Helping Haiti is Helping Ourselves

Haiti remains one of the most embarassing aspects of the western hemisphere, like a poor smelly bum sleeping in the backyard of a suburban paradise. How has Haiti remained in such a slump for so many years? Corruption is one major factor. The fact that 1% of the country’s wealth is controlled by 50% of the people.

Considering the context of the earthquake, some might ask why should we bother helping poor black people who seem to be in a hopeless situation? It’s because they are there because of us. It’s because of our policies of encouraging a despotic leader that has led Haiti down the path of ruin and despair. And yet the people survive. Why? Because they are spiritually more powerful than any of us pale faced weaklings.

Helping Haiti means we can learn from them, learn from true suffering, and in turn heal ourselves. No longer are they some pot bellied (worm filled) black babies on the TV with some cheesy John Lennon song. They are our neighbours, and we know that we must help our neighbours. We must go look in the backyard of our homes and see the suffering, hands on, and see the suffering there. And through this process, the “compassion” musle we all possess will grow stronger, and we as a people will be stronger. As the scripture says, “give and you shall receive”. It’s good Karma to help the poor, for it’s only the strength of the poor that can teach the rich how to heal, and survive. So please donate, and be wary of any money that touches that ruthlessly corrupt government.

Some of you however, take the selfish or survivalist stance of, why should I help Haiti? I’m comfortable where I am. So I appeal to those of you on economic grounds. The donation of currency, whether it be US Dollars, or Canadian dollars, or even Chinese Renminbi, means that foreign goods and services that will help rebuild Haiti, will be bought and used. The rebuilding of Haiti is the ultimate in economic stimulus packages. Rebuilding Haiti will create jobs around the world, and encourage the current of currency to flow. Let’s take this opportunity to remake Haiti better than it ever was before, and in so doing, pull ourselves out of recession/depression. Haiti, with its unique mixture of French and African cultures has a unique opportunity to be a gateway between North America, France and Africa. There is no reason that Haiti can not become an economic powerhouse. We can help create the Haitiain beacon of hope, and get rich ourselves doing it. So invest in Haiti. Or next time you see Haitian coffee, buy some for your own brew.

Lastly, I would like to remind us all of Hati’s creed spelt out on their coat of arms: “Union makes the force”.  Anything is possible when we work together.  As we see from Haiti’s flag, it’s destiny that heaven (i.e. us) meets earth/hell/blood (the hatians).

Haiti’s Flag

Haiti’s coat of arms