World Shake-Up

This morning, the 4.3 earthquake centered less than 20 miles from my doorstep woke me at 4:00 am. I counted slowly 1-2-3-4-5 before it stopped its gentle shaking, then went back to sleep.

At breakfast Friday morning, the group got into it about the aid reponse in Haiti, with one of the gals railing at the failure of the USA to be freeing, feeding, and rebuilding within the first 24 hours of the event. When I explained that, after listening to Anderson Cooper on the ground explain his experience in getting to the core of the quake-devastated area, the response is probably better than it could have been, although not as perfect as everyone wants it to be. The air traffic is being directed by 2 military men standing on the tarmac, using field phones and line of sight to get planes in and out. The trip overland from the neighboring country is taking 12-15 hours by car; although there is no actual damage to either roads or bridges, the roads are narrow, rutted routes, not CA freeways!

We have an aircraft carrier off the coast, filled with medical supplies, water purification facilities, and helicopters; we have palettes filled with food, water, and medical supplies off-loaded from the planes landing at the airport; however, getting what is needed to where it is needed is hampered by the piles of rubble. Survivors and bodies cover every available open space, the same spaces that vehicles, rescue personnel, and relief supplies need to be. Throngs of people ramping up to full-blown panic rush anyone who has access to medical services, food, or water. The threat of full-blown riots means that troops carrying weapons have to maintain law and order and be willing to shoot if conditions warrant that response. There are no quick answers, but it's easier to criticize from the living room than it is to be the one standing with a rifle aimed toward the victims of such a horrific natural disaster.

I understand my friend's frustration, her disdain for what should be done, but is not being done in what she has decided is a timely manner -- but I do not understand her response to the thousands of USA military personnel, rescue volunteers, and medical personnel, as well as world citizens who have arrived and are doing their best to provide assistance in spite of overwhelming odds against them. There is no Haitian government providing organization, directing personnel where to go, what to do. Haitians walk past the dead bodies decaying on their roadways, but scream at the news media that they cannot breathe because of the stench. The people scream "Do something to help us," but they make no effort to help themselves. The people can organize themselves and remove the bodies for burial -- and open the roadways so emergency personnel and supplies could get through -- but they wait for someone else to do it for them. The hands reach toward the USA to "do something," but the people of Haiti now accuse those very volunteers of taking care of their own at the expense of Haitians, while doing little to help themselves.

The Three Presidents spoke at a special news conference this morning, the message of which is "send money" now and forever because "we" have to rebuild Haiti. "We" still haven't rebuilt New Orleans, and I think I can count on one hand the number of foreign governments who came to our aid, who put boots on the ground and food into the victims' mouths. We must help -- humanity helps humanity -- but expecting the USA to be there first and the last to leave is an unrealistic expectation that becomes a huge financial burden on a country trying to recover its own economic footing.

ADDING: It is Monday and there are still rescuers finding people alive, but hope is rapidly dimming, so the news coverage has shifted to the failure of the US military to set up hospitals and save lives. The broadcasters lament that survivors are dying from gangrene, crush injuries that need surgery, and rampant infections -- as if it's the failure of the USA to care for ALL of the victims in a timely, miraculous manner. The accusations have escalated because the military cannot get food/water/medical services to all people at the same time.

NO HAITIAN OFFICIAL has been seen -- anywhere -- offering to do anything! The assumption remains that the USA has to get the job done, provide food, water, medical care -- and money for the rebuilding efforts. Really?? How about the Haitians pointing the finger at someone other than the USA or hauling off the bodies for burial or removing debris from the roadways -- doing something other than complaining about how the USA is failing to help them during this disaster?