I whet my breath with prayers
for those in Haiti
and those who were able to answer the call for help
Haiti, population: approximately 8,710,000. A country of the West Indies in the beautiful Caribbean. It was originally inhabited by the Aranwak Indians many many moons ago; and became a French colony in the 1600's.
In 2010 it has been struck again with devastation... this time it may well claim the lives of 200,000 ~ ~ ~ and our hearts are heavy for all. Many are watching their televisions, feeling helpless, feeling great sorrow for those that are there; for those that are here and in other places across the country. Knowing that they too are helpless; as they wait for news, holding hope that maybe they will see the face of loved ones on their televisions at home or receive a phone call telling them that their loved one was spared in this horrible tragedy.
Help is trying to get there... it is not easy as there are not many places or ways to get to the people. And yes, sadly the scammers are already doing what they do... trying to rip people off by saying if you send money, it will go to Haiti relief. It makes me sick to think just like Katrina, those people are out there, taking advantage of others in times of great heartache and crisis.
Devastation in Haiti is turning to anger; anger is turning to frenzy. Traumatized people are witnessing things people should never have to witness... their equilibrium is out of whack... they are doing things that are not normal. These are NOT NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR PEOPLE THERE.
People are living through a something worst than a nightmare and now some are doing the unthinkable, the unimaginable... they are turning on each other, they are looting and stealing and not in their right minds. They are desperate.
The masses are unable to see the bigger picture, their vision is limited to that which is right under their noses; the smells of death, bodies, screams of neighbors are all around them. They do not have the vision of an eagle; a working T.V. to see that others are trying to reach them with water, food, doctors and nurses...
They probably have no idea of the enormity of this devastation in their homeland, they only know that what they are seeing is enormous in their little part of their world and that is far too much to process in itself. They are living their own 9/11, without anywhere to take refuge. They are overwhelmed by their circumstances, their devastation. I cannot even imagine what thoughts must be in the head of any one person there living through this horrific event. Can you even imagine?
The physical destruction appears so great that efforts to reach so many in need is made even more complex by the lack of concrete and the bodies laying on road ways. Watching on T. V. I wonder how Al Roker and the crews there were able to arrive and still look so crisp in their clothing! But the destruction is remarkable; seeing people using their hands to attempt to find loved ones; digging until they bleed, but not stopping, continuing on and on... seeing the wounded, knowing that they feel no one is coming, the desperation seen in their faces, the trauma that is all around akin to a battlefield.
Today I heard about a prison and that the prisoners all escaped; all survived the quake! They are now running the streets, roaming; looting, stealing! They are adding to the madness of a country and its people all devastated. Why is it that they cannot jump into being part of a solution? OK, perhaps I do expect too much at times! Just a thought...
There are thousands using what little energy they have searching for others now, using their hands and bodies, their weak voices calling out names of family members, friends and neighbors, not giving up... Thousands more needing medical attention and even more sitting here in the USA, Canada and around the world hoping and praying that their loved ones survive this horrible event. As a people united, we all pray for those who have died; those who are hurt and those who are left alone and frightened.
We also send heartfelt thanks, prayers and hopes to those who were able to answer the call and have deployed to Haiti to help; to minister, doctor, nurse and provide disaster mental health to those there. Today... I whet my breath across the waters to my brothers and sisters of Haiti with prayers of hope in healing and to the spirits to protect you and yours in the days, months and years ahead.
To all our relations~
May the Creator bless and keep you safe.
We ARE Coming Haiti... We ARE Coming!!! We Always Come in times of Crisis, we all will unite in crisis around the world.
We Always Do ~
Here's some ways you can help if you need them:
- clintonbushhaitifund.org
- 1-800-REDCROSS
Walk In Beauty
Dr Sherry E Showalter
Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life
3 comments:
What a disaster, and coming so soon after several years of other big problems. I am proud to be an American at times like this when so many Americans reach out to help. Sorry that it takes such a huge problem elsewhere to make us reflect on how good we have it. While we crab about the economy and domestic "issues".. put it in a different pespective when we so a situation like this that we are not living through. Powerless to help? No, give somehow. The Red Cross is in my opinion always a safe place to contribute. They respond every time they are needed and do an awesome job.
May I pose a couple of questions? The first question is related to this blog.
1. I am sure I am not only person quite literally crying for hours and using many boxes of kleeeenexes ( generic) and limiting how much TV I watch covering the events in Haiti. I have made a monetary donation and am praying for the Haitians and those providing aide. I did not cry for hours on end during Septmber 11th. When 9/11 occured...I had not yet lost anyone very near and dear to my heart. So...can tears regarding Haiti be sort of mis-placed grief? Are some of us prehaps able to cry for the Haitians because we have never cried for our own loss? It almost seems easier to cry for the Haitians because I am not alone in my tears. Any thoughts?
Question # 2 Today, via facebook...I learned of a death of person related to my family via marriage. They posted that their father died in their status. It seemed rather difficult to learn of a death via FB...especially because my one phone message about services has not been returned. How do you feel about people letting others know of death via FB? So upsetting to me...I am considering deactivating my FB account.
Dear Anonymous #2,
Thank you for your comments and questions...
there are many many who are cying for those in Haiti, for those lives lost; those searching against all hope for those buried under the construction and devastation, and for those all over the world... and yes, there are those who are crying for there own losses as they watch in horror. We've seen tragedy bring that out in public displays of grief with bringing flowers to the Embassy when Princess Diana died, when Kennedy died, when Michael Jackson died, many there crying and bringing flowers and things to leave while crying and expressings sympathy in and during times where grief was sanctioned by society at large. All the while many crying for their own losses deep within, somehow made easier as they seeminly were sharing those tears "for others", so yes, grief can be exposed or brought out when tragedy stikes and sometimes mixed in with that of others.
#2... Finding out about a death via facebook is hard, very hard particularly if it was a close relationship, a meaningful relationship... but it can be a shock irregardless. We now live in an age where facebook, internet and high speed technology allows people to inform others in a "quick, mass" way... not always the best way for most. It seems the phone tree way of doing things is not happening like the good old days, I would think that you might want to let the family know how difficult it was to read of the loss on facebook... I am sorry for your loss and in the way that you had to hear of it.
You may want to "sit with it" for awhile before de-activating your account particularly if you use facebook and internet. Give it some thought after the shock wears away some. I invite you to visit the fan page that is there as well. Best of all things to you. and I hope that I have answered your questions here. Blessings to you and yours. "Thanks for reading Healing Heartaches"!
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