Editor,
In response to the column written by Zach Gould, entitled “The bandwagon of devastation relief donations,” published on Feb. 9:
I’d like to give you my explanation why I gave (and am still giving) money to help Haitians and did not give money to help the relief effort in New Orleans.
First, I’ve spent time in both places. While I’ve only vacationed in New Orleans, I spent a week in Haiti in February 2008. It was an Inland Press trip sponsored by Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Ray Joseph and his wife.
We met with media representatives, local and regional politicians, people working with non-governmental agencies providing aid, musicians and clerics. I read books before and after my trip.
New Orleans is in the United States. That simple fact affords people living and doing business there and elsewhere in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other states threatened by hurricanes, the ability to buy health, property and flood insurance. If you own a home or business, it’s common sense to properly insure it.
That is not possible in Haiti. It’s not offered and couldn’t be afforded by the average Haitian.
When Katrina, Wilma et al. approached the coast, people were told to evacuate the day before. Many boarded up their homes and businesses and left. Many chose not to.
Haitians were not warned of an impending earthquake and could do nothing to help themselves.
In the aftermath of the gulf hurricanes American greed came through like a champ. People who were nowhere near New Orleans filed claims. The fraud, waste and abuse by residents and non-residents will never be known.
Our own government contributed with their trailer park in the middle of no utilities or services.
In Haiti, most help services are being controlled by the Red Cross and non-governmental agencies. Haiti has plenty of corruption and theft too.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
If you lived in New Orleans, you probably had family somewhere who could help you financially with housing, household items or clothes.
If you lived in Haiti, you have no support, no help. Your relatives, unless they’re here in the United States, are barely hanging on themselves. They’re in no position to help.
I cannot convey the poverty in Haiti in February 2008. Many of those trying to make a $3-a-day living on the street are doing so by going to the dump, picking out bald tires and stained, mildewed mattresses, dragging them back to town and trying to sell them.
There was no infrastructure before the earthquakes. When I saw videos of the streets after the earthquakes I commented they looked much the same: trash, debris piled everywhere, streets torn up.
I always feel a strong desire to help those who can’t help themselves but try to anyway. However, when people make choices, sometimes several bad choices, and put themselves in a bad situation, I’m less charitable.
While there was need after the hurricanes on the coast, some of it was created by poor choices. And there were a lot more options for coastal dwellers by virtue of insurance, family connections and a healthy state and federal government Much more than that afforded to Haitians with really, literally, nothing.
