Text

Haiti

to 90999 and $10 will be charged to your phone bill to help Haiti through the Red Cross

How to help victims of the Haiti earthquake -

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

No offense but we have enough people in the US that need help... I am tired of seeing it all go to those who could give a **** about the US when they need help...

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Be careful what you wish for.....

No offense taken. My choice to donate $10 is based on two things 1. The Red Cross is a wonderful agency that takes care of immediate need and is mostly staffed by volunteers so most of the $ go to the victims and 2. This is a horrendous disaster that people had no control over. They have no way to fend for themselves as people in the US do. As one poster mentioned in another thread about helping people oversees "they don't even have a dumpster to dive in".

I care about people in the US as do others who donate to good causes overseas. If my $10 can buy some poor woman a stove so she doesn't have to get raped getting firewood then I consider that an investment in humanity. I donate $, clothes, my time and other resources to many local and national charities as do many of us on this board.
I hope that helps you understand a little better why someone can help overseas and still care about the US.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I also agree that these poor people need help. They are the poorest of poor, and a catastrophe like this happens to them. They certainly did not ask for it.
When I first heard about this, I hoped that some very notable person/organization organizes a concert or something to generate a lot of money to help in anyway to ease their suffering.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

I hesitate to post this as I'm sure I'll catch heck but as I'm watching coverage of this catastrophe on TV, it crossed my mind that this "natural disaster" could be a natural means of reducing the population of this 80% poverty country....I don't think I'm mean or uncaring, really I don't....I just have to wonder why these devestating situations seem to befall already impoverished regions....

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Any individual can and should do as he or she wishes.

It's when the government gives away tax money that gets me. I don't think I am an uncaring person, either, as cjs has mused about herself. I do things on my own and if I didn't pay as much in taxes, I could do even more.

I will say it. When I saw this on the morning news, I wondered how fast and how much money our already heavily in debt country will throw at this situation. I also shudder to think of much of it will actually be put to use and how much will be scammed.

dl

Wow --- The only thing that crossed my mind last night was "There but for the grace of God ... "

I was reminded of how thankful I am to be lucky enough to live in a country weathy enough to have things like building codes to withstand earthquakes, and infrastructures that enable me to not live in crowded a city. And I was reminded how little those actually affected by poverty have control over their lives and circumstances. I then immediately looked to the Red Cross site to see how I can be of some small help to those suffering so terribly right now.

Thank you for letting people know about the Red Cross donation system.

I think that's why you make sure you are donating to a reputable charity so you know it's going to good use.

Well.....I don't think earthquakes and natural disasters can plan to hit impoverished regions.... The reason they have been hit so hard is because they are a poor country and therefore their houses are not earthquake proof, etc... I think the devastation is mainly because of poverty. If this was a well-off country and their buildings were built with these things in mind we might not have near the devastation. God bless them all!

Anna thanks so much for posting was happened to port of prince in Haiti is so sad and knowing how poor of a country right now they need all the help they can get and with Red Cross you could never go wrong. Again I agree with Nightowlrn I thank God everyday to live in the most wonderful country in the world the United States of America. My heart and prayers goes out to the people of Haiti may God Bless them and get them the help they so dearly need. The pictures I have seen brought tears to my eyes. Again Anna tia for posting. Peace. Catherine

Amen Catherine!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

They chose to practice the voodoo. They got what was coming.

"I hesitate to post this as I'm sure I'll catch heck but as I'm watching coverage of this catastrophe on TV, it crossed my mind that this "natural disaster" could be a natural means of reducing the population of this 80% poverty country....I don't think I'm mean or uncaring, really I don't....I just have to wonder why these devestating situations seem to befall already impoverished regions...."
I agree!! My husband always says that it is thinning the herd.... The lord works in mysterious ways....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

If you think the Lord is thinning the herd by a natural disaster is he also "thinning the herd" with the AIDS virus? If you apply it to one don't you have to apply it to another thing that seems to target a certain population?

Is that what you thought when watching the Katrina disaster unfold a few years ago along the Gulf Coast? Or when you watched the World Trade Center collapse?

