I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don’t give money to homeless men on the street. Based on past experiences, I don’t think the guy with the sign that reads “Need You’re Help” is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don’t think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either.
In this belief I am, evidently, alone. It seems that everyone has jumped on the “Save Haiti” bandwagon. To question the impulse to donate, then, will probably be viewed as analogous with rooting for Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, or the Spice Girls.
My wariness has much to do with the fact that the sympathy deployed to Haiti has been done so unconditionally. Very few have said, written, or even intimated the slightest admonishment of Haiti, the country, for putting itself into a position where so many would be killed by an earthquake.
h/t SDH, who states the commentary cost him his job at espn.com.
Update: For some of our readers, this cold splash of reality.
I donated to the Mennonites. They do a lot of good in a lot of places.
Most people I've run into think the same.
+1. Dead enders.
I donate to the Salvation Army...IMO they do the most good with the lowest overhead.
"In this belief I am, evidently, alone."
You are not alone, Paul Shirley.
I gave at the office. Its called Foreign Aid, and it comes out of my check every pay.
My donation is being delivered by Stephen Harper whether I like it or not. I don't really begrudge the money because its being used to dig people out of collapsed buildings, provide clean water to the homeless, and bullets delivered on target to freaky gang bangers trying to steal stuff and hurt aid workers. I'm pleased with all of that.
However of my own private after-tax money I only donate to the Canadian Warplane Heritage. Its the most politically incorrect thing I can think of, they don't get much in the way of government support, and I like airplanes better than people anyway.
Maybe if I didn't get reamed for HALF MY F-ING INCOME by the Crown I'd feel a little more generous. As it is, they'll have top make do with whatever Canadian Forces drops on them.
After actually reading Paul Shirley, I feel I absolutely have to comment.
My father worked in Construction in the USSR southern republic of Georgia and several times visited neighbouring Armenia for business.
Both regions can be described as adverse to official socialist idea of supremacy of 'soviet people' above personal interests to a degree, where pilfering from state run organizations was virtually a lionized activity - something noble.
When Armenian earthquake of 1988 struck Spitak and other cities, resulting devastation rivaled Haiti today. The people stole cement from the concrete and block buildings and used it in their homes. The houses stood, but the buildings collapsed. Even though it was blatantly obvious that the Armenian people were the architects (pun intended) of their demise, whole country was involved in rebuilding Armenia.
I worked in the factory that made concrete panels specially designed to withstand a quake for Armenia, they were essentially paid for by the taxpayers of USSR and donated. Billions in reconstruction aid did not in any way hinder separation of Armenia from USSR soon after.
When Haiti will be rebuilt, no one should expect a hint of gratitude from them, that's why I am not donating to no one.
John Gormley and Charles Adler both drank the kool-aid on this one, just as they did with H1N1. Kudos to Paul Shirley and Mark Steyn.
Organized charity is a part of the altruistic egoism that pervades liberal democracies. It is based on guilt and those who give are most often motivated to do so in order to ward of the envy and criticism of the poor and their enablers.
There is a big difference between claiming to be poor and simply having little wealth. It is the state of mind and the attitude of the individual that determines outcomes. Haiti claims poverty as do thousands on Vancouver's east side. Neither will ever improve their lot because they they have already decided their fate.
The only difference between those people is geography.
I do not give away money unless there will be a return on investment. Period.
Shirley has unearthed and made public a very unpleasant truth about our over-politicized era. That being: that in an era charged with callous politics in every aspect of human endeavour, it is the act of a fool to render unconditional trust in ANY popular meme.
People want so desperately to believe in something genuine and good in an increasingly corrupt world, but deep in their heart they know their trust has been betrayed every time they unconditionally trust some popular cause or leader. It makes them irrational and unstable when you throw their foolish denial in their face, as Shirley has.
Perhaps Paul Shirley now realizes there is a price to pay for exploding popular fantasies. People want so badly to believe in the tooth fairy _ frig, isn't this what AGW was all about? Isn't this displaced hope what got BO elected?
