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Oh I agree totally. I'm just saying is all.
I'm sure that's exactly why we send WAAAAAAAARShips to the Caribbean Jingles. They are going to make WAAAAAAAAR against the homeless displaced and sick down there. I think they already have a few videos on youtubes of the WAAAAAR ships shooting rafts of fleeing people who were aiming for the sunshine state. Nice catch!
Geez
My mom just told me someone was arrested utside of her work tonight. He was taking taking donations for the earthquake she said he lied about being a part of the red cross and was pretending he was a worker collecting for the relief stuff. That really pisses me off!
As being reported on most media outlets, govt is considering easing immigration rules to allow in Haitians devastated by this tragedy. Both federal and Quebec provincial govts considering this, the latter since so many Haitians live in the Montreal area with family in Haiti. The article does not say if they are considering shooting rafts filled with people(sarcasm)...
http://www.globalsaskatoon.com/world/story.html?id=2441168
It was meant as sarcasm to the person I quoted. The US may not be right in everything, but I think they are doing a good job in this disaster and their efforts will only get better over the next days and weeks.
If this person's mother was trapped under rubble, I would only hope he wouldn't mind a yankee elitist rescue team getting her out.
I find the fact that there is hostility towards critical positions (whether or not they are deemed equivocal) and that posters manifest the desire to support immediately pragmatic and substantive solutions to this humanitarian crisis without acknowledging the critical issues (or being critical of them) is very off-putting. This is a public forum for the presentation of ideas; we are not mobilizing anything immediate and material here, so what is the problem with being critical?
I certainly hope that people are finding ways to help with immediate needs (if they can) but spare the hostility towards ideas just because they don't feed, shelter or clothe people or are critical of the politics behind aid or behind aid agencies and states that aid.
Yes, your message might be agreeable, but it is myopic and done in a way that is also a dig at Fidel. I acknowledge that if a US rescue worker helps, give credit for that act. The problem is that the argument lacks context; it's not just about what the US is doing right now, it is about what they have been doing and continue to do. Also, why does discussion revolve around this imaginary that the West is the hero coming to intervene in the crisis?
Better than the Canadian, Venezuelan, Brazilian or European teams? Your imperialist biases are showing and that is why people are not pleased.
America has been the problem in Haiti for a very very long time. The fact that they like other countries are helping in this time of need is no reason to praise them.
If they stop bombing innocent people around the world I will say nice things about them in the meant time I am really proud of the mobilization going on in Canada with many groups involved in providing what help they can.
Because the title is
Canadian relief in HaitiNot ongoing abuse of Haiti by the west.
Then ban nussy for beginning the thread drift. Who needs that trolling crap in a thread about Canadian relief?
But it can be a celebration of the West's interventions? Why the silence on post number 3, which started the celebration of the US's actions?
I've already articulated this point in post #65.
Why the silence? Because it doesn't seem popular here to give credit were it's due. I was actually surprised at the few poserts who commended the US.
It's not a celebration its recognizing effort. It rubs me the wrong way seeing criticism of relief effort when the person-is sitting in a heated house with running water food and no dead bodies in the front yard. Call me crazy.
Adding insult to injury ...
Obama enlists Bush, Clinton to help Haiti
Nothing but crocodile tears...
Being critically engaged on a forum is different than being critical of relief efforts as if one were in the field berating those participating in aid work. But your argument that we should be content with the US right now, where ever we are -regardless of the larger context -is unreasonable. I don't think you can expect people to put politics aside when many aspects of this situation (geologic processes exempt, of course) are a product of politics.
Heated house, running water? Yes, being privileged needs to be acknowledged. But why are you trying to paint people who are critical as being ungrateful? You don't have full access to everyone's actions to make such judgements.
