You don't need some radio jerk or idiot on TV to sway you. Help if you want, don't help if you don't want. Simple. - Og

The Red Cross, through its own text message campaign (text 'Haiti' to 90999 to donate $10), has raised an additional $4 million in partnership with the Mobile Accord and the MGive Foundation in coordination with the U.S. State Department.

 

Its a natural disaster. A DISASTER. Something extraordinarily bad has happened. They may have been squeezing by previously, but with a hit of this size they are really SOL. Who gives a **** about what some people in the country are doing. There are always idiots. For instance in New Orleans. They live in a bowl. We still helped them. They were told to leave. We still helped them. People looted, shot, stole, everything in sight. We still helped him.

And that is a stupid argument about "they knew they were on a fault line". What about half the united states. There is a major fault in Tennessee. If that was ever to strike then it would be an outrageous disaster. California has been built to withstand earthquakes. They have the building structure and design to last. Tennessee does not.

 

Thats a great quote, but it goes back to my $20 arguement. Theoretically, is the boy going to go back every day to throw the starfish back? By throwing the starfish back, he helped him to survive one more day. One could note the famous bible quote of giving fish vs. teaching to fish.

We are allowing people to survive in enviroments that are showing people that they should not be surviving there. No water in a hot climate isn't a climate that can sustain normal human life, rather then these people migrating to a place where they can survive by themselves, we put a little money in there pockets - which inturn almost forces them to stay in hopes they will recieve a penny.

And, just to note on USA crisis and not needing help, I believe Katrina is a good example as I know atleast Canada sent down a crew of military resorces to help out with rescueing and aid. But why shouldn't we? USA and Canada are trade brothers, as well as don't normally burden eachother.

Once again my point still stands, by handing over money, we just delay the enevidable, one could even argue we could be doing more harm then good by essentially putting these countries on 'Global welfare'.

Once again I do stress I am only argueing for sport, I don't intend to heat anyone up.

 

I agree we are only postponing the inevitable. You can't help someone that won't help themselves.

 

i have to agree. Yes, we can make a difference "... to that one...", but the bottom line is that Haiti has been in the hands of criminals for generations. For the most part, they are the ones that will get the money, not the ones that need it.

as to half a million dead, that was local political grandstanding... Haiti's population is a llittle over 9 mill, i dont' think they lost almost 6% in one shot. Whatever it is, though, the dying has only begun. no hospitals, no responders, no local ability to help themselves. there is no infrastructure because crooks own the place, and they don't give a s**t.

Om Haiti, everything fell down. The dominican republic, next door on the same island, noticed a "strong shaking"... can you say corrupt construction industry? along with corrupt everything else.

you wanna help them? send food, water, medicine, ... and guns. then a backbone to use them. if they want to be dependent, they will always be dependent, and neither the earthquake nor our help will change that.

(s) cynical old fart

 

I'm praying differently. - Og

 

the sad thing is, is the fact that in 2 weeks, no one will care or continue sending money or support...we are all just lucky to be born in this country. i mean really...how do you leave a place like haiti when all you have are a few chickens and a goat? or any other 3rd world country for that matter...the fact that we do render aid to other countries in times of disaster is what truly sets us apart from the rest of the world, and i am very proud of that fact. i do not believe however the U.S. should spend millions and millions of dollars there...that is for the UN and private donations are for. i just found out my cousin who is a reservist is being sent there to help, and i all i can think about is the stories we will hear about some US soldier getting killed by some 'tards with sticks who they were sent over to help in the first place. i just saw on the news all the haitians fighting over what is being given out, and how we aren't helping them fast enough....but i don't know...

 

i pray you are right.

 

I agree with dlenkewich on this. Very well said. I don't like getting into these little things, but I'll say my piece quickly. I have no disrespect for those that want to help, but consider this:

I hear so many people at work, in school, out and about, ect, blab about how they help this charity, and what they do for donating to causes like this. But these are the same people that will let an elderly neighbor freeze/starve to death because the poor people can't afford to pay for what they need. I find not humor, but irony I guess in this. People don't take the time to help to AROUND them who they CAN positively aid and who really NEED it. I'm not saying that these people don't, because let's face it, something has to be done. But I think people should climb out of the tunnel vision that they so absentmindedly possess and take a look at the people that clearly need help right near them. It's like the same people that are more upset over a dog or cat dying than a kid that gets hit by a car. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but some people just need to look at their priorities and help those that they can first, and then branch off to those that need help as well who may not be as closely related.

 

Sorry for not taking sides, but I agree with most of the points made. Your $20 will do little, the problems will remain there until they realize they need to take responsibility for themselves, and those in charge become accountable for the suffering resulting from their corruption, and right now those people are in desperate need of help from anyone who can provide it. People are trapped, and they won't survive many days without water.

I believe I have done my part to made a real difference in the lives of two Haitian children. Last year my brother in law and his wife adopted two teen age children from Haiti. One girl and younger brother. Granted both my Brother in law and his wife are very special people and done most of the work deserving of most of the credit, but did my share of ensuring their being accepted into the family and their feeling accepted in the family. The boy is adapting fine. He is a fun loving kid who wants to learn how to play American basketball. The girl has been struggling to adapt socially, and has been somewhat disruptive. At family gatherings I address the many cousins proclaiming that the newly adopted Haitians are now their cousins.

One example. We had a large party at our house last summer with all of my family, my wife's family and many neighbors, with lots of food, drink and the front lawn full of cars. Recognizing a rare opportunity I walked over the the young Haitian girl and asked if I she would like to go on an international tour with me. Though she was confused and lacking interest she decided to honor my silly suggestion. First I introduced her to my Polish neighbor and his wife. I asked what age they were when they first came to the states, added a few more questions, and invited to share any interesting stories. Then we walked over to my friend from Romania with the same questions. Then we did the same with my wife's friend and her husband from China. After that we spoke to Tony from Vietnam. Tony's story is that his ship sank on the way over, but they were rescued by a pirate ship. He called it a pirate ship because these fishermen dropped off the people at a port, but left with all their belongings.

I wanted her to see beyond her own situation that others from other countries have struggled through what she is now experiencing, so she is not alone, and does not have to do it alone, and people do talk about it with others even if their English is heavy with accent and missing a few words, and some day she would look back on this experience, and it would be OK. It was fun, and I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, this young girl, or my international friends.

 

some kid around here went door to door collecting money for the haiti earthquake and managed to collect around $1240 in a day. He then spent the money on a few videogames and a computer, then put the rest in his bank account

 

What a jerk. Does he go to your school or something Alex?

 

MSNTV just showed a clip reporting that a Dominican Republic business man had brought a truck load of food to Haiti to help out. They shot the guy. Yep, the morons shot the guy trying to help feed them. They also shot one of his helpers. Personally, I think God is trying to tell the world something and maybe we oughta stay out of His way. Haiti has been nothing but a drain on the international community and I think now is a good time to let nature run it's course and sterilize it. Here's the clip:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...99251#34899251

 

.....it was a joke. i was kinda hoping you would've caught that. im sure if it did happen the police would be all over it

 

well not everyone there is nice. it was probably a starving greedy gang taking advantage of the situation. thats like a tornado rips up FSU campus and if someone comes along and gets shot in frenchtown, does that make ALL of Tallahassee bad?