Comments on: Caring for Haiti

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:05:24 +0000

Lydia, thank you for sharing such a personal connection as it pertains to your father and Haiti’s place in the family history. Truly, truly appreciated.

The tragedy of Katrina,the tsunami and The Towers are forever imprinted on the souls of so many. We know where we were when we heard the news and our helplessness came soon after as the images registered.

I believe that hope can move mountains because in hope there is incredible power. Collectively and individually many people have utilized the most toughest of circumstances as the step toward positive action. Through “hope” there was something better, something to learn and share in many ways it brings us together in a common goal.

Really, it is the only thing that I can find solace in when times like this arise.

Thanks again.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:40:19 +0000

Pat, thank you so much for providing those words from Helen Keller. I have never seen them and they are very appropriate to what we are talking about. Always a treasure to find your additions to our conversations!

By: Lydia, Clueless Crafter

Lydia, Clueless Crafter — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:02:47 +0000

Like Katrina and The Towers and my own death, I cannot comprehend Haiti. Images only serve to stun my further, shocking me into numbness.

The only person who was able to describe Haiti as a place that I could know was my father. In WWII, his father, a Colonel in the Marine Corps, was stationed there to protect the borders from Santo Domingo and the important geopolitical Panama Canal. My father’s father apparently relished in his own triumph there; my grandmother enjoyed the people of Haiti.

My dad’s father died when he was 11 of alcoholism and to this day, I see the sadness in his eyes. For my father, Haiti is a place of hope and nostalgia. If only this could move mountains of debris.

By: Pat (aka Trish)

Pat (aka Trish) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:03:16 +0000

I came across some words, from Helen Keller, (another “Woman of Influence”), who echoes your sentiment of “giving benefitting your heart.”

HAPPINESS CANNOT COME FROM WITHOUT,
IT MUST COME FROM WITHIN.
IT IS NOT WHAT WE SEE AND TOUCH,
OR THAT WHAT OTHERS DO FOR US,
WHICH MAKES US HAPPY;
IT IS THAT WHICH WE THINK
AND FEEL AND DO,
FIRST FOR THE OTHER FELLOW
AND THEN FOR OURSELVES…

Helen Keller

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Thanks Pat, I stayed up last night watching the other side of the coin reveal itself. Despite the compassion that has been shown, which I have talked about and am proud of, there definitely is some problems in reaching the people.

I was stunned, to say the least, when hearing that a team of Belgian doctors were ordered to abandon a tent “hospital” station because their boss was told they couldn’t be guaranteed safety/protection. That left one American doctor to care for all the injured and dying. They eventually returned but what was that?

So many levels to this crisis and a lot will be revealed as to effectiveness in response. None the less I’m grateful to see us try, the stumbling block seems to be big wigs outside of Haiti who are getting in the way.

Reader, click on the link Trish in my blogroll and read what else is being reported.