We need to differentiate between emergency aid and long-term aid. Emergency aid helps people in immediate and life-threatening distress. Our family donated to the Red Cross for that purpose.
When it comes to long-term aid for Haiti, provided through government, I think caution is the order of the day. Billions have been poured into Haiti by Canada, the US and other western countries in the last decade and with what result? Before the earthquake, it was already an on-going disaster of a country. Before we pledge another decade's worth of aid. let's see a plan for using that money productively. I think assistance should go to NGOs with good track records. It definitely should NOT pass through the hands of the local kleptocracy.
So because Haiti has had successive shitty, thieving governments, starving Haitians who don't even have clean drinking water don't warrant aid? Their politics aren't quite right?
Lost your family? Tough shit, kid, I paid taxes already for you. Lying in the street with two broken legs? Tough shit, lady, I gave at the office. Besides, it's your fault for -- how did Shirley put it? -- allowing your country to be in a position where so many people could be killed by an earthquake.
How useless you people are. How utterly useless. If Christ had actually existed, he'd be wondering why the hell he bothered trying to teach compassion to such stupid, repulsive people.
"The infliction of cruelty with a clear conscience is a delight to moralists." -- Bertrand Russell
Ruth I like the Mennonite Central Relief too. I will wait until the mad money is gone and the Gov't of Haiti starts to resettle the land and grow crops. Re-build where they are now and it all happens again.
"It is a deplorable fact that many Christians are so accustomed to a certain creed and dogma of their own that they will adhere to it even at the sacrifice of the great moral laws of love and mercy."
-- E.D.Buckner
I also won't be donating a cent to Haiti as the closest analogy I can think of to the situation is that of an 80 year old demented patient with kidney failue and metastatic cancer who has a heart attack and the family are desperately making appeals for a new heart as if a heart transplant will make the least bit of difference in the final outcome.
Interestingly there is no national IQ for Haiti in "IQ and the wealth of nations" but given that Jamaica with a mean IQ of 72 manages to get along without handouts I shudder to think of what the mean Haitian IQ must be.
Societies are complex dissipative systems and they grow, mature and die. There is a strong urge in people to help out when something bad happens to other people but the best thing for Haiti at this time would be the societal equivalent of a hospice. In medicine all doctors realize when further treatment is futile and let nature take its course.
Giving with the expectation of receiving something in return, like gratitude, is not true benevolence. This is not to say we should turn off our brains whenever we encounter a supposed need. Obviously there are situations where giving money especially will not help, the prime example being the addict with the "Need Help" sign. But groups like The Salvation Army, World Vision, etc. are not in Haiti for accolades or props from Haitians or anyone else for that matter. They are there because they are compelled to love and help where possible regardless of whether or not people anywhere praise them. They were there before the quake and they will be there after everyone leaves. Most of us could learn a thing or two from them.
Rebuilding will come later. Right now, however, the people are reeling from the earthquake and the loss of 150,000 people. That's like wiping out 50% of Halifax -- BAM! MERCY demands that we assist these people in their hour of need (food, shelter, security, clean up and bury the dead). JUSTICE demands that we do what is right after the initial needs are provided for. I agree with Shirley insomuch as the thinking caps need to be applied at that point.
His main point seemed to be that Haitians need to take responsibility for the severity of the disaster, and the conduct of the recovery and the rebuild. In this I agree 100%.
The country is in the state it is not because of France or the US. The "oppression" ended 3 generations ago. The people have been badly served by their leaders who have raped and pillaged the country for personal benefit. The local folks have the responsibility to change that. Folks in what started as just as underdeveloped countries (think Korea, Taiwan, Singapore etc.) have built thriving economies in less time than 3 generations. The time for excuses is over.
It is not racist to point this out - even Obama has said the same about the lack of development in Africa.
By continuing to provide unconditional support we are enabling self destructive behaviours.
Pretty mild stuff really. As other posters noted, all Canadian taxpayers "gave at the office" already. I don't object to the immediate disaster aid, but as to "rebuilding" Shirley is right. ESPN? I shall continue my personal boycott of that politically correct exhaust factory.
