In the wake of the devastating Haiti crisis, two things are starkly clear. People are ready, willing and able to give, and others, don’t believe in extending a hand unless they’ve taken care of their own fully.
Here’re a few comments I copied from People.com:
“How about we take care of America and the Americans’?? Why isn’t New Orleans re-built yet? Why is there so many homeless people in our own country? It’s time we start taking care of ourselves. People need to stop being obsessed with movie stars, athletes and find a hero in your own family. There is a whole lot of good American people that need jobs but yet the big companies keep exporting jobs. I just love that millionaires have to donate their time to raise money instaed of just cutting a check and going about the day. But they need to keep their name in the news or they won’t land the next multimillion dollar movie. I long for the days’ of yesterday and miss the good old USA.” – Rick
“LETS HOPE SOME OF THOSE VERY WEALTHY FILTHY RICH SUPERSTARS DONATED MORE THE JUST THEIR TIME BECAUSE THEY GOT MORE MONEY THAN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH AND I AM FLAT BROKE TRYING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER MY OWN HEAD (AND MY FAMILY’S) I WOULD DONATE IF I COULD!” – Yvonne
“Fighting over food!!!!!!!! I know 100 people that are homeless and would give there last breath for food. Take the contributions and sink it back into our home land. Ever see a homeless person suffer and die? I worked EMS for 15 years. Seen it ,and it’s sad!!! Evenly distribute the food, funds, and LOVE. We have people fighting to SURVIVE in our “Beautiful Country”. Millions of dollars going out to other places……….What about our HOMELAND!!!!! Donate a dollar to a homeless person…Donate a dollar to the abused…….Donate a dollar to the needy…… I put a $10.00 charge on my cell phone bill….. Where did it go?” – Harry Loomis
There’re tons of comments like these floating around the web. What happened to the art of giving, because there is someone in need? Have we become so cynical and so jaded that our initial reactions are, ‘I must take care of my own first?’
The lives we have are gifts. The air we breathe is a gift. When we wake up, our eyelids flutter open, and we stare at the ceiling above our heads, that’s a gift. It’s a blessing that the roof over our heads did not cave in. It’s a blessing that our hearts didn’t stop beating in the middle of the night. Each breath we take is a gift. So it’s not about the dollars and cents in your wallet, purse or bank account, it’s about that intangible stream of life flowing through you. It is worth more than anything money can buy.
If the people of Haiti could chose between $50 million and a 7.0 earthquake, I think they’d chose life. The money you send, it can’t bring back the dead, it can only help ensure a few more of their people can wake up in the morning and try again.
Taking care of people, the suffering, should be an ongoing thing. Each country must take care of its own people, ensure their safety and wellbeing. I don’t doubt that. But I find nothing wrong with helping others as you continue to help your own. It’s our duty as human beings.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find that ‘inner looking’ talk and complaining disturbing. What really happened to the art of giving and all those parables and stories of how God rewards those who give? When someone knocks on your door and you only have one slice of bread, and you know if you give it, you will go to bed hungry, what do you do? You give it. Simple, because in the morning, you shall receive, one way or the other, you will make it. When and why did we forget how to give?
I think we’ve lost the art of giving because we have lost faith. It is by faith alone that we are who we are. Did we forget how to trust in God? Did we forget how to rely on Him for everything? When and how did we become so inward looking? What happened to sacrificing? Are the lessons of faith, giving and trust becoming like subjects we learn in grade school? Half of us never use it. But you know what, in a heartbeat you’d use that dollar to buy something else. We act like we’re poor misers, but most often we aren’t.
We must stop rating our suffering against others, and just find a way to do both. Statements like ‘but me, what do I have, that I should give some to someone’ don’t help. Let’s stop rating our pain and our wealth. Who’s the poorer country? Who’s in greater need? Who’s more deserving?
God sacrificed his son, his flesh and blood for us. Jesus Christ gave up his life, for us. Gave it up, sacrificed it, allowed nails to be hammered into him, for us. If you can’t give up your only slice of bread for someone at your door, what does that mean? What does that say to God who gave you a whole lot more?
