time you went to a soup kitchen here in America? The last time you sent $10 to an ailing, crumbling municipality? Who helped us during Katrina? Any countries?

Things are too bad here in our own country, we don't need to be bending over backwards to help anyone else right now. When times are prosperous, pick any good year, fine, but right now, we should let other nations and organizations fuckin help. We need to help ourselves right here in our own fuckin country.

Show some god damn empathy. Possibly a hundred thousand people has died, and you're telling me you think everyone should just mind their own fucking business?

I know you are busy making another new friend and I don't want to interrupt, but
Matty has made some very good points here, you want to just answer his questions?!?!

[Ehwmatt]

Matt's right. No one is obligated to mourn. And assuming Sammy Sosa is ok I won't be. I'll give blood, though. That seems easy enough.

It's not about saying "Fuck those people I don't care," it's about saying enough is enough and letting other nations handle the job of world's babysitter for a change. No one helped us in Katrina... ok, maybe the Brits sent over a bag of potatoes and a few bags of tea. Come to think of it, no one will really ever helped us with any of the internal catastrophes we've suffered, at least not on the scale that we help others.

When we were the world's foremost power and things were good, it was arguably imperative on us as a nation to be the first on the scene. Now, in the shape we're in, I'd love to see Obungler and our other leaders show THIS much concern for the myriad tragedies that are unfolding every day in this country, rickety and shaky as it is right now.

And that goes for all of us every day people too. We all see the tragedy on the news, sensationalized of course, and the knee-jerk reaction is to want to do whatever you can. But, it's sad that we don't have that imperative in our own country with our own affairs, from our buffoon president right on down to myself.

[Don]

I side with Ehwmatt on this one. We have a lot of causes here that need attention. if you want to send a ten dollar check to Haiti, make sure you write one for your local shelter also. Charity should start at home. I've done relief work overseas and too many times it's Europeans and Americans doing the brunt of it while many of the affluent citizens of these third world countries turn their back on their own.

[Playitloudforme]

I guess I don't rely on my government to come save my ass or anyone elses. I was suggesting that if you felt like donating, do.

This wasn't a thread about government or anything political or religious. Just Serious Ass Human Need. Donate, don't donate, whatever. I personally don't sit by and do nothing when something truly major hits. And I do give of time, blood and money at home.

Do what your conscious tells you to do. All action starts with you anyway.

[Saint John]

me, my brother and my dad is going down to Haiti to help out.

Have fun. When you see that dude in your avatar asking you for your wallet don't say I didn't warn you. And good luck with tuberculosis. That'll be fun.

[perryswoman]

I side with Ehwmatt on this one. We have a lot of causes here that need attention. if you want to send a ten dollar check to Haiti, make sure you write one for your local shelter also. Charity should start at home. I've done relief work overseas and too many times it's Europeans and Americans doing the brunt of it while many of the affluent citizens of these third world countries turn their back on their own.

Yes I side with him too~The US is dire straights right now with so many people unemployed and homeless and we need to have our asses here taking care of our on problems. Anyone of us can still send money anytime we want but really it's just crazy how we run all over the world but avoid our on problems.

[Ehwmatt]

And you know what Playitloud? You're free to do anything from not think about it for a second to giving your entire bank account. That's your prerogative. Our government doesn't need to be sending money and troops we can't spare somewhere else in the shape we're in.

[Playitloudforme]

The empathy for human suffering here is truly amazing.

Bye.

[parfait]

Matt's right. No one is obligated to mourn. And assuming Sammy Sosa is ok I won't be. I'll give blood, though. That seems easy enough.

It's not about saying "Fuck those people I don't care," it's about saying enough is enough and letting other nations handle the job of world's babysitter for a change. No one helped us in Katrina... ok, maybe the Brits sent over a bag of potatoes and a few bags of tea. Come to think of it, no one will really ever helped us with any of the internal catastrophes we've suffered, at least not on the scale that we help others.

When we were the world's foremost power and things were good, it was arguably imperative on us as a nation to be the first on the scene. Now, in the shape we're in, I'd love to see Obungler and our other leaders show THIS much concern for the myriad tragedies that are unfolding every day in this country, rickety and shaky as it is right now.

And that goes for all of us every day people too. We all see the tragedy on the news, sensationalized of course, and the knee-jerk reaction is to want to do whatever you can. But, it's sad that we don't have that imperative in our own country with our own affairs, from our buffoon president right on down to myself.

