Haiti

[murlough23]

I've been debating with some folks over the "merit" of remarks made by Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, etc. attempting to blame Haiti for the quake as if it were somehow the wrath of good for the country's poor choices and to insinuate that our government was wasting its money by offering aid, and since I was feeling particularly snarky today, I posted the following on Facebook:

"The last major earthquake to strike L.A. killed fewer than 100 people. The average earthquake that strikes a third world country can kill tens if not hundreds of thousands. This is not God's judgment on the sins of the developing world. It is gravity's judgment on the structural integrity of buildings."

To which a friend commented:

"so it's not because of a pact with the devil....? =)"

My response:

"I don't think that was the devil; it was Jack Sparrow on his way to Tortuga."

[Vlad!]

Does a magnitude-7 earthquake count as "average"?

[murlough23]

Does a magnitude-7 earthquake count as "average"?

That should have read "average major earthquake". The average earthquake that strikes anywhere generally isn't even felt by humans. I would have just cited the Haiti earthquake in particular, but the same is true of earthquakes I've heard reports about in rural China, Indonesia, Latin America, etc. in recent years. Quakes smaller than the Northridge quake (which was a 6.7, and is the last major earthquake to hit L.A. that I referred to) have killed vast numbers of people in poorly-built cities across the globe.

[enemy anemone]

a comment from another board that I read:

"Uhh, did the U.S. make a pact with the Devil too? ‘Cause we’ve been cursed with having to hear his [Pat Robertson's] inane ramblings for years."

[murlough23]

‘Cause we’ve been cursed with having to hear his [Pat Robertson's] insane ramblings for years.

Fixed.

Oh, and speaking of Robertson and Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann's rebuttal to both of them is INSTANT WIN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1HO1bdMnwQ

(Sorry for hijacking this and making it a Haiti thread.)

[Vlad!]

(Sorry for hijacking this and making it a Haiti thread.)

Hey, man, I'm happy whenever someone who's not me posts anything on the Off-Topic board

[Aaron]

To hell with Limbaugh and Robertson.

[ajyouthguy]

my youth group collected a bit of money last night that we sent to World Vision this morning to help with relief efforts.  pretty cool to do on a spur of the moment type thing.

re: the Robertson thing, Donald Miller has a well written response to it at http://donmilleris.com/2010/01/13/1513/

i also liked what Andrew Schwab from Project 86 tweeted in regards to it:

TheAndrewSchwab: Just so I'm clear: Pat Robertson doesn't speak for me.

also, Mark Stuart from Audio A was (and still IS) there when it happened...his Hands and Feet Project built a home for children in Haiti, which his parents are the missionaries for, and he was there with his wife visiting, checking it out, etc, at the time.

http://handsandfeetproject.org/home.php

[Vlad!]

The sad fact is that even with international relief efforts, Haiti, at least as we know it, is probably gone.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2010/01/end_haiti_0

It was already a poor country...though humanitarian aid is very much needed, healing the wounded is only the first step. The already tottering infrastructure has largely collapsed, leaving a precarious situation. I suspect the only thing preventing the level of widespread looting like that in the wake of Katrina is the poverty of the area (and perhaps even that won't provide sufficient deterrent in the coming weeks).

Meanwhile, there are several aid agencies that could use support...Doctors Without Borders is a good start. The Red Cross, worldrelief.org, and Project HOPE also seem to be good venues. I even got to give a dollar when I was checking out at Harris Teeter today.

Definitely a bad situation down there.

[bloop]

Oh, and speaking of Robertson and Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann's rebuttal to both of them is INSTANT WIN.

I wish this flap would lose both of them every advertising dollar, but it won't.  Ugh!

[ajyouthguy]

Meanwhile, there are several aid agencies that could use support...Doctors Without Borders is a good start. The Red Cross, worldrelief.org, and Project HOPE also seem to be good venues. I even got to give a dollar when I was checking out at Harris Teeter today.

Definitely a bad situation down there.

just to name a few others, i'm a big fan of World Vision and Compassion, and also gave through Samaritan's Purse and Living Water International, as well as the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and their disaster relief efforts. 

[Vlad!]

just to name a few others, i'm a big fan of World Vision and Compassion, and also gave through Samaritan's Purse and Living Water International, as well as the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and their disaster relief efforts. 

Those are good ones as well; I don't know how good the NAMB of the Baptist Convention is and I couldn't find it on charity rating websites, but I've spoken with some World Vision workers before and volunteered myself for Samaritan's Purse, so I know they've got some good folks and have the right financial attitude.

[ajyouthguy]

Those are good ones as well; I don't know how good the NAMB of the Baptist Convention is and I couldn't find it on charity rating websites, but I've spoken with some World Vision workers before and volunteered myself for Samaritan's Purse, so I know they've got some good folks and have the right financial attitude.

yeah, I've got some experience with Compassion and World Vision, and known enough about the other three from various sources to believe in them.  The SB Convention is stating that 100% of money that comes in to the convention designated for Haiti will go to relief efforts there. (http://tinyurl.com/y8objtq)

I have nothing against any of the ones you previously mentioned, I just wanted to share some of the ones I'm more passionate about, ones that are faith-based as well as rock solid in what they do.

EDIT: Also, some organizations are pledging matches for donations to certain specific organizations, including many of the ones already mentioned on here.  (http://www.razoo.com/p/haiti)

[Vlad!]

EDIT: Also, some organizations are pledging matches for donations to certain specific organizations, including many of the ones already mentioned on here.  (http://www.razoo.com/p/haiti)

Cool, thanks for sharing.

[enemy anemone]

    Dear Pat Robertson,

    I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth – glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox – that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it – I’m just saying: Not how I roll. You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings – just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

    Best, Satan

    LILY COYLE, MINNEAPOLIS

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/81595442.html

[Vlad!]

Well played, Lily.

[Vlad!]

Hey guys,

Tonight I had the privilege of hearing a presentation from one of the workers and leaders for HOPE worldwide about the situation in Haiti. Though it has long since faded from media attention, the need is still very much present. At the moment they are facing a new crisis: the tents and awnings that thousands are still living in are barely capable of standing up under the onslaught of the rainy season they are currently in, and hurricane season is rapidly approaching.

When Katrina hit New Orleans, it displaced many people due to flooding. However, the refugees were able to be evacuated to structures like the Super Dome and other areas which were above sea level and which could keep them safe from the weather. Though flooding is a real danger in Port au Prince and the surrounding area, the fact is that many of those people are living in or under structures which won't even be able to stand up to wind and rain, much less flooding.

I was struck by the words of the head evangelist for our churches down there. He said "before the earthquakes hit, I didn't have a car. When I would travel from church to church, I had to borrow a car or take the bus or do something. I was really worried about not having a car. Now, I still don't have a car. I don't even have a house! But I'm not worried about that anymore. My family is alive, and that's more than a lot of people can say."

Please continue to keep Haiti in your prayers. I know HOPE would appreciate all donations to help provide relief for these people, and I'm sure there are other organizations who are also working on plans for how to keep as many as possible safe from the hurricanes.