Since the Haiti earthquakes occurred, I have heard many people say, “We should be helping our own people! There are plenty of people here that need help. Why are we helping other countries when we can’t even help ourselves?†Although I understand this way of thinking, I also know that, no matter what the situation, we should always make an attempt to help our neighbors. If we withheld assistance to Haiti, it would be the same as denying a starving neighbor a plate of food. Think about it…is this something that you would do?
Growing up in Detroit taught me something very important: selflessness. We were always taught to give no matter what our situation. Although we were poor, we shared what we had. A pot of beans and rice went a long way. We may have little, but God always seems to replenish those who give.
Those who have never left this country do not realize that poverty in other countries is much more severe than poverty here. We have homeless shelters, food banks, welfare systems, church pantries and access to hospitals. Other countries don’t provide this access to their poor. If you can’t grow it, you don’t eat. People live in mud huts and go without clean, plentiful drinking water. Many children never step into a school because they have to work. Children work in fields and take care of younger siblings instead of sitting in classrooms learning their ABCs.
Don’t get me wrong. I understand our country’s economic concerns. Millions of people are without jobs. People everywhere are losing their homes to foreclosure. Many are finding themselves homeless. I get it. I understand. However, if we don’t help others, how can we expect others to help us? We must give in order to receive.
As I witness the outpouring of support our country is giving the citizens of Haiti, I couldn’t be prouder to be an American. We live in a great country full of loving, giving, unselfish people. When times are hard we stick together and power through. America, you make me proud!
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank
Author: Rhonda Gutierrez
Thank You Thank You Thank You!
I have been having similar discussions. I understand wanting to take care of our own, I do. As you said, we already have a long, long list of local, state, federal & private agencies set up to do just that. The Hatians were not hit by a hurricane that was forcast, this was a catastrophic earthquake that was over in an instant. They had little before, now it is less than nothing.
I cannot & will not be shamed for helping. I have volunteered in my own communities for years. I never thought I would see the day when people would say shame on America for helping people devastated this way. Of those people who say that, I am ashamed to call them countrymen.
Wonderful piece. I think we get these type of feelings no matter what economic situation we are in. People will always say “what about me?” no matter what. But as stated in this article, we do have it so much better here in this country than in many other spots on this planet. Haiti is one of the poorest nations on the planet. What americans donated is peanuts compared to the money being spent here to help all humans walking around in this country. What the U.S. and other countrys are providing to haiti is peanuts compared to what they do for this country. Even though I agree slightly with their sentiments, due to the economy, if they really took the time to research, they would see we are not losing anything by helping. We have to take the us and them way of thinking out of the equation and just look at Haiti as fellow human being in need of help.