Haiti - destroying my misconceptions 1.6

Haiti - destroying my misconceptions 1.6

I role off of the living room coach and flip to CNN – for what I expect to be – nothing in the area of what it turned out to be. Images flashed unyieldingly through my eyes of the carnage and destruction that the earthquake had left behind. The destruction that I saw I need not describe - one simply has to close their eyes for a moment and can immediately conjure up that face that stood out to you, that child, that mother, that father, that friend.

One such story was the narration of Reverend Pat Robinson over the occurrence of the earthquake of Haiti being the direct result of a pact that Haiti had made with the devil to rid them selves of French colonialism. In a single line of twisting biblical narratives to conform to the belief that wherever there is a tragedy there is a god enacting punishment on a people for turning away from Him – Robinson dirtied the face of all of Christianity. But even this tragic soiling of the message of Christ would take a back seat to another more powerful story.

Although my mind was mesmerized around a story of pain and tragedy – of suffering and defeat other stories were arising. Destroying my misconceptions of a cruel and selfish world – of weak and incapable human beings – would be the response of the world – and of the Haitian people in light of the tragedy. Even more prominent on my mind then the faces of the dead or dying – would be the faces of survivors and volunteers digging with bare hands through concrete slabs and rubble – for the possibility of finding loved ones still alive. Even more prominent then the words of a renegade reverend – would be the prayers pouring in from Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues and people – which would give God the access needed to save lives. More impactful then the rivers of tears pouring out on the streets were those that despite having lost loved ones decided to honor them by singing and dancing. This week I witnessed America a nation built on violent militarism commit its two former presidents to contribute to the effort in Haiti. This week I witnessed Israel who engages daily in a cruel and oppressive apartheid system be the first country to set up a field hospital in Haiti that far surpasses anything else on the ground right now. This week I witnessed actors, actresses, singers and comedians forget about self indulgence by placing the Haitian people first - through telethons, performances and emotional cries for help.

This is not to say that Haiti is not going through something tragic and stands as a reminder as to the fragility of all life – and the inherent unfairness of it – but that this story is not the prominent one. This is not to say that there are not those out there that continue to say cruel, hurtful and inconsiderate lies about the Haitian people and their past – but that they take a backseat to the unfolding of a much more powerful and truer narrative. This is not to say that there still are not people out there that despite a large bank account have not contributed anything but that the greater story is of those that have given more then they had to give.

I have a comment for you that disbelieve that can be phrased best in the once loathed words of a war mongering American President turned Haitian philanthropist – “you are either with us or against us” George W. Bush. The story of people who continue to hope and dream for a better tomorrow with blood, sweat and tears and a world willing to dream with them through actions and donations – into a great and glorious future – is the story that will stand the test of time; not the carnage – the insensitive or the selfish but the bright, the hopeful and the courageous.