January 13, 2010
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Why Haiti?
As I sat at home last night in the comfort of my living room, enjoying my routine of watching sports talk shows while eating dinner, my phone started to ring with text messages.
“Hey Dave, I saw the news. Is your family okay?”
Not exactly the type of text you want to be getting. What the hell just happened?
I flip through the news channel and quickly learn that a devastating earthquake had just rocked Port au Prince. My father’s family is Haitian. We still have alot of family down there, and most of them live and work in or around Port au Prince. I quickly called my grandmother to see if she had any news. None yet. We still had to wait and see.
Waiting is the worst part.
With power down throughout the entire city, I was afraid that we might have to wait a while before hearing word. Thankfully we did not. Most of my family down there is accounted for. However, we are stll waiting to hear about one of my grandaunts, and two of my father’s cousins. I count myself among the lucky. Most people are still waiting to hear from their family members in Port au Prince. Many will never hear from them again.
This morning, my cousin from Miami had a post up on his facebook which read simply, “Why Haiti?” I remember when I went back to Haiti in 2007. It was the first time I had been back in over fifteen years. As I drove around Port au Prince, I can recall thinking that although there was still a long way to go, I saw progress. It was a stark contrast to the Haiti I remember from my childhood. (That would be the Haiti ravaged from years of war and pillaging. More on this later.)
In the three short years since that visit, Haiti has been torn asunder. Hurricanes and mudlsides have wreaked havoc. Now, before the country has even had a chance to recover, this earthquake destroys their capitol. The homes, businesses, and lives the people who were already the poorest in our hemisphere have just been turned upside down. So I ask again…
…Why Haiti?For those interesting in helping immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross
to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. (More information)
