1/18/10

What does a bunch of dead (Fill in pejorative term for Blacks here.) in Haiti have to do with me?
Well, nothing really.
But if you feel inclined to help your own (However you chose to define that.) this Monday, why not take part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
http://www.mlkday.gov/
Oh wait... this day honors another dead (Fill in pejorative term for Blacks here.) as well?
Next thing you know, they'll be in the White House too.

Some charities are better and more efficient than others.
But don't hate on Wyclef Jean and Yele before taking a look at the Red Cross.
http://socialistworker.org/2005-2/562/562_04_RedCross.shtml
Most of your money may get to Haiti - but don't count on it.

One hundred million to Haiti?
http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/us-and-foreign-aid-assistance#ForeignAidNumbersinChartsandGraphs

According to this site, the largest beneficiary of US aid (direct aid, World Bank, World Monetary Fund and United Nations) is Iraq - followed by Nigeria, Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Cameroon, India, Sudan, Vietnam and Tanzania.
(But the chart fails to include Israel's estimated 4 billion dollar annual aid through direct cash funds and joint projects.)
On the world stage - $100 million is really not that much.
And the net effect of much of this aid is the transference of wealth from poorer countries back to the richer ones. (Kind of a Rent-To-Own on a global scale.)

I don't jump on the bandwagon that believes that all help must come from within any certain group.
I understand the long term social impact of having one group always on the receiving end while the other seems to always be on the giving end.
But in Haiti - would it make any sense for the country to refuse help from all others and hope that only Blacks will rush to the aid of a destitute people?
But if one cannot help others - just take the Holiday to help those within your own community.
The resources saved by your actions will free up resources that could be used elsewhere.

Just do something.
(It's the only way to be sure your assistance reaches it's intended recipients.)