We need to have faith again. We just need to. We need to have faith that God will provide. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow brings another opportunity to make that dollar that you just donated. Others don’t have tomorrow. We do. And as long as we believe and trust in God, he will give you what you have given and more.
Let’s give, sincerely. Let’s give without calculating how that will set us back. Let’s give without thinking, ‘well my people need this more’. We can do both. We can help our own and help others. Because in the end, we have something that is more precious than what is in our bank accounts or in our wallet or purse or fridge. We have LIFE. What is more precious? Really?
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Spot on, Boakyewaa… spot on.
You are so incedibly naive, it’s almost impossible to get through the entire posting. God, Jesus Christ – really?!? Come back to reality, sweetie! Wake up, take off your rose-colored glasses, and smell reality.
Cynic, maybe if you can verbalize what you ‘term’ reality, then I can react. I take offense at you calling me naive. Why such strong language? Incredibly naive? Why the swearing? God, Jesus Christ? Yet through it all, what really have you said?
Relax. Take a chill pill. And then sit behind your computer again and type an actual argument. That might help.
I believe in dialogue and rational communication. So until you can string something clear, concrete and reasonable together, dont call me names, i.e. naive.
Blog is back!
Cynic, you know, what I like most about this blog is even when people disagree, they express their opinions in a pretty jovial and un-aggressive way. We’re just chit-chatting you know. I think the ‘God, Jesus Christ’ swearing is a bit much, really.
I also think we all operate in different realities. What is real for you maybe fantasy for me. What is fantasy for you, maybe real for me. So lets just be cool about how we express our opinions. God, Jesus Christ? Not nice. Incredibly naive? Not nice.
So, to the subject of the blog. Hmm. I did give to Haiti, even though I AM broke. But I knew that someway somehow I’ll spend that $10 on something silly. So I donated it. I admit I was a little hesitant, cos I’ve been tightening my belt lately. But hey, I do have a belt to tighten. Kids lost their families and they’re on the streets.
What touched me most about what B said is that tomorrow, I’ll get another opportunity to get that $10. Hopefully my eyelids will flutter open in the morning!
Nice one, B.
Great writing Ms. B. Very thought provoking – so much so that even though i side with you completely, i can’t help but think to myself, ‘will every Haitian given the choice, really chose LIFE?’ I wonder; is there a threshold of pain and suffering that would cause one to seriously consider death over life? The bible suggest that in the end times some will look for death and not find it – thats scary! I wonder if we’re there yet – or if catastrophes like Katrina, the Tsunami, and Haiti push some victims to that point where one has lost so much that they sincerely feel they would be better off dead, than alive.
See, i think if someone reaches that point, it is everybody elses duty to bring them back to life, so to speak. Our donations aren’t just buying food and water…i’d like to think that they are restoring lives beyond the physical needs – i like to think that we are feeding souls, restoring hope, bringing a glimmer of light to someone who for all intensive purposes, could have given up on life.
And yes, there are homeless people in our backyards….we walk past them everyday – but trust me, when i give to my church every Sunday, i actually follow up to see what they do with the money, and some of the programs they have serve homeless people in my community – i’ve seen them do it. We cannot give individually to each homeless person, but that shouldn’t deter us from giving through the various avenues that have been established to serve that specific purpose – EITHER WAY, WE NEED TO GIVE because WE HAVE!
So like i said, i totally agree with you – giving is important. And even more important is giving with an open heart – God loves a cheerful giver.
Cynic, don’t let the religious nature of this particular blog take you away from the message – as a human race, we cannot sit back and watch entire countries suffer. All who can, should attempt to give – your reason for giving must not be tied to any religion. Some give out of compassion, others give for tax purposes, some companies give cos its in their mission statement – whatever the reason is, however dumb or noble, it is important to try and help out!
i like to be a Cynic sometimes, but you’re giving us Cynics a bad name. Like B suggested, take of your ‘reality bites-colored’ shades, and express yourself a lil better.
