It is simply heart-rending to watch the images (which I see no point in republishing here) of Haitians living among the dead as they wait for food and water; to say nothing of those waiting for emergency medical treatment or to be rescued before earthquake rubble becomes their tomb.
But this emotion is mollified somewhat by an unprecedented outpouring of support from around the world that easily constitutes the most ennobling affirmation of our shared humanity in my lifetime. Indeed, to see rescue teams from China, Venezuela, Iceland and other countries practically competing with teams from the United States to save Haitian lives is truly heart-warming.
It’s just so disheartening that earthquake-ravaged roads and the damaged seaport are encumbering not only these time-sensitive rescue missions, but also the delivery of emergency supplies to the tens of thousands who have been without food and water for three days – with the suffering for far too many of them compounded by untreated wounds.
I am convinced, however, that all is being done to execute this relief effort as expeditiously as humanly possible. And I trust it is now plain for the world to see that no country is more willing and able to lead this effort than the United States of America.
Responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity: our diplomacy and development assistance, the power of our military and most importantly the compassion of our country … This is one of those moments that call out for American leadership.
(President Barack Obama)
Actually, China, Brazil, Venezuela and France have all made politically opportunistic attempts to lead this effort. But the Haitian government endorsed America’s exceptional standing in this respect by granting the US exclusive and indefinite command and control of the airport, which has become the nerve center of this relief effort.
More to the point, though, the US is not only providing the vast majority of all emergency supplies and financial aid, but an advance team of military forces were already handing out supplies and helping the Haitian police enforce law and order within hours of landing this afternoon. A force of 10,000 US troops is scheduled to be on the ground by Monday….
All the same, the story of this tragedy is the biblical suffering of the Haitian people – who are eating, sleeping, washing and going to the bathroom on the ground where they lay. And with decaying dead bodies all about them, just imagine the stench….
Meanwhile, Rev Pat Robertson intruded on the commiserating pathos of their suffering by proselytizing this headline-grabbing religious fable:
They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it’s a deal.
This earthquake, he sermonized, is just the latest installment in the eternal penance Haitians are paying for striking that bargain with the Devil. It is cruel, irresponsible and patently un-Christian of course. But nothing demonstrates how fallacious it is quite like the fact that only their faith in God has prevented these Haitians from rioting en masse out of sheer despair and frustration.
Unfortunately, recovery and reconstruction will soon test even their faith and long-suffering nature. Because even though recovery will come within weeks, as tent cities are erected and food and other supplies become readily available, reconstruction will take years. And as indicated in my related commentary below, I pray that governments that seem so eager to provide emergency aid today do not fail to honor their commitments to help build a Haiti that can sustain itself, govern itself and police itself.
The United States will be working with the Haitian people, their government and other governments in the Western Hemisphere, as well as nongovernmental organizations and the private sector … to rebuild a society that is more durable and more successful in the long run… This is part of the long-term commitment that we have to Haiti.
(Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley)
Finally, am I the only one who wonders why there’s such a hard drive to get us to donate cash for this effort? Not that I mind, in fact I have. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion where charity is the currency of the day. Therefore, the notion that private charities need our cash to purchase supplies seems … inconsistent.
Why aren’t people like Obama and Clinton getting manufacturers, producers, airlines, et al to donate their supplies and services, and directing our cash contributions towards Haiti’s long-term rebuilding effort…? For example, it only took a little public shaming by government officials to get banks and credit card companies to stop charging processing fees on charitable donations.
NOTE: The Red Cross estimates the death toll at around 50,000; whereas, Haitian government officials insist that it’s at least 200,000. In any case, it is bound to rise above 50k given the number of people who remain buried under rubble all over the country.
But since the greater the number of dead, the greater the amount of cash donations, one can understand why some Haitian officials have estimated the death toll at 500,000. Of course, whether 50k or ten times that number, the tragedy unfolding in Haiti compels us to give whatever we can to support the relief effort.
Related commentaries:
Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake…
* This article was originally published on Friday at 9:57 pm
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