Millions (if not a billion?) dollars was donated to the tsunami relief a few years back...does anyone know, what exactly, there is to show for all that money donated?
I didn't donate either just as I don't give money to panhandlers. Giving them money unconditionally only perpetuates corruption and sloth.
Gormless always drinks the kool-aid. He's a conservative??? The tent must have been built by P.T. Barnum
What is this raving uncomprehending jackass Darrell bashing Christians for?
Salvation Army not doing enough in Haiti to satisfy you, nitwit?
I've already donated.
My tax dollars that have been pledged by the government.
Not that I don't care. I've taken enough hits with the economy downturn and my family is my first responsibility.
Even worse, it turns out some of the big charities that got donations for Indonesian tsunami relief couldn't spend all the money so they "diverted" donations into other things like attending Copenhagen, promoting social justice climate change programs etc.
Be careful who you donate to . . .
I recently donated to relief efforts. I bought myself a new coffee pot as I find efficient caffeine delivery very relieving.
"...my family is my first responsibility."
exactly, this months last dollar is going towards MY property & income tax installments so MY family isn't forced into the cold streets.
JMD is right, there is a huge difference between emergency aid and long term aid. A good analogy would be someone getting hurt in a crosswalk accident. You normally can and do give what assistance you can, but it doesn't mean you have to go and fix up their house or develop a socially responsible committee to ponder about the root causes to explain why the poor soul got run over in the first place.
I believe, as far as Tsunami Relief money goes, there are 8 new resorts built by the government where the fisherfolk once lived. They've been moved back into a slum in the interior where obviously they can no longer fish.
I donated to a private group that is working to provide emergency medical aid. Not even tax-deductible, AFAIK.
Shirley wasn't telling us to callously stand by and watch the wounded and injured die. Nothing wrong with giving some immediate help to alleviate the suffering directly caused by the earthquake.
But when it comes to endlessly pouring in foreign aid to prop up a corrupt regime, a regime which exacerbates disasters of this kind by failing to provide suitable infrastructure, then we should call a halt. If Haiti's entire economy is based upon foreign aid, then the donor countries should call the shots.
What Haiti badly needs is to be put under some sort of trusteeship. They have proven themselves incapable of self-government.
Hey Darrell, I'll see your Bertrand Russell and raise you a Haiti reality check:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704878904575031673153590414.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection
It turns out that delivering -emergency- food, water and medical aid (aka bandages, aspirin, sutures and the like) is a military grade operation. The people the aid is being delivered to are so dysfunctional, so, dare I say it, uncivilized, that they are effectively stopping all shipments at the airport and the harbor with their barbaric behavior. Aid is being delivered into what amounts to an active civil war, with shooting and everything.
Sorry if reality doesn't meet your specifications.
I say again, I gave at the office. Canadian Forces is the appropriate tool for getting this job done.
If there's a catastrophe in London Ontario, I'll probably head over myself with a truck load of evil plastic water bottles. But since I'm disarmed and stripped of cash by our benevolent government, then our benevolent government is going to have to step the hell up for this one.
And unlike during the too-long tenure of the Liberals, Canadian Forces is getting the job done here. For a change I'm not actively ashamed of the lame-ass token military effort, twelve men and three broken-down VW Thing vehicles. Our guys showed up with the goods and are getting it done right.
What's your problem with this, monkey boy? My heart not bleeding enough for you?
I give to the Sally Anne. They helped me out once and I could see when they did, that they didn't seem to be much further ahead financially than I was at the time.
They didn't live in palatial mansions in Kitsilano, or have property on Quadra Island while claiming to be a "charity" and helping others with their visions of how things should be.
A post at Theo sums it up for me:
Clicky
Gord, what Haiti needs to do is declare war on the USA and get themselves invaded.
Worked awesome for Iraq, right? Downtown Baghdad is safer than downtown Chicago these days.