Two-face (interesting pseydonym), you say it so much better than i did.
“Our donations aren’t just buying food and water…i’d like to think that they are restoring lives beyond the physical needs – i like to think that we are feeding souls, restoring hope, bringing a glimmer of light to someone who for all intensive purposes, could have given up on life. ”
I like that angle very much. Kinda what I was trying to say when i wrote: The money you send, it can’t bring back the dead, it can only help ensure a few more of their people can wake up in the morning and try again.
So I guess its about hope…
I think my next blog may be about cynicism vs. idealism. What does it all really mean? Are we using those terms correctly? Are they creating boundaries between people? Hmmm. Yeah I might write on that next.
I strongly believe in giving but one thing i also think is important in giving is to remember that charity always begins at home. It is good to give in any form (money, emotions etc) to others in need but don’t forget those close to u who need your help as well.
Boakyewaa, thank you for your heartfelt post. I agree that we shouldn’t be so selfish and greedy. If any one of us would have the misfortune of being in this kind of disaster, we would pray for the kindness of “strangers”. I’ve been to a couple of blogs where the the owners of those blogs have said very stupid and heartless things–and then criticize those who ARE helping! On one blog I had to dress down the person who was nitpiking about sending a measley $10 donation. Complaining about “where MY money is going” It made me so angry! Because I know they spent that money on 2 Starbuck lattes! Or a MacDonald meal or some other unnecessary thing. I was told that the money belong to them and they could do with it what every they want. I had to accept that. Some of us don’t appreciate the life that God has given us. Some believe that God has nothing to do with their lives. I agree with Two-Face that even if you arent “religious” you should still have compassion! As an American, I’m so glad that not all Americans feel so self-absorbed. black-folks.blogspot.com
Boakyewaa! – wow, a very POWERFUL piece. You captured the essence of what is happening in Haiti. You clearly identified the problem – people can talk irresponsibly B/C they have lost the faith. It is by faith that we give out of our need. B/C the human being by nature is selfish, not selfless and will not give even when it would not cost them much, much less give when they do not have enough! But that is the key – SACRIFICE RELEASES POWER.
This is not the time to think that well we have people in our respective nations who need help and we cannot cater for all of them, thus we have no business helping Haiti. The GREATEST DEMONSTRATION OF FAITH is acting in a manner which is contrary to human logic. Abraham willingly and eagerly obeyed God and was ready to sacrifice Isaac( without grumbling about Isaac being his only son.
You know Jesus said: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces” (Matthew 7:6). The import of this quote is essentially that it is a waste of time to argue/battle with people who cannot and do not value the basis of your premise. B, your premise is (in addition to a humanitarian angle), also from a deeply Christian and spiritual perspective. It will therefore be fruitless to debate people who are coming from a purely canal premise..
B,you have demonstrated that you are indeed a woman of faith and deeply spiritual. Luke 12 : 48 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. As much as we ‘think’ we do not have much, we have been given too much and are too blessed to sit back and watch the Haitians suffer so by all means, lets give and give and give and PRAY FOR THEM!
Somewhere along the trip, we changed. We have become more competitive by the hour and don’t even notice those we step on to get to the top. I blame this Rat Race on capitalism. It makes us lose trust in each other. We also started thinking we achieve because we deserve. Totally forgetting that each thing we have is a blessing. Yes, we need to have faith again.
It is possible, but not easy. I remember the days in Ghana when you could give strangers lifts, or stop on the Tema motorway to help a lady fix her flat tire. Wish we could have those times back.
I like some of the responses on people.com. The ones where they complained but still donated anyway. They weren’t forced to, but deep within, they knew it was the right thing to do. There’s hope. For now, I’ll do the little I can each day. God help the people of Haiti. God bless everyone helping the people of Haiti.
Lets give Cynic a break & hope he comes correct next time. He probably thought this was the joy fm guy’s blog.
@ Anna Renee; I laugh when I hear people say “It’s MY money”. They are so wrong. When it gets taken away from them through no fault of theirs, they will wise-up. I’ve seen it happen in this age so I know. Nothing belongs to us.