To attribute this to God 'thinning the herd' seems to be completely belittling the significance of a group of people that happen to be desperately poor. From what little I know of the Bible, the poor have a special place close to God's heart.

I am sorry if I come across as harsh or judgmental, it just that I know so many people in Haiti (specifically Port-au-Prince) and am waiting to hear if they are okay.

Good post and I hope your friends are ok. Yes, God does have a special place close to His heart for the poor.

I don't know you perhaps you are the nicest and smartest person in the world but pardon me this is an ignorant statement.

If the world, or God, or Fate, or Karma worked that way then every child molester, rapist, and Satanist in the world would drop dead.

An earthquake happens/happened because of the underground plates moving and colliding. I always find it so interesting that people say a certain person or population has tragedy happen to them because they're "bad" or God is smiting them for some reason but when a similar tragedy happens to their own family they don't see it that way.

Of course everyone is entitled to believe what they want but in this case you are so wrong that I don't know if you are actually serious or since your name is pepperpot maybe you just like to stir the pot and throw some pepper in it.

Do you believe that when bad things happen to you or your loved ones you/they deserve it? If not then your "logic" is completely flawed.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

See.. once again seeing what you want to see... I SAID MY HUSBAND says that.. Not me...

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Are you joking?

Pepper is a troll, best to ignore her.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Pepperpot troll or not your comments were truly mean sprited and makes no sense at all. Yes Karma is real I totally believe in it, but to say that Karma caused this horrific earthquake and the 9/11 building collapse and aids and cancer and so on and so forth your wrong. Karma should only come to people who have done very very bad things like murder a child or a innocent person. So then you are saying all the people of Haiti and 9/11 and who have aids or cancer derserved Karma sick sad statement and way of thinking. No peace here. Catherine

I read some of the heartless posts above and I cry. I discover this blog The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog: Thursday and I am hopeful for this world.

I wasn't responding to you. So I have no idea why you'd say that.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Probably a response to me.....but that being said she did make the statement her husband said it. However, she must have some feeling of agreement or why even post it? Or say this is what my husband thinks but I don't agree with it....etc...If she's not going to disagree with it then it kind of leads to an assumption that she at least partially agrees with it. I found it offensive so I had to post.

Kathy I just automatically thought she was talking to me. And I agree with you.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Night, I promise you , You didn't cry those tears alone. I'm in total shock over some of the post on here. It's sad, Probably more sicking than anything tho. Where has some peoples HUMANITY GONE ? Where's the EMPATHY, ?? what about understanding that these people are SUFFERING ! Doesn't that at least count for something ? anything ?.Good God, to think I was so worried about the child sex offender living next door when in fact I have been sharing my life for the last 10 years with some of the most HEARTLESS, CRUEL AND UNCARING People I've ever seen.

Did you mean you have been on this board for ten years? How come it says you joined in 2008? Just curious.

I have been on these boards since 1999. I went thru the clover wars, the major crashes and nearly 2 years ago MC for some odd reason after they did some upgrading to the boards I was unable to sign in using my password. after working with the techs here for over a month trying to recover all my info which was also lost they redid my info and I rejoined under sunsetbeach. But yes I've been here for 10 years and No never have I ever seen such heartless post as I'm seeing on this thread.
I wonder just what these poster would have them to do ? Move their county ? Act more like Americans ? ?, Gesh don't we see about as much here in the U.S.A ? Women having sex unprotected leading to babies and no father, men and woman alike homeless, drugs, crime, neighborhoods falling apart, the ONLY thing I see different between helping people there vs helping people here -- here they usually have a CHOICE and even when they don't use the best choice offered our GOVERNMENT will step in and do it for the Americans . Which is ALL FUNDED by the OLD MIGHTY TAX DOLLARS. Now there's a surprise huh ?. You know like programs for the (Sigh- Poor, Unemployed,Sick, Aging, Mentally Challenged, Addicts of alcohol or drugs or both.) Programs like these.
Free _Health Clinics
Free Mental Health Clinics
Housing _ Section 8
Food _ Food Stamps- WIC
Medical _ Medicaid- Government or State ran medical coverage for the poor and uninsured.
Family Services
So on 1 hand we have people saying Charity starts at home for many that comes in the form of (sigh again_ TAX DOLLARS- GOVERNMENT RAN PROGRAMS) that more than not will last a lifetime or even for generations Vs a 1 time amount of 10.00 to help Haiti get the same services we as Americans are afforded on someones else's dollar.These people live in a county that doesn't even have clean water, enough food , housing, medical care . They don't even have a government to speak of they sure as heck don't have anyone handing them a food stamp card, WIC checks so their babies can have milk and Oh least we forget now the babies get baby food on WIC so not only do the American Babies have proper milk they also have food too. They don't have credit cards to charge to the max and then run off filing bankrupt !. So forget about any kind of social programs to help them on a daily need. But what ever huh , as long as the Americans are taking care of 1st thats all that really matters in the end.
Thank- God that MOST can put the needs of others in the time of their suffering ahead of that flavored coffee or Mc D lunch.
And BTW God didn't do this nor did Voodoo, It's caused by volcanic eruptions and or activity in the plate margins and faults. I'm sure a google search would be most helpful in learning that since you didn't learn this in grade school.( None of this was meant for you KTS , The people it was meant for know who they are. )

