Another Opportuinty to Help Haiti & The Haitian People

In mid January, the world was rocked with news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Those in the known world did everything they could as the poorest country in the western hemisphere attempted to cope with the earthquake. This summer Oak Park Church of Christ is hosting a charity golf tournament to raise funds that will help further the work my friends Ricot & Mandy Leon are doing in Haiti.

For more the details of Ricot and Mandy’s work in Haiti check out their blog/website.

For more information on the golf tournament or how to help out, click here

Help and Equal Opportunities

I just read a blog post from a man in the Gaza strip area of Palestine as he shared about a family rebuilding their home after it had been hit by a bomb. (Click here for the story) The writer shares some vivid details as well as photographing the damaged sustained by the bomb. He further states that international aid is coming via The American Friends Service Committee. Sadly, the help they are receiving only covers a small piece of the renovations needed. The family’s financial need is still beyond their reach.

Maybe it’s just me and the lack of news watching I do, but where is the media coverage on this issue? Ever since the earthquake in Haiti happened, the media has done a great job of bombarding people with the Haitian president's plea for international aid. Shortly after the devastation in Haiti happened, a fundraising telethon was organized in hopes that the Canadian people will donate whatever funds time and energy they were willing. Canadians didn’t disappoint either as the Canada for Haiti website reports their donations that night exceeded $13.5 million, and with the Government matching every dollar, puts the total well over $27 million.

My intent in sharing this is not to be derogatory toward the Haitian people, their situation, or the aid they are receiving. After all I would want as much help as I could get if I were in an earthquake. I would even applaud my countries government for appealing to the rest of the living world for help. My intention is to question the bias of the attention. Why not do the same thing for those trying to rebuild their lives after being victimized by war? To me, it seems a little unfair that the attention given by the media is a little one sided. Why? What’s the problem with unbiased and fair media coverage? Is it because the word of mouth technique news seems to naturally incur is null and void? Or is there something else?

Put yourself in the shoes of someone who HAS had their house blown up by a bomb. Wouldn’t you want as much help as you can get? How would you feel if NUMEROUS humanitarian agencies headed to your town or village because they cared that much? Strangers helping strangers, sounds like a wonderful and totally capable plan for a country that can willingly donate $27 million to an earthquake ravaged country. So why not give equal attention to all those in need of humanitarian aid? Am I alone in feeling this way?

Haiti Earthquake Relief

One of my college buddies and his wife have been serving in Haiti for a few years now. So when I first heard of the earthquake in Haiti, I immediately thought of them. Today they were able to access the internet and let everyone know that they were safe and only by the work of God, they were out of the country the day BEFORE the earthquake happened. (for more on their story please click here. because I know someone personally effected and living in the aftermath of the quake, all my support is going to them. there are lots of ways to help the Haitian people so if you come across this and haven’t yet helped out but feel compelled to, please considering helping my friends, Ricot and Mandy Leon through Heart for Home Mission