I'm gonna try to answer both Gunbot, Cougar from Michigan and you in one post.

Matt: I get what you're saying. But the fact of the matter is, that the US and A has acted like the world police for so many years, dictating what other countries "should or no do". You've started several wars, given a flying rats ass in the UN, and continue to do so, and truly comes off as someone who will do what they want, when they want, and except every other western country to accept that. You've even got a Nobel's peace price!

You can't go around and do what you want, and not expect to do some dirty work. France got a huge economical problem, they've got a bigger problem with foreigner's than USA and struggles with a huge crime rate. Still, we gladly send of help, because... wait for it... It's the god damn right thing to do!

Cougar from Michigan: What are you talking about?

Gunbot: Of course it's the west who does all the dirty work. That's cause the west are those who are most able to do so.

[Ehwmatt]

Matt, this is the kind of reaction that makes America Great in the eyes of the World. Yeah the World may not always show it in return, but really, how many Countries can afford to help other Countries? Not many. We can and we do because that's who we are as a people. Acts of kindness go a long way and the rewards are sometimes generations in coming back, if they ever do (and of course rewards aren't why you give in the first place). Nevertheless, it's always right to do the right thing, whether now in Haiti or tomorrow if you give $20 to the Inner Parish Ministry of Cleveland.

As far a Katrina goes, it appears that we couldn't handle all of the aid sent from abroad. The Fed gov couldn't handle it all and didn't have the manpower to distribute it. Sad but true.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01113.html

I stand corrected on the Katrina point, thank you.

I don't disagree with much of your post on a conceptual level, but the fact of the matter is, we run from our own problems or don't deal with them and then get up in arms when something like this happens. At this point in our country/economy/history, we need to put our resources into helping our own, and not just do it in a way that we're just throwing huge chunks of money at entitlement programs and banks.

[Michigan Girl]

Cougar from Michigan: What are you talking about?

I said, "I'm glad your aunt is ok and you are doing a very nice thing~
Keep up the good work."...why do I always have to repeat myself w/you?!?!?

[Ehwmatt]

Matt's right. No one is obligated to mourn. And assuming Sammy Sosa is ok I won't be. I'll give blood, though. That seems easy enough.

It's not about saying "Fuck those people I don't care," it's about saying enough is enough and letting other nations handle the job of world's babysitter for a change. No one helped us in Katrina... ok, maybe the Brits sent over a bag of potatoes and a few bags of tea. Come to think of it, no one will really ever helped us with any of the internal catastrophes we've suffered, at least not on the scale that we help others.

When we were the world's foremost power and things were good, it was arguably imperative on us as a nation to be the first on the scene. Now, in the shape we're in, I'd love to see Obungler and our other leaders show THIS much concern for the myriad tragedies that are unfolding every day in this country, rickety and shaky as it is right now.

And that goes for all of us every day people too. We all see the tragedy on the news, sensationalized of course, and the knee-jerk reaction is to want to do whatever you can. But, it's sad that we don't have that imperative in our own country with our own affairs, from our buffoon president right on down to myself.

I'm gonna try to answer both Gunbot, Cougar from Michigan and you in one post.

Matt: I get what you're saying. But the fact of the matter is, that the US and A has acted like the world police for so many years, dictating what other countries "should or no do". You've started several wars, given a flying rats ass in the UN, and continue to do so, and truly comes off as someone who will do what they want, when they want, and except every other western country to accept that. You've even got a Nobel's peace price!

You can't go around and do what you want, and not expect to do some dirty work. France got a huge economical problem, they've got a bigger problem with foreigner's than USA and struggles with a huge crime rate. Still, we gladly send of help, because... wait for it... It's the god damn right thing to do!

First of all, that Nobel Peace Prize is as phony as a three dollar bill

I'm just gonna let the tired old "world police" rhetoric lie, but as for the rest of your post:

Second of all, we have been doing the lion's share of the "dirty work" as you call it for ages. Like I said, we arguably did have the moral imperative to help when we were the clear and foremost economic world power. Right now, we can't govern ourselves or employ ourselves. Our energy and resources need to be devoted to fixing that so that our helping others to the extent we do will be justifiable.

Look at it from a long run perspective if it makes you feel better. We fix ourselves now, we can help more the next time something like this goes down.

[Saint John]

Matt, this is the kind of reaction that makes America Great in the eyes of the World.