Honestly, but not surprisingly, there are the emotionally volatile amongst us that can't seem to look a different viewpoints without name-calling and just general nastiness. Shame on you!

There is a scientific and historic basis to the concept of "survival of the fittest" - when it comes to natural disasters (which by the way, the 9/11 attacks were not a natural disaster ILL, but par for the course for you to drag drama into the discussion). The thought process that I was having, and apparently Dannic's hubby, could apply to epidemics and tsunamis though.

And just because one might wonder about the mysteries of life and why bad things happen to good people, does not mean that one has no compassion. For Pete's sake, I'm taking 2 weeks of my vacation time and my personal funding to go build a house for an impoverished family in the mountainous region of Guatemala. Today, I'm sending 15 pairs of girls' shoes to a soldier in Afghanistan who is helping out a girls' orphanage. Just a couple of examples of compassion from this week alone.

On the Haiti situation, I could not stomach the loading of bodies into a dump truck with a bucket loader....OMG. How horrific.

cj/

PS - Pepperpot is a troll. Don't even bother.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Cjs216 proven yet once again to point me about and write ILL I am iluvlucy420 or Catherine as you should know by now. The point cjs216 I was trying to mention was that 9/11 was mentioned and also was aids and also someone else mentioned Pepperpot that what happened in Haiti was because of the people themselves and their beliefs. I was not the first person to mention 9/11 and no way was I causing or seeking drama. So I honestly do not know where you got that idea from and makes no sense at all. To so many members on here you kind words and care for the well being of the people of Haiti is outstanding and makes me proud especially today on Dr Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, we always should care and take care and help and treat all the same so many thanks to all the kind words and caring. My sincere prayers to the people and family members of Port au Prince . Peace. Catherine

"Honestly, but not surprisingly, there are the emotionally volatile amongst us that can't seem to look a different viewpoints without name-calling and just general nastiness. Shame on you!" I agree..
AIDS first of all is no longer killing people like it used to.. I have a patient who has been HIV + for about 30 years.. If you know anything about this disease you die WITH IT not from it!!
All I am simply stating is when natural disasters, or any disaster hits this US no one helps us. We are simply rebuild on our own and do not rely on other countries for help. The US is screwed financially and we are giving these people 100 million dollars?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Where was all this money when people in the US are losing their homes... jobs... etc.. Oh and when Katrina hit, did you see one haitian over here helping us?? Not at all.... When bad things happen to the US people laugh at us...
I do give to people who need help however i chose to take my money and time to help those in need however i like to chose who I help....
And ILL,.. what the HELL dose MLK have to do with anything??

