The Right Fangirl

I've been watching the coverage of the Haiti earthquake and its really just heartbreaking. I'm enjoying my lunch at work and I didn't have to dig for it or fight someone off for it. I go home to a comfortable house where I have electricity, food and water, and a clean, comfortable bed. My family is whole. So, I donated some money. Americans are generous with our wealth, even at a time when we can least afford it.

Anyway. I was thinking about how, as is usual, the United States is spearheading the rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. No other country has pledged so much money, manpower, or other resources so far. Even the U.N. hasn't offered as much--of course, the majority of the U.N.'s money comes from the United States so we're just paying that much more. And that is the official response. Private citizens and charities are already mobilizing to donate their resources to the cause, further increasing America's contribution.

It also occurred to me that Haiti's government is non-functional, leaving a vacccuum of authority and security. Guess who is filling that role? The United States. Where are the accusations of interference? Of nation-building? People asking for an exit-strategy? They think getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan will be hard...try extricating yourself from the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere that has little to no resources of its own, no centralized government, and millions of starving, homeless citizens?

They recognize that we should be there. Better the generous United States who will ask little or nothing in return for its efforts rather than, say, the Chinese who might ask for a base, or the Russians who might want to build a missile silo or somesuch. We'll give and give and rebuild and leave, and nobody will thank us and everyone will go back to the old "MYOB, USA!" slogans they chant when they're not after our money...and often even when they are.

For once, I approve of what President Obama is doing. I think his public response was slow (I wonder if he was having trouble with his exit strategy from the golf course), but the aid is already there and more is on the way. No matter what anyone else thinks of us at the end of the day, we'll be doing the right thing.

I was talking with a co-worker about this and he sent me this comic. Yeah, we may say that...but we'll get involved anyway. Its not in our nature to say "no" to someone in need.

Sorry for the ramble. :(

P.S. I donated through work, but I was wondering if there were any other trustworthy places to donate to for relief assistance? If anyone could share a few I'd appreciate it.