Um ... no it doesn't.

Yeah the World may never show it in return

Fixed that for you.

how many Countries can afford to help other Countries?

Not this one! I don't see people oversees sending any checks to our citizens that have foreclosure signs in their fucking yards.



Charity is a personal choice and some debate in this or any thread isn't the end of the fucking world. Hell, this thread is responsible for me donating blood, so it worked.

[parfait]

Matt's right. No one is obligated to mourn. And assuming Sammy Sosa is ok I won't be. I'll give blood, though. That seems easy enough.

It's not about saying "Fuck those people I don't care," it's about saying enough is enough and letting other nations handle the job of world's babysitter for a change. No one helped us in Katrina... ok, maybe the Brits sent over a bag of potatoes and a few bags of tea. Come to think of it, no one will really ever helped us with any of the internal catastrophes we've suffered, at least not on the scale that we help others.

When we were the world's foremost power and things were good, it was arguably imperative on us as a nation to be the first on the scene. Now, in the shape we're in, I'd love to see Obungler and our other leaders show THIS much concern for the myriad tragedies that are unfolding every day in this country, rickety and shaky as it is right now.

And that goes for all of us every day people too. We all see the tragedy on the news, sensationalized of course, and the knee-jerk reaction is to want to do whatever you can. But, it's sad that we don't have that imperative in our own country with our own affairs, from our buffoon president right on down to myself.

I'm gonna try to answer both Gunbot, Cougar from Michigan and you in one post.

Matt: I get what you're saying. But the fact of the matter is, that the US and A has acted like the world police for so many years, dictating what other countries "should or no do". You've started several wars, given a flying rats ass in the UN, and continue to do so, and truly comes off as someone who will do what they want, when they want, and except every other western country to accept that. You've even got a Nobel's peace price!

You can't go around and do what you want, and not expect to do some dirty work. France got a huge economical problem, they've got a bigger problem with foreigner's than USA and struggles with a huge crime rate. Still, we gladly send of help, because... wait for it... It's the god damn right thing to do!

First of all, that Nobel Peace Prize is as phony as a three dollar bill

I'm just gonna let the tired old "world police" rhetoric lie, but as for the rest of your post:

Second of all, we have been doing the lion's share of the "dirty work" as you call it for ages. Like I said, we arguably did have the moral imperative to help when we were the clear and foremost economic world power. Right now, we can't govern ourselves or employ ourselves. Our energy and resources need to be devoted to fixing that so that our helping others to the extent we do will be justifiable.

Look at it from a long run perspective if it makes you feel better. We fix ourselves now, we can help more the next time something like this goes down.

I gotta give it to you, Matt. You're argument is pretty damn sound. This would be the time that I wouldn't have any more smart stuff to say, so I would start to bash on your family for example, but since that's been unofficially banned around here ( ), I guess I kinda agree with you. I still think that's it's wrong to overlook Haiti just cause you got problems in the US though.

And to answer your question Miss. Michigan: Cause I <3 u.

[DrFU]

Oh, and if you're so outraged, get off the Journey Internet forum, book a flight to Haiti, and offer your personal services.

Their control tower collapsed and pilots of relief flights are on their own coordinating landings with each other.

[RocknRoll]

I agree with a lot of what Matt and others are saying, but as little as a $10 contribution can save lives in Haiti. What does that same contribution get you here?

[RocknRoll]

Oh, and if you're so outraged, get off the Journey Internet forum, book a flight to Haiti, and offer your personal services.

Their control tower collapsed and pilots of relief flights are on their own coordinating landings with each other.

Linda, I grew up flying at uncontrolled airports and if traffic is light it works fine. They'll get it handled.

[Don]

Oh, and if you're so outraged, get off the Journey Internet forum, book a flight to Haiti, and offer your personal services.

Their control tower collapsed and pilots of relief flights are on their own coordinating landings with each other.

Linda, I grew up flying at uncontrolled airports and if traffic is light it works fine. They'll get it handled.

It depends if the runway held up. It should have. When I was there in 93 we put a heavy workload on it.

[StevePerryHair]

Well, I know people personally who have family there that they can't reach. There is a large Haitan community here in our area of Florida, and I'd guess many cities in Fl. Those are the people I will help when I find out what they need for their families.

[DrFU]

Oh, and if you're so outraged, get off the Journey Internet forum, book a flight to Haiti, and offer your personal services.

