So Many Questions
Like much of the world, I watched the Canadian and American Hope For Haiti Now telethons last night. It is beginning to feel much like the “car wreck” syndrome where you don’t want to see the horror, but you can’t look away. Hours of watching left me curled up in a much tighter ball on my couch than when I first curled up to watch how our two very rich nations were going to address the magnitude of needs in Haiti. I was left with more questions, more wonderings and even more astonishment than ever at the glaringly missing Haitian voice.
What seemed to be missing from all this opening of purses, deluge of humanitarian aid, cerebral evaluations of why the recovery efforts have been so challenging and the even more cerebral renditions of how Haiti is to be rebuilt, topped off with the liberal dousing of altruistic pronouncements of commitment by government to government to stay the course for the long haul – was THE HAITIAN VOICE!
By the end of the programs, I had wound myself up in a cocoon of questions. Where were the Haitian leaders? I don’t mean the Haitian government officials –their voice isn’t one I listen to much anyway. I mean “Where were the Haitian community leaders?” Educators, clergy, business men & women, Section Chiefs, or even a houngan or two who could have better expressed what is really whirling through the Haitian psyche now. Why weren’t they consulted and/or hired to coach the International community as to the best way to distribute aid in a culturally sensitive way? Why were their pleas initially placated with vapid promises while precious time was lost with so many organizations falling over each other trying to map out a plan? Why, after a couple of days of this did someone not realize they needed a Haitian to help to figure this out? And, now, why do they all wonder why 600,000 displaced, traumatized, brutalized people are rising up in chaotic demonstrations of desperation?
I am not against the International humanitarian efforts that so instantly arrived and so essentially were, are, and will continue to be necessary on every front imaginable for an indeterminable length of time. I fall out in thankfulness that this outpouring of generosity has happened. I fear only that once again, we have steamrolled ahead and over the Haitian in our well-intended attempt to help Haiti. My greatest fear at this point is that we may relegate a nation of people to the bottom rung of the ladder in their own country while we forge ahead determined to rebuild that very country –our way –with our expertise –with our view of what is best and with blue eyes blind with good intent. My prayer and hope is that Haiti will not be lost in the rebuilding of Haiti. My prayer and hope is that someone will remember to embrace and include Haitians in their march to make it all better. My prayer and hope is that we will step down and encourage them to step up in the planning of their future. The Haitian spirit must not be sent to sit in a tent while the promised “new Haiti” unfolds.
As I close this transmission, I am thinking about how our home church has committed to the understanding that “church” is not the building. I pray and hope that the powers that be who are flooding the airwaves with the “plan” to rebuild Haiti remember that “Haiti” is not a building either. Yes, build away –I would be an idiot to think this is not necessary. However, make sure that Haiti has its imprint on every brick.
In the next transmission I think I will tackle the question –“what is all this going to mean for small charities and NGO’s like PWP who cannot call in the big guns to hold a telethon for us and raise the millions it is going to take for us to keep on keeping on?”
Peace,
Julie
Posted on Saturday, January 23 2010, at 3:33 PM.