One definately needs to be careful when choosing an organization to donate to after natural disasters; however, not donating due to the fact that the country reciving the funds is corrupt or organizations advertising assistance are possibly corrupt as well, is no excuse not to donate. Our church chose Haiti as it's focus back in the beginning 2009. We have two missionaries stationed there that are established and are able to distribute aid. Although other organizations are asking for money, ours had already arranges to send a box car full of goods - the box car was to be turned into a shelter for a family in need. One can donate clothes - consider putting change or bills - preferably American change/bills into the pockets of the clothing you donate or in other items to be shipped overseas - that way your money goes directly to those in need. $10 Canadian dollars + $376 Haitian dollars. $10 Amercian dollars + $402 Haitian dollars. One can tuck the money away so that only the recipient of the goods finds it.
"Haiti needs to do is declare war on the USA and get themselves invaded. "
Funny thing is I've heard in several earlier reports that many locals were actually calling for US marines to take over the government.
Blame the victims - nothing new here. Talk about being born on third base and acting like you just hit a triple.
The arrogance of some folks living in advanced industrialized countries, pointing their crooked fingers at people and places that they are truly ignorant of. Tell the 12 year old orphan that she is unworthy of your charity because her corrupt forebears left the cupboard bare. This isn't about making a political point, its about helping a few fellow humans. This is NOT the same as giving the homeless guy a loonie!
coolpacific @2:57
Heh. To continue with your baseball analogy, coolpacific steps up to the plate, takes a mighty swing, and totally misses the point.
"Millions (if not a billion?) dollars was donated to the tsunami relief a few years back...does anyone know, what exactly, there is to show for all that money donated?"
A few thousand folks that you weren't forced into watching starve to death. Were you looking for a better return on the investment.
I think a few of you read "Atlas Shrugged" and instead of enlightened became confused.
gordinkneehill - the point? I suspect if you had a clue you would enlighten me.
The way I read the piece is that Haiti has only Haiti to blame for its predicament. It is straight forward; I missed nothing.
You sleep tight now, in your misguided self righteousness, puffed up and proud of the virtue of being born in a wealthy land.
Where were these people 3 weeks ago? Haiti needed help then, as well.
We live in advanced industrialized countries not because of chance, but because our predecessors had enough willpower to work instead of whining about poverty.
I keep telling my kids when they whine about studying things: I have all power in the world to stay in my basement and play computer games, but I wake up at 7am and drive for 1 hour to work instead. You just have to have willpower to force yourself to do the right things, otherwise you end up in one sort of institution or another.
A local church has been going to Haiti for decades, every summer they go build schools and such. Sadly most of the aide money will go to corrupt politicians, micro credit and medicine and food would aide the people of Haiti throwing millions of dollars at a corrupt government will only cause more suffering.
Well, let me throw my 2 cents in, helping 3rd World Countries breed that are a cesspool of crime, murder, rape, kidnapping, slave trade and VooDoo like Haita is a Liberal Socialist Utopia. There is no possible way to account for all the money that is donated.
Just for kicks and giggles, maybe some of you should google the yearly salary for the top administator for the Salvation Army.
Back in the Ole Daycare Days we used to let United Way in, and I even got quasay arrested for United Way and stayed at the Court House alday calling my friends to donate. The next day I googled United Way and found out how much the top Dogs made.
I do not donate anymore, to anyone.
,
Yes, Haiti has only itself to blame for its predicament. That's because it is run, not as a nation, but as a corrupt corporation for the benefit of the 30 families who own all production and services in the land.
These families live in gated communities, protected by armed guards. They speak French, send their children to private French schools, and run everything - government, industries, banks.
The mass of the population have no power. They speak Creole. The 30 families have not set up a societal infrastructure for these people;; i.e., an educational system (over 505 of the population is illiterate); there is no decent road, hydro, water, health care infrastructure. These people are unemployed and subsist off international aid.
International charities provide what health care, schooling exists for these people. The 30 families government does not.
The massive financial aid that pours into Haiti yearly for roads, hospitals, schools etc is siphoned off by these 30 families. It doesn't get to the population whose state of life hasn't changed..ever.
There are no building codes, and the cheap houses etc that the Creole population builds for themselves can't stand up to any natural disaster. The govt ignores this situation.