Their control tower collapsed and pilots of relief flights are on their own coordinating landings with each other.

Linda, I grew up flying at uncontrolled airports and if traffic is light it works fine. They'll get it handled.

It depends if the runway held up. It should have. When I was there in 93 we put a heavy workload on it.

I was trying to point out (in my minimalist way) that it is not business-as-usual there; this is a full-blown disaster in one of the poorest countries on Earth. 10s of thousands potentially dead, no water, no electricity, no phones, most of the capitol city flattened, no functional central government to coordinate relief when it does arrive.

I find hierarchy-of-oppression debates pointless. There is plenty of human suffering and misery to go around, both domestic and international, for every single person who wants to help out others to have the opportunity to do so, in whatever form and at whatever level she/he is moved to do. Human compassion and kindness are never misplaced, in my bleeding heart, tree-hugging, granola girl opinion.

[treetopovskaya]

heart wrenching.

bless all those that are helping... & the people of haiti.

[StevePerryHair]

Someone I went to high school with just got back from there 2 days before the earthquake from a missionary trip with her whole family. Talk about timing! She said they contacted the other missionary groups and they were all safe and went to higher land. And that the people they had stayed with and helped were okay. She had pictures from her trip of these kids though, with smiling faces and they were so happy helping them. It's kind of sad to see those pics knowing what they must be feeling now just a couple days later. When people stop caring is when the world becomes a scary scary place.

[Ehwmatt]

I agree with a lot of what Matt and others are saying, but as little as a $10 contribution can save lives in Haiti. What does that same contribution get you here?

I was just driving home from the gym listening to the radio and they were having a pretty good debate about really knowing where your money goes when you give to some of these "charities." I wish there was a way you could GPS track the money straight into the hands of the person(s) who really need it. I think the very real possibility that your money won't get to those who need it stops or at least discourages a lot of people from giving

[Ehwmatt]

I gotta give it to you, Matt. You're argument is pretty damn sound. This would be the time that I wouldn't have any more smart stuff to say, so I would start to bash on your family for example, but since that's been unofficially banned around here ( ), I guess I kinda agree with you. I still think that's it's wrong to overlook Haiti just cause you got problems in the US though.

And to answer your question Miss. Michigan: Cause I <3 u.

I mean I'm not saying that every one should send $10 to their local church or salvation army or what have you instead of Haiti just because it keeps it "in house." I just want people, especially our leaders, to wake up and get real and show the same focus about solving our own problems rather than throwing money into entitlement programs people scam and at banks etc. instead of making good, micromanaged efforts to create jobs, improve schools, improve inner city living conditions, and what not.

It shouldn't take a tragedy of epic proportions like this to get people in the problem solving mood, at home or abroad. It's more than just giving money, food, or what have you. It's the whole picture, actively thinking about solving issues and what not. It's too easy to put continuing problems that don't necessarily make for a heartwrenching front page photo on the backburner or just try to macromanage it by throwing obscene sums of money at it, like we're doing now.

[StevePerryHair]

I agree with a lot of what Matt and others are saying, but as little as a $10 contribution can save lives in Haiti. What does that same contribution get you here?

I was just driving home from the gym listening to the radio and they were having a pretty good debate about really knowing where your money goes when you give to some of these "charities." I wish there was a way you could GPS track the money straight into the hands of the person(s) who really need it. I think the very real possibility that your money won't get to those who need it stops or at least discourages a lot of people from giving

Well the problem is making sure it doesn't somehow end up in the hands of the governments who are corrupt which is why they end up the way they are in the first place. Its sad. Many of the missionary groups that go to these places to help are usually reliable though, because they bring things directly to the people in need. If they can even get to them right now though.

[Michigan Girl]

I am reading ~
"Your donation will support organizations sending teams to provide emergency relief"

Such as~ Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Service, Direct Relief International, Haitian Health Foundation,
American Red Cross, Americares, just to name a very few....

[treetopovskaya]

http://www.hopeforhaiti.com/

[StevePerryHair]

I find hierarchy-of-oppression debates pointless. There is plenty of human suffering and misery to go around, both domestic and international, for every single person who wants to help out others to have the opportunity to do so, in whatever form and at whatever level she/he is moved to do. Human compassion and kindness are never misplaced, in my bleeding heart, tree-hugging, granola girl opinion.

+1

you just admitted to being a bleeding heart tree hugger