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Streets lined with sheet-covered bodies, buildings reduced to rubble, and countless people with nowhere to go. Such are the images that are coming out of Haiti in the aftermath of one of the biggest natural disasters in recent history. And so the troubled Caribbean island nation of 9 million people finds itself once again in the spotlight of the world stage. I am truly overwhelmed by the thought of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere having to overcome this challenge but feel incredibly moved and encouraged by the fact that the world is showing up at Haiti’s doorstep to lend a hand to this bleeding nation.
By many accounts the economic situation in Haiti was beginning to look up. Just the day before the earthquake hit, my family watched a PBS special about various enterprising businessmen who, despite facing challenges, seemed hopeful about what the near future would bring. Unfortunately, any progress that was made in the last ten years has now been erased and just to get Haiti back to its pre-earthquake status promises to be a massive undertaking.
As horrible as the crisis is, we shouldn’t overlook the world’s capacity to come together in this moment of despair. The US looks like it has taken the lead in relief efforts, installing a temporary air control center to manage the onslaught of planes trying to land on (and leave from) Port-au-Prince’s sole runway. Countries of all walks of life, from Canada to China and Venezuela to the European Union are eagerly stepping up to provide search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies, and money. Even Cuba is allowing American planes to use its airspace to evacuate quake victims directly to the US.
So don’t let people like Rush (“[The Obama Administration] will use this to burnish their, shall we say, ‘credibility’ with the black community—in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It's made-to-order for them.”) and Robertson (“And [the Haitians] 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 ‘OK, it's a deal.’”) get you down—the world is converging on Haiti, and even if it will only be a for a short time, it is proof that this diverse world will come together when most needed.
Kris, these are wonderful sentiments. I completely agree. What I also find encouraging is that some people (see today's WP Opinion page) are also looking at the tragedy as a way to start over and hopefully once and for all help Haiti get on a sustainable track. People living on the edge have to be incredibly innovative in order to survive....Let us hope that somehow this entrepreneurial spirit is unleashed to make a permanent difference...
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