Without the earthquake, would we care about Haiti?
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: Editorial
Haiti has the distinction of being the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. According to the CIA World Fact Book, 80 percent of Haitians live below the poverty line, and 50 percent live in "abject poverty." After overthrowing the French imperial powers in 1804, Haiti first became indebted to foreign powers in 1825 according to Timeline Haiti, when the French finally recognized its independence in return for 150 million francs, and has been struggling to get out of debt ever since.
Americans are periodically reminded of the plight that Haiti, as our poorest neighbor, suffers, but our concern for and aid to Haiti is always short lived. On Jan. 12, we were once again reminded of Haiti when the country suffered a devastating earthquake, killing hundreds of thousands.
Americans, and people around the world, immediately stepped up to send support to the struggling nation, and relief efforts have been flooding in. But one has to wonder if this is simply one more time that Americans have decided to try to help Haiti, been valiant for a few weeks, maybe even a month, then acted as though it dropped off the face of the planet.
The work that the world is doing now to help Haitians pull themselves out of the mess foisted upon them is doubtlessly good, well-intended and even necessary. But at the end of the day it is not enough to help Haiti recover from this earthquake, and go back to previously horrendous state it was in before.
The hemisphere's second oldest republic has over its two hundred year history been subject to political corruption, a string of military coups, and abject poverty, a history that is sure to repeat itself if all we do is help it get over the earthquake. Haiti needs more long term aid and help and needs us to remember its existence in the future.
While this type of earthquake would be absolutely devastating anywhere, in Haiti it highlights devastation already encompassing the country. A country whose natural resources have been stripped bare by imperialist powers, Haiti lacks the resources to prosper as an agriculture nation like the bordering Dominican Republic. Haiti needs long term aid to help grow its economy into one that can compete in the modern global economy.
We need to recognize that Haiti, like other third world countries, need our attention, even when diaster doesn't strike. We have the resources at Denison to focus on sending humanitarian aid to people who, just like us, require food, shelter and basic medical care.
Americans are periodically reminded of the plight that Haiti, as our poorest neighbor, suffers, but our concern for and aid to Haiti is always short lived. On Jan. 12, we were once again reminded of Haiti when the country suffered a devastating earthquake, killing hundreds of thousands.
Americans, and people around the world, immediately stepped up to send support to the struggling nation, and relief efforts have been flooding in. But one has to wonder if this is simply one more time that Americans have decided to try to help Haiti, been valiant for a few weeks, maybe even a month, then acted as though it dropped off the face of the planet.
The work that the world is doing now to help Haitians pull themselves out of the mess foisted upon them is doubtlessly good, well-intended and even necessary. But at the end of the day it is not enough to help Haiti recover from this earthquake, and go back to previously horrendous state it was in before.
The hemisphere's second oldest republic has over its two hundred year history been subject to political corruption, a string of military coups, and abject poverty, a history that is sure to repeat itself if all we do is help it get over the earthquake. Haiti needs more long term aid and help and needs us to remember its existence in the future.
While this type of earthquake would be absolutely devastating anywhere, in Haiti it highlights devastation already encompassing the country. A country whose natural resources have been stripped bare by imperialist powers, Haiti lacks the resources to prosper as an agriculture nation like the bordering Dominican Republic. Haiti needs long term aid to help grow its economy into one that can compete in the modern global economy.
We need to recognize that Haiti, like other third world countries, need our attention, even when diaster doesn't strike. We have the resources at Denison to focus on sending humanitarian aid to people who, just like us, require food, shelter and basic medical care.
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