Haiti.

[SuuT]

Right. So.. :confused2: I just don't get it.

I turned on the television last night and every major network and then some were running some sort of telethon to raise money for Haiti. I think this is neither good nor bad; however, my first reaction was that it seemed very capricious, the amount of time, effort and consolidation of influence is going into this present commercialisation of philanthropy and charity.

My second thought was that, what..144,000 people dies from that tsunami in Indonesia...where was the telethon?

My third thought was that this disaster was, objectively speaking, the best thing to happen to Haiti..well, probably ever: They are going to get their country rebuilt for free and then they get to tear it all to shit again. Good times.

My fourth thought was how may of them are going to end up here, in the States. Specifically Florida, where I live...my thoughts wandered into un-postable territory from there.


Anyway - Haiti...

Discuss.


EDIT: The final, official toll was 220,000 in Indonesia.

[Liffrea]

Originally Posted by SuuT
My third thought was that this disaster was, objectively speaking, the best thing to happen to Haiti..well, probably ever: They are going to get their country rebuilt for free and then they get to tear it all to shit again. Good times.

Bush and co interfered in Haiti in 2004 and Haiti has been kept complaint by the IMF et al for some time. The “International Community” i.e. the US led military-industrial complex isn’t going to rebuild a country, or take interest in one, that has nothing worth stealing……happily/un-happily for the Haitians there are rumours they have oil resources, and reasonable mineral wealth, several US oil corporations have looked into the feasibility of developing these resources and deep water ports….right on the border of the United States….

I expect the “humanitarian aid”, “security operations” oh and probable building of “liberal-democracy” band wagon to stay in town for some time. One man’s disaster is another’s opportunity. At least US forces have a reasonable excuse for their, more or less, invasion of Haiti in 2010, something they didn’t have much of in 2004.

Of course a cynic, I prefer realist, such as myself would claim that “aid” is really another way of saying “bribe” and that all those well intentioned folks giving to various charities designed to alleviate the suffering of various small African children or victims of various natural disasters are in fact propping up regimes compliant to the whim of the military-industrial complex.

[Groenewolf]

Talking about the tsunami, also then there was all lot of marketing here for Giro 555. Let's say that most of that money is still lying there at the deposits of said giro number and have not been used, or have been used to fund the other expenses of the co-operating NGO's. Same thing will also happen now most likely.

NGO's that are really making a difference there are not begging for your money trough telethon's and the like.

[Loki]

My second thought was that, what..144,000 people dies from that tsunami in Indonesia...where was the telethon?

Actually, the media in England and Europe was FULL of the Indonesian tsunami for many weeks ... even months. And numerous charitable uptakes ... never seen anything like it before. As for the number mentioned ... it certainly is of Biblical proportions.

[SuuT]

Actually, the media in England and Europe was FULL of the Indonesian tsunami for many weeks ... even months. And numerous charitable uptakes ... never seen anything like it before.

I know, but mum seemed to be the word in the US. :confused2:

I guess they weren't black enough?

[Loki]

I know, but mum seemed to be the word in the US. :confused2:

I guess they weren't black enough?

Or it could have something to do with the fact that Haiti is in the US's backyard. Too many Americans have never heard of Indonesia before, although Haiti is fairly well-known there.

[Psychonaut]

My fourth thought was how may of them are going to end up here, in the States. Specifically Florida, where I live...my thoughts wandered into un-postable territory from there.

Yup. I've even heard some of the so-called AM radio conservatives (*cough* Hugh Hewitt *cough*), say that this wouldn't be a bad thing, that it'd be the Christian thing for the US to do. When I heard that other drivers must've thought I'd spilled coffee on my crotch.

[Sigrid]

This is how I look at it:

I enjoy helping people whose culture and ethnicity is like mine. Further, you can't help people who won't try to help themselves.