In the red corner, killing an impressive 1, 500 people, causing 8.1 billion dollars in damages and leaving thousands more displaced 4 years after it hit...is the hurricane of hurricanes, Ms. Katrina. And in the blue corner, ranking a 7.0 on the Richter scale and leaving more than 3 million people in need of emergency assistance is what is being called the greatest disaster in Haiti's history, the Haitian Earthquake. Now what is the major difference between these two catastrophes? Well, both have caused significant damage to the lands they hit. And of course, both have resulted in billions of dollars of fiscal damage. And probably most importantly, both events have significantly changed the lives of all those involved. So what, do you ask, is the big thing that separates these two tragedies.
It can be summed up in one word:
RESPONSE
I swear, I heard about the Haitian earthquake before some Haitians heard about it. The news coverage was so dead on. One minute, I am checking my Facebook account(which I do at least three times a day). The next, I am getting bombarded with links from ABC, MSN and every other rinky-dink news station out there, depicting in graphic detail the tragedy. Soon, it was "Text ***** to _____and $10 will be donated to the Haitian relief fund." Or, "Please send toiletries and canned goods to _____." Even major radio stations were urging people to "do something to help the Haitian population." And let's not get started on the star-studded concert benefit shows put on to raise money.
PUH-LEESE.
I'm all for helping my fellow man and all that jazz. But how on God's green earth, do I, as an American; justify the outpouring of support that seems to have come from all directions to Haiti, when the victims of Hurricane Katrina are still living in trailers. I do not ever remember such a strong showing of support and assistance when we had our tragedy. No Haitians were wiring money to the U.S(not that they had the means, but still, it's the principal) to help flood evacuees. There were no cell phone numbers to call and donate funds. The benefit concerts came late as did the telethons.
Perhaps, because we are America, land of the free and the home of the brave, people believe we are not susceptible to hurt and downfall. I'm pretty sure the events of 9/11 disproved that notion. We, as a nation, are just as vulnerable to the ways of fate of circumstance as any other country. Were we just supposed to suck it up and nurse our own wounds? Understandably, we do have a much better(or at least smarter) president now than we did when Hurricane Katrina hit. But damn, have we put the Katrina victims out of our thoughts? Let this new tragedy eclipse an old one?
I guess what I'm saying is, "I still wonder why so little was done for Katrina evacuees." Seeing so much attention and energy being poured into another country's problem, simply spotlights how greatly our government failed its people. We were happy to go to war and die, supposedly for our country. But we were much less willing to help preserve the lives of those on our shores, who faced imminent danger. Yet, in the same breath, the U.S is quick to put a Superman "S" on its chest and go charging in to "save" Haiti. For international acclaim? Global recognition? That, I cannot be sure of. But what I am sure of, is that it's a crying shame, when you care for more for your neighborhood across the pond; than the one living right next door. I am in no way, shape or form advising people not to support or care for the situation in Haiti. I am simply asking that people not forget those who are still putting the pieces of their lives together. Looking at the picture in a more optimist light...perhaps, by helping the earthquake survivors(whose sentiments echo that of Katrina survivors), our government may in some way redeem itself.
We shall see.
.bmp)
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