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Dannic can I simply ask you , if you lived there in Port au Prince in Haiti would you not want a country like America to help you???. I know I would as I stated before I thank God everyday for having been born in the greatest country in the entire world the United States of America. If we cannot help people who need help then why not???. I do feel like America does help everyone and wish more countries would help us, but in the same sentence I cannot even imagine the horrific and sadness that is going on in that country. As far as Aids I agree with you that less people are dying from Aids , here in America at least however that is not the case in poor nations like Africa where the death rate of Aids is so sad and sincerely hope one day they will find a cure for aids. Peace. Catherine

International response to Hurricane Katrina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



They sent $50,000 and aid workers. No where near $100 million, but a lot for a country so devastated by poverty.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

Just what were the Hatians supposed to send us when Katrina hit?
They have/had NOTHING.
Haiti is the poorest country in the WESTERN HEMISPHERE. Think about that for a moment, in half of the PLANET, this country is the poorest. They are poor in ways we never see first hand.

I'm not even going to get into why they're the poorest and what should have been done before this, etc. That means nothing now. What matters now is the fact that 1000's of people now need desperate help with the extreme basics-food, water and shelter. The survivors need to be searched for and the dead need to be buried before more people die from a disease epidemic.

I have this question to those who think/feel that God did this to Haiti to teach the Hatian people a lesson/punish them: Did you ever stop to think that maybe God did this to Haiti to test the rest of us on how we respond to it? Do we sit back and pass judgement on Haiti and think they "got what they had coming" and do nothing or do we put aside our religious beliefs and just simply help other human beings who are suffering more than most of us can even begin to imagine?

Personally, I don't think attach any type of religious belief to what happened and feel at this point, no matter what may or may not have happened in Haiti previously, that we(and by "we" I mean all the people in all the other countries of the world)should help them because it is the morally correct thing to do. To turn a blind eye to this kind of suffering is just unthinkable.

And just in case anyone is wondering and thinks I don't put my money where my mouth is, I have made several donations to different charities who are helping. I don't have a lot, but I sure have a hell of a lot more than any of those poor people have.

Sorry this is long and ranty but the attitudes of many people, NOT just people here on this board, when things like this happen just fry me. God forbid any of us have to live 1 minute in the shoes of someone in Haiti right now.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

Surely in your wildest dreams you can't compare the US to Haiti. The difference is we CAN take care of ourselves for the most part. I would venture to guess the poorest of the poor in the US are probably better off than most Haitians. This is the land of opportunity. People in this country could get along with a lot, lot less and I think we are a very spoiled nation. Look at all the benefits we give people here. There is no reason anyone here should be without food or clothing. Housing is a more different type of problem but there are still resources here. Where would YOU rather live? Peoples definition of "poor" in the US is so much different than Haiti's.

Yes, I know people can live with AIDS. But if someone is thinking Haiti's problems are a form of weeding out the weak or whatever then the same could be said about AIDS. That was my point. And, like HIV positive people, not all the Haitians are dead either.

You are totally right on this one. Maybe it is a test of the "rich" and not the "poor". I'm sure the Haitians reward in Heaven will be great. Doesn't it say in the Bible that "it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get to Heaven"?

For those cynical among us. Look at the self-serving purpose of making sure Haiti is looking to the US and appreciating the US. There is a very security related reason the US made sure we got there first and took control. This place is not too many miles to our South. This is a country ripe for the taking.

Seriously, would you rather a country not so friendly to us was controlling a nation that is so close to our borders and so uneducated?

While people like me are looking at the humanity of the situation. Our nation's leaders are more likely most concerned about opportunistic groups who would like nothing more than to do us harm.

While some don't understand the bigger picture, there is more to the US giving aid to other countries than charity and generosity. A whole lot more. Oxy-Rush (the millionaire) counts on people like them to make sure they listen and that his sponsors pay him in return.

I agree with every word you posted.

I made my donation with a prayer for those poor people. While the government is completely corrupt and a great deal of the money being donated will NOT get to the people who so desperately need help because of that corruption, there is no way that I could live with myself if I didn't do my part.

I heard a newscaster in Haiti today on the radio just totally break down. He said he has seen a lot of horror in his many years of reporting, but this was beyond what he could bear

You can also donate via text message for Haiti relief through Habitat for Humanity. Text "Habitat" to 25383 to make a $10 donation to Habitat's efforts in Haiti. The donation amount will be added to your phone bill.

