HAITI NEEDS GAUZE, NOT GUNS

After years of suffering, it's taken a catastrophic earthquake for the world to recognize Haiti's need for help. Now that this has happened, the United States, the same people that are largely responsible for their situation in the first place, are interfering with their hope to progress. This is unacceptable and shouldn't be allowed.

Here's a few excerpts from journalists in the streets of Port-au-Prince:

"If people do not get clean water, there could be epidemics of water-borne diseases that could greatly increase the death toll. But the US is now sending 10,000 troops and seems to be prioritising "security" over much more urgent, life-and-death needs. This in addition to the increase of 3,500 UN troops scheduled to arrive."

"On Sunday morning the world-renowned humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders complained that a plane carrying its portable hospital unit was re-routed by the US military through the Dominican Republic. This would cost a crucial 48 hours and an unknown number of lives."

"On Sunday, Jarry Emmanuel, air logistics officer for the UN's World Food Programme, said: "There are 200 flights going in and out every day, which is an incredible amount for a country like Haiti ... But most flights are for the US military."

"Washington's fear of democracy in Haiti may explain why the US is now sending 10,000 troops and prioritising "security" over other needs."

"Security is not the issue. We see throughout Haiti the population themselves organizing themselves into popular committees to clean up, to pull out the bodies from the rubble, to build refugee camps, to set up their security for the refugee camps. This is a population which is self-sufficient, and it has been self-sufficient for all these years."

"Here is—they had no business being there. Sure, if there’s some way where you have an army of bandits, which we haven’t seen, on any mass scale going and attacking, maybe you might bring in some guys like that. But right now, people don’t need guns. They need gauze, as I think one doctor put it. And this is the essence of—it’s just the same way they reacted after Katrina. It’s the same way they acted—the victims are what’s scary. They’re the other. They’re black people who, you know, had the only successful slave revolution in history. What could be more threatening?"


The hurricane Katrina images are still fresh in our minds, and it's unfortunate that America's role in Haiti is being dealth with in a similar way. However, optimism is still present. The contributions being sent from all over the world are a good sign, but there's still work to be done.

There are no security concerns, there's only a concern for help. The people of Haiti have been helping each other survive through the obstacles they've faced for years. They will continue to do that now more than ever, but we can't be prioritizing "security" over lives. If our leaders really have the interest of the people in mind, then this is a perfect time to show it.

Don't accept the misrepresentation being shown by members of the mass media. Put yourself in Haiti's situation and never forget that human life matters more than property.