I thought I would give another personalized update from our colleagues in Port au Prince. It comes from a location, Fermanthe a small community, which is about a 45 minute ride up the mountain outside of the city. There is a house called Wings of Hope that takes care of mentally and physically challenged children. It's part of St. Joseph's Home for Boys network. We've learned that one of our regular guides who has worked with us for years is safe but we still don't have word on the others. It is continually stressful that we have no word from cite soleil and our school there. Communications are getting better but the chances of our school community members getting to a computer shortly is remote. So we'll continue to wait.
Quote from update;
Day 2...is it really only Day 2. In 20 minutes will it really be that only 48 hours have passed since all our lives were turned (literally) upside-down. It seems like a lifetime ago.
Yesterday was shock and confusion. Today is mobilization. I went down to SJ for a few hours this morning and helped move stuff out of the main house and into the art center. The art center is damaged, but not anywhere near what St. Joseph's is like. There was a break-in there last night with people looking for food, so stripping the house was a priority. Michael and Walnes are still spending the night sleeping on the ground at a neighbors, like most of the neighborhood, but they are well.
Bill and TiPatrick are both out of the hospital and seem to be well, considering. They will return tomorrow for a check by some US doctors who were supposed to arrive today. No need now for evacuation for the states, for all those ready to try and arrange that.
Wings is crowded with all the Wings kids and now the SJ boys. Not a lot of space in the visitors dining room and the front of the house for 65+ people, but we are coping. Everyone is pitching in. KC and I moved things from our rooms that are the necessities for both our work and the kids today. The rest will be left. We are also starting to get the guys to move as many supplies from the storage rooms in the new part of the house as possible. Limited time is spent in the new part of the house, as we believe it is unstable and don't know if it will remain standing. There's a lot we don't know right now.
We were able to get a few toys out for the kids today and are trying to give them a sense of the "new" normal as we decide what to do next. There is a lot of organizing and planning to do.
PAP is a mess. There was a real difference in the feeling on the streets today too. People are more desperate for help, food, medical attention, a way out of the suffering and fear, etc.
The aftershocks continue. It is unnerving. I grew up in tornado-land and have been through several hurricanes in Haiti, but nothing is like an earthquake. At least with a tornado and hurricanes you can see them coming and know when they are gone, but with the earthquake there is a continued reminder that we don't know what is coming next and fear is rampent.
Lines of communication are getting better. I was able to talk to my Mom on the phone for a few minutes today. Thanks to all who have reached out to hear with your love and support. I just got word that the internet is working now at Wings (I'm at the Baptist Mission again), so that is good. The next step now is to get a source of power at Wings. The one plug we have is from an inverter and that probably won't last much longer. I gave the guys a bunch of money today to go and try to find a small generator for us. We don't want to run the big generators because of what the vibrations may do to the unstable house. We need one we can wheel outside when it is on, and secure inside when we are not using it. With everything closed down, shopping isn't easy, but they are resourceful!
If I can get online on my own computer I'll try to post some pictures, we'll see how the electricity and internet connection hold out.
Thank you for all your love, support, prayers for all of us. We feel your presence. end quoted update
Where did I say that US efforts were better than anyone else? I was merely pointing out to the person that the US aid efforts are commendable and quite sure many Haitians tonight appreciate it.
When that's done to deflect commentary on the hypocrisy of the US, it's very unbabble-like. Like j.m. said (really happy you've joined j.m. and I've paraphrased) babble's not the place for US cheerleaders.
Also, look for some disaster capitalism in action. The Clintons are already licking their lips in anticipation of "adjusting" the Haitians even more while perpetuating the cycle of abuse that has gone on since Columbus set foot on Hispaniola in 1492. Indeed, Haiti was GROUND ZERO for the four horsemen of the European Apocalypse -- conquest, genocide, slavery, and disease.
As for organizations, I would suggest Partners in Health and the Stand With Haiti Campaign. Dr. Paul Farmer is a principled doctor-activist who has been in Haiti for the long-haul.