The 30 families are of course delighted that the international world is rebuidling Haiti. It means that they don't have to contribute a dime to such efforts...and don't have to change their corrupt infrastructure.
Is anyone interested in forcing this corrupt set of families to change and actually, enable Haiti to emerge as a nation? Rather than a private and corrupt corporation?
coolpacific @3:33
See? You let the point slip right by you again. That point being that Haiti, with its tradition of corrupt governments IS largely responsible for the fact that an earthquake, which is a normal and statistically predictable event on that island, caused death and devastation far beyond what might be expected, if a quake of similar magnitude were to strike, say, Vancouver.
By continuing to allow foreign aid to flow unfettered into that country, we are propping up that corrupt system, and thereby perpetuating the problem. It's called "enabling behavior", and it's analogous to your mother supporting your drug habit by permitting you to live for free in her basement.
That's not to say we shouldn't provide humanitarian disaster relief. We should, and we are. I have contributed. Have you?
Personally, I can not believe what I am reading here. Don't donate because the government is corrupt? Granted the government is corrupt, but who said anything about giving donations to the Haitian government. I recommend giving through churches who already have missionaries in place who also have programs in place to assist those in need. The idea that these Haitians are getting what they deserve due to their religion and corrupt government is a sickening and cowardly philosophy as far as I am concerned. Come on now -do you really believe that everyone in Haiti deserved what they got - that is sociopathic thinking. Whether or not God judged the region, it is our duty and responsibility to help our fellow man. Stop the excuses. Like I said, you can donate directly to the masses by placing bills and change strategically in your donated items.
Agreed Phantom. When the French minister accused America of a “military occupation in Haiti” two weeks ago I thought to myself: "and that would be a bad thing?" This clearly shows the hypocrisy of motives for those that would accuse the Americans of such things. I’ve also noticed that most of the verbal stones are cast by those that donated the least, or nothing.
It's deplorable how politics is dragged into everything, especially leftarded politics. Right on cue, all of the secular moral elitists have taken the opportunity to lambaste their political foes, by trying to stifle relevant and important conversations, with the usual tactics. Labelling and slandering the participants as uncompassionate and racist. After all, wouldn't the recipients of emergency aid today, and in the future, benefit from the culling of corruption in their governments and in the upper hierarchies of the aid providers? I can see how this would hurt the pocketbooks of many activists that tend to throw these proverbial stones, but I digress. Follow the money! For example, not stirred enough cast plenty of verbal stones from his high and mighty moral high ground just last week; then today, says that he hasn’t put any personal money forthright to the cause he champions. Since the entire discussion is in bad taste(according to stirred and his comrades), I can only conclude that those like stirred are just cheap.
The mantra for the left should be: ”Cheap”, par for the leftist course.
I agree ET.
Having a cousin from Haiti myself I feel the only way to change anything is to change its government and make it accountable to an outside democratic country, or we just keep taking kids off their hands to offer a better life with an ability to make something of themselves.
I feel for the people of Haiti, but I will not give one cent to the country until I see an overhaul of the government.
Coolpacifc - Have you read the article? Trolling in and emoting doesn't help you to understand and help in the shot term or long term.
Shirley says,he doesn't mean, "serves them right", he doesn't mean "kids should suffer". He says he is heartened to see people caring. But he says, the adults there need to start acting responsibly. Aid should be provided with that in mind. It does not work to give aid unconditionally. The following quote summarizes it for you:
"The people of whom I write are adults. Functional, human adults with functional, human adult brains. It is not too much to ask that they behave as such. That they stand up and say, “Yes, we screwed this up the first time. We are forever indebted to you. Now show us how we can do it right. So that, next time, we won’t need your help.”
Now you should know that is very much like what Obama has said about Africa and its state of underdevelopment. And Dambisa Moyo in Dead Aid says it too. Yes emergency aid is needed. But the time for excuses is past. The time for the resident adults to step up to the plate (in your baseball analogy) is now.
Oh dear, an opinion!
Can't have that. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!