“The import of this quote is essentially that it is a waste of time to argue/battle with people who cannot and do not value the basis of your premise.” – Klorkor.
So true, so true. There are times I get into a debate and then i reach a point where I realize its no use. Before it used to take me a long while to reach that point, but lately, i get there pretty early,lololol.
Honestly, lately I am just incredibly grateful for life, seriously, no joke. Each time I wake up, I stare at the ceiling and repeat over and over, ‘God, thank you, much appreciated.’ Anything can happen anywhere, anytime. LIFE is such a gift man.
My belief is, why cant you take care of your own and still help others? Because at what point would you say, ‘okay, now i can afford to spare.’ Even developed, industrial countries still face poverty, and inefficiencies in heath care and education. Is there any country that has no poor citizens?
Why cant we be charitable at home, and still give? I think we can, and Haiti is one instance where we should.
Mike, you’re very funny oh. You know I dont know how Ato KD handles those naysayers on his blog. Some of them are downright evil, I tell ya. The hate they spew sometimes is just shocking.
There’ll always be disagreements in this world, lets just be a little civil. Is that such a tall order?
the truth is no matter how much you give , some people will still be in need, so the most important thing is to do your best at every given time to help others, sometimes at home, sometimes abroad.
Wow…”a hot debate” about helping out others who have suffered a devastating blow? Yikes…that is a sad testament of where the world is today.
@Cynic — shaking my head…that was just poor.
True Boakyewaa, Ghanaians wanted to tear President Mills apart when they heard he had doled out $3 million to Haiti.
wow, I haven’t been here in a while! wassup Ms B!?! Anyways, I found myself texting to Red Cross after the first quake ‘cos all I could think about was “this could be my country” … “These people look like my people”… and that did it. That said, I hope we will come to the aid of our own people when they need it.
I’ll be honest and say that sometimes i feel like the people quoted. It’s not that i’m against aid to Haiti in any way. It’s just that as a Ghanaian i was very surprised (to put it mildly) when the government donated US$3 million to the relief fund. I didn’t know we had that kind of money to spare! Yet our government argues over giving an extra couple of pesewas per student for feeding in the schools. Yet our teachers are still crying for better salaries. Yet we are lucky if water flows through our taps once a week. Yet we are lucky if we have uninterrupted power supply for a whole week. Yet our roads are still pothole riddled and street lights and traffic lights do not work (and motorists are faced with a 500% increase in road tolls). You see where i am going with this. We too are a manmade disaster waiting to happen. My thought would have been for maybe a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars for Haiti and the rest towards developing our nation. Then again i suppose we need to foster the goodwill our donation brought to us. So that when its our turn hopefully other nations will be donating US$3 million a piece. My two cents….
I have a slight opinion about seeing life as a gift. It is a gift alright, and that is the very reason why we should not count it as an asset. “Aside the gift of life, what can I add to myself and to the world”? that should be everyone’s question every morning!
I do actually agree with Rick and Harry, because I was thinking about the same thing, just yesterday. I am not saying we shouldn’t contribute towards the needy in Haiti. Seeing the kids on TV actually made me cry and I have contributed through my work towards the relief of Haiti. I think what they are saying is Americans are eager to jump up and raise funds for countries outside the country, but there are a LOT of people who are homeless, hungry and illiterates in the US of A. The US??? unbelievable!! and nobody is helping. Are we in denial or we don’t care? When I saw pics of New Orleans on TV, I was shocked that places like that existed in the US. The same applies to the needy in Ghana. If all Ghanaians in the US contribute a dollar a month, we can build a school, have books for kids to read. People are dying of preventable diseases…. I am sorry if I am all over the place….I will stop here by saying let’s get together and support our countries, instead of just being critics and doing nothing…
Ghana donated $3million dollars??? Huh!! Hmmm….Wow! really? I see… Ok.
Well spoken, I cant believe Ghana actually donated $3 million, we have been living in a state of disaster since independence! god preserve us.