Habitat has a threefold response to the earthquake in Haiti: cleanup, shelter kits and transitional shelter. Learn more and make a donation at Haiti Earthquake -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Here's a story from one year ago: Haiti's poor resort to eating dirt - Haiti- msnbc.com

The economic crisis which hit us in the US affected Haiti as well. Food that once cost a family half of their daily wages, now costs them two thirds or more of it. Of course, they had to cut back. Some people went from eating 3 or 2 meals a day to just one. Some moms give their children warm water to fill up their bellies -- no, it is not enough. And some Haitians eat dirt cookies, made from salt, shortening and clay and baked in the sun. Imagine feeding these to your kids, because you didn't have anything else. It is so, so sad.

Just found out that a friend of mine who is in the military is being sent to Haiti and will be there Monday morning.

I hope that they are able to do some good.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

Another story that shows the desperation of the poor in Haiti. It's Tony Campolo's story of his night with three Haitian child prostitutes, and it would be hilarious if it wasn't so real: Don’t Despise the Small Things « Not For Sale-TN Blog This is how they survive.

Yes. My nephew is in the 82nd Airborne in NC. Will be there soon if not already. He is an avid photographer and I look forward to the photographs and details of this experience.

I don't envy those young men and women. They will be facing much dispare and desperation ...

On Thursday on live tv Steve Harigan broke down and he'd only been there about 24 hours. I remember when he was in Iraq reporting and had to run for cover, etc... He's been reporting this kind of stuff for 10 years yet he got so choked up he couldn't talk and when he finally did it was very shaky. Also Cambell Brown on CNN has lost it twice already. I don't think I've ever seen reporters this unable to control their emotions in any other disaster I've watched. I'm kind of a breaking news junkie so I've seen alot. I think a lot of it has to do with the children. When CNN reported on that 11 yr old girl last night that was stuck partially under rubble with a crushed leg she cried. They did get her out and tried to get her medical attention but tonight the reporter there had to report that she passed away she cried again. Not weeping crying-but you could tell she was breaking down and they cut away for a commercial.

I also made my donation and so wish I could offer and do more for these people may God bless them and take care of them prayers for the entire country . I agree it is getting harder to look at the photos I cannot even imagine and the images are sooooo sad dear God help those people and please please people even if everyone donates a dollar or two it would make a huge difference in the lives of these people and what has happened to their country. Peace. Catherine

I see. Sort of like Monopoly, we got there first, so we win? Cuba is pretty darn close, not so friendly, and somewhat uneducated. Been that way for years and clearly hasn't been US friendly.

Gosh. Strategically what country is going to go after the vast riches and resources (being sarcastic) of Haiti AND shell out the funds to work on getting it back on par to use and abuse to be close to the USA? We've had problems from countries much further away than Haiti. In this day and era, proximity can be a security concern, but it's been proven we can be hurt from any place. We've been hurt from those who have managed to infiltrate.

Unless Haiti signed an agreement, they are not beholden to the USA for any aid we provide. Their allegiance may or may not lie with us. We as a country have done much for the world and many parts hate us. Having the most money to throw around doesn't mean we win.

dl

When you offer someone needy money you don't expect it back. You hope it helps them get back on their feet. When people donate to Toys for Tots or volunteer at their local food bank they don't expect the recipients of their kindness to pay them back. They expect that somehow it will make the world a better place and therefore everyone's life will be better. Also if something bad happens to you or me or someone else we hope that people will help us without making judgments on whether we are worthy or not.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

No. I don't expect a lot of people would understand. That's okay.

To nightowlrn I agree with you 10o percent with all you said here and as always you speak the truth and I simply love all your past posts you truly are a compassionate person ever so much . The pictures today in our papers are so sad and my heart and sincere prayers goes out to the people of Haiti those little children who now have no mommies or daddies so so sad. Again may God bless them all. They truly need all the help we or anyone can offer. Tia again Nightowlrn and also to Annadrose the same. Catherine

So if a big earthquake or tidal wave or solar flare or nuclear attack or something hit five states or the whole US you would think we all deserved to die or that we were not some of the "fittest"? Or if a horrible tragedy happened that took the lives of your children or grandchildren you would come here and post how they were either lacking in something so the world wiped them out? Or how they somehow brought it upon themselves or deserved it? Or would it be different if it were you or your loved ones?

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.