DAY 21: THINK HAITI

It is impossible to be a citizen of the world, and not be affected by what is happening in Haiti. Families have been torn apart, lives have been lost, and a fragile country is now forever changed.  Tragedy, as a word, falls short of conveying the impact of this earthquake. The ground not only shook in Haiti, but the world awoke to a collective sense of responsibility to help this small nation.

And responsibility.  What does it really mean?  As Americans, we are all too familiar with our leaders and popular icons running from it; but how does our lens shift in light of this tragedy?

For me, Haiti is not just the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, it also shares the island of Hispaniola with my homeland via my mother, the Dominican Republic.  As a result Haiti is a part of my childhood, my memories.  When I was young, my mother kept a beautifully bound collection of island photos on the coffee table in our family room.  I can remember pouring through the pictures, absorbing the lushness of the land, the beauty of the Haitian people, and feeling like it was somehow a part of me.  This is the Haiti I have always known.

Over the course of the next days, weeks, and months, as stories come out of Haiti, both the horrific and the good, we must try to remember the good.  We must try to remember the beauty of Haiti, the people who call it home, and their resilience in the face of turmoil and struggle.  We must help, but also we must believe in the goodness of the human spirit that is driving the global effort to provide relief.  

It sounds cliche to say that I will pray for the people of Haiti. But I will.  I also promise myself to not take this moment for granted.  To appreciate the blessings I have right in front of me, and my responsibility to share these gifts with others.

With that I remain truly yours, Milagros

21 Days Down, 344 to go.

Comments

[Noury Buttry]

I so appreciate your posting. We have to remember also the beauty of Haiti and its people, as you mentioned. They will, with the citizens of the world's help, survive. Haitians are known for their strength, character and contenment even within their circumstances of being the poorest country of this hemisphere. May God give them the strength to face moment by moment this tragedy and to give us the wisdom and compassion to help them overcome this situation.

[mollyhill]

Thanks mama

[Star]

Hey Molly--what a wonderful post...I can't help but be disgusted about some of the things that political and religious figures are saying about the island--ie it has been cursed because of the slave rebellion that freed the nation from French rule, and that Americans should not donate to Haiti because Obama is just trying to gain political capital.

So as a human being whose first thoughts were to pray for Haitian friends and their extended families and to donate money to alleviate the suffering, I don't understand this kind of thinking at all--but maybe you have some insight because of your work in politics--how can a tragedy such as this become politicized in such a callous way?

[Milagros]

Unfortunately, I don't understand it either. Of course the people of Haiti need prayer, but anyone who uses a tragedy for their own gain needs a little prayer too.

[Erin]

About the issue of responsibility and what it means: Americans seem to need more of it. The seismic tragedy Haiti faces now prompts an awakening for Americans to choose responsibility by providing support. All of our grumblings over our own economic problems, which dissiminate in comparison to loss of life, limb and lack of infrastucture to facilitate a speedy recovery, highlight the call to make right choices for the benefit of others. Enough Americans didn't have the responsibility to make right choices that would've prevented our massive foreclosures and rising unemployment, but we can please God by responsibily choosing to make right choices in preserving the lives of our Hatian neighbors.

[mollyhill]

Well Erin, you certainly know how to drive a point home in a thoughtful way. I kept on coming back to your comment this weekend, trying to figure out how to respond in a thoughtful way. I appreciate you taking time to participate in the conversation, and agree with you. Haiti continues to be an incredible study in contrasts - the horrific tragedy and loss of life, coupled with the outpouring of the human spirit. Thank you for reminding us that this is our opportunity to step up and take responsibility for helping others.