Here's a couple decent organizations that you can donate to, meantime.
http://www.devp.org/devpme/main-eng.html
http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000005&tid=003
Here is Canadian relief on Haiti (the kind we need for critical public forums):
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/14/naomi_klein_issues_haiti_disaster_...
:) I doubt there'll be a shortage of critiques on our own role in keeping Haiti so vulnerable to natural disasters.... Another question that could be asked politically is why we're taking so much time amassing a media friendly armada of temporary relief, when we already have forces on the ground that could/should already be helping rescue the thousands buried under the rubble(?) Their particular time line for survival may only be a matter of hrs now.
Meantime though there's no reason we can't also make some immediate contribution$ ourselves.
Credit Card Companies Skimming Three Percent From Your Donation to Desperate Haitians
Parasites profiting from death and misery.
'Unbabble-like'?
What's next - have you now, or have you ever been a card-carrying American?
That sort of jingoistic, McCarthy-like baiting leaves me cold.
RP - you don't have to agree with those applauding US action, but is the name calling really necessary?
Ah, Lou? You must not be familiar with the Unified Theory of Babble (i.e., all problems are rooted in the fact that America exists). This theory holds true even if America appears, to the average person, to be engaged in doing something positive: It's only appearance -- and there must be some evil ulterior motive to explain it.
Therefore, any kudos for any American action is strictly verboten on babble.
It's quite simple, really.
How did a thread about Canadian aid turn into a thread about how GREAT American aid is? Read the first ten posts and you'll find that the conversation veered immediately into how US aids greatly and how the West comes through. The real problem is that there are so many apologists on this board willing to celebrate hegemons' good deeds as if they were taking the week off from politics. I think the question should be asked: "why are there certain people so willing to point out the good deeds of Western states, who have engaged in exploitative relationships with of Haitian people, when: (1) many countries are making great efforts (wiki if you must); (2) there is a lot of local solidarity in Haiti that could be highlighted; (3) individuals are making contributions not affiliated with any state?" I think there is nothing more problematic than a stance that highlights the US's efforts (a country which time and time again has laden aid packages with their ulterior motives) which, intentionally or not, pushes other efforts to the margin, and remains uncritical of the political motives of the US.
Sven and Lou Arab, you are quick to attack people on a critical forum for being critical, and are so bold as to call those who point out US hypocrisy as "jingoist, McCarthy-like", or to suggest that there is some sort of "babble theory" that is dogmatic and uncritical. Why do you come here if you antagonize people who are critical - on a critical forum - and then bait arguments with these words? Babble is not CBC, G&M, or some mainstream paper where ideas that are problematic emerge without contestation.
I don't see Canada's efforts as different from the U.S. and I would say given the hell that has been inflicted on the Haitian people by the acts of the U.S and Canada that their aid is entirely rooted in corrupt self-interest. I am glad that some may benefit from this help but in no way do I think they deserve any credit for helping.
As to organizations and donations, the Red Cross will never see another dime from me. IMO donations should go to organization that are led by Haitians.
U.S. Cheerleading has never been a part of babble, especially when it consists of uncritical approval of charity whose impetus was created deliberately by the United States. Hence, un-babble like. To call this position jingoistic and McCarthyist not only leaves me cold, it lacks the anti-imperialist analysis we pretty much take for granted around here. Lou Arab, I would encourage you to reconsider RP's posts, especially in light of Sven's enthusiastic baiting.
I don't know how I ended up following this person on Twitter, but I'm following some politician in the US, and she tweeted this recently:
Really? You're proud of your country, are you? Your country has "helped" Haiti right into this mess, and any "help" you give now is a long overdue repayment.
Haiti earthquake: Made in USA
And that goes for Canada, too.
Hey, I'll tell you what, if you don't like left-wing political analysis, and you just want to hear, "Oh, what a tragedy!" and "Isn't the USA wonderful? No one's allowed to be critical of the US role in Haiti now that they're helping!" then here are a couple of web sites you might want to try:
Hallmark Cards
Republican Party