Do NOT Send Money to Haiti

[Twoller]

The truth is that, aside from the casualties, the country is not that much worse off than before the earthquake. The Haitians know this more than we do and aren't going to let an opportunity like this go by for opportunities to relieve themselves of their over population, which is their basic problem. And their sympathizers in the industrialized world aren't going to either. We will suffer for it if we are too soft headed about it.

We can help them with the casualties and obvious problems directly accountable to the earthquake, but should be very careful about anything beyond that and especially immigration. Increased immigration from Haiti should not be a part of aid to Haiti from anyone. Their neighbors on the same island are stepping up policing against illegals, why should we be any different?

[Rim05]

It is beyond belief to hear how some people can heap so much hate and wishes for more hell to happen to an island of people. It is a natural earth quake that has almost destroyed an entire island and a great many of the population. Men, women, children and babies. Old, young, sick and any other type of human. I have not even seen any dogs there. To wish that even the illegals here ALL BE DEPORTED DEPORTED NOW. D-E-P-O-R-T T-H-E-M A-L-L.
The US is not the only country helping. Israel was one of the first to get there, they had a so called hospital up and operating before the US. Very early the Dutch, French and many more were there. Everyone is asking for money instead of food and clothing because major construction equipment and materials are needed to do any kind of recovery.
Just what could the illegals here do when they get there if nothing is there to work with. Don't you have a TV to see that the island is just a pile of rubble with many bodies under it.
There are some countries that are trying to take some of the orphans but I don't remember if it is just for temporary since there parents could still be alive. The US is not doing it ALL, we are doing a lot just like so many others.
There are many supplies getting there from all over the world but they are not reaching those who need them. We are going to have so many military there pretty soon that is will seem like an invasion.
After all the out right nasty things that I have read here about the people, I saw them giving water to children of about the age of five. EVERY ONE I SAW GET WATER SAID "THANK YOU".
One of these days we are going to have a quake as big as the one in Haiti, the only difference will be the fact that we live in a much larger country.
Right now it is raining like every place is going to flood or wash away. Don't be too cocky because no one on earth is exempt from MOTHER NATURE.
Writing all this is a waste of time to those who are writing all these heartless posts about what should be done about the illegals and how we should not help.
Hope you enjoy your lemon juice breakfast, even that is better than some people have.

[Jeanfromfillmore]

Remo I agree with you. Haiti is in such bad shape right now, that it will take months just to bury the bodies. It was a poor country to begin with, but that doesn't make what has happened any less tragic. Their infrastructure is totally gone, and it will take help from elsewhere to even start a small amount of recovery. The world, which includes us, should come to their aid. But some of the richest countries are turning a blind eye. I sure hope the world is watching.

[Rim05]

I copied this article from THE WAR topic at FBIS. Maybe it will help some to understand some of who are helping in Haiti.

Haiti native heads home to help

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Sgt. Maj. Jean Chouloute was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and lived in Saint-Marc until he was about 11. Although he moved away, he still has family living in Port-au-Prince, and like the rest of the world, the events that have unfolded in Haiti have held his rapt attention.

More...

[Twoller]

Originally Posted by Jeanfromfillmore

... Their infrastructure is totally gone, and it will take help from elsewhere to even start a small amount of recovery. ...

This is what people are missing. "Infrastructure"? There was no infrastructure before the earthquake. "Recovery" for Haiti should not be confused with an increase in the aid that they were already getting and was mostly pointless because the basic problems of the country were not being confronted.

Yes, all kinds of countries are making search and rescue contributions, but none of them are offering an increase in immigration as part of the aid they are giving, Israel especially.

[Don]

Originally Posted by Twoller

This is what people are missing. "Infrastructure"? There was no infrastructure before the earthquake. "Recovery" for Haiti should not be confused with an increase in the aid that they were already getting and was mostly pointless because the basic problems of the country were not being confronted.

Yes, all kinds of countries are making search and rescue contributions, but none of them are offering an increase in immigration as part of the aid they are giving, Israel especially.

The White Man's Burden.

[Jeanfromfillmore]

This is a disaster that should not be put in terms of the color of ones skin. And yes they did have an infrastructure. It was not quite what we here in the US consider adequate but they had one non the less. Now it is completely gone. I do not compare what we have here and say because they were not equal to our standards that they don't deserve a modicum of relief. The whole world should help, and the US is part of the world. Who I condemn are the wealthy countries that are not contributing. Let's not make this a race thing, ok.

[Twoller]

Originally Posted by Jeanfromfillmore

... And yes they did have an infrastructure. It was not quite what we here in the US consider adequate but they had one non the less. Now it is completely gone. I do not compare what we have here and say because they were not equal to our standards that they don't deserve a modicum of relief. ...

They didn't. That was what all the previous aid was about. The problem was that it wasn't anything at all what anyone could call adequate. Of course the aid we give as a consequence of the earthquake shouldn't be held back because the country was grindingly destitute before the earthquake and socially unstable too. It's just that aid for the earthquake shouldn't be confused with the aid they need as a basic issue. And confronting the consequences of the earthquake should not be confused with with confronting the more basic problems of the country.

Notice in images coming out of the earthquake and survivors. See all the white dust which comes from the toppled cinder block structures? All that was from previous aid. It was a lot of money and it went nowhere. No more money should be sent that goes nowhere. They need family planning and they need to throw the Catholic church out.

[Rim05]

I have no idea what countries are helping but there are so many I cannot even remember all of them, even China is doing something. Relocating the people is not the answer. That was one of the worst mistakes about New Orleans, they scattered the resident all over the US instead of relocating them in Louisiana where they belonged. There was no hope that they could ever settle in other states and then resettle back to LA.
Do you think they have back hoes, catapillers, all the road building equipment and all the other equipment needed to just remove the rubble?
I just hope someone reliable is in charge of the funds for the rebuilding. The US government does not seem too safe to take care of someone elses money considering our own economic condition.

[Jeanfromfillmore]

Originally Posted by Twoller

They didn't. That was what all the previous aid was about. The problem was that it wasn't anything at all what anyone could call adequate. Of course the aid we give as a consequence of the earthquake shouldn't be held back because the country was grindingly destitute before the earthquake and socially unstable too. It's just that aid for the earthquake shouldn't be confused with the aid they need as a basic issue. And confronting the consequences of the earthquake should not be confused with with confronting the more basic problems of the country.

Notice in images coming out of the earthquake and survivors. See all the white dust which comes from the toppled cinder block structures? All that was from previous aid. It was a lot of money and it went nowhere. No more money should be sent that goes nowhere. They need family planning and they need to throw the Catholic church out.

Do you even understand what the word infrastructure means? Are you saying they didn't have roads? Or electricity, or plumbing? They may not have had the finest and everywhere, but they had it to some degree. They don't now. And before anyone jumps the gun, they need to bury the dead, get water to the people and the necessities to keep them alive.

The problems with that country should be dealt with at some future date, but right now just keeping thousands of people alive should be the first priority.