Aftershocks In The News
The 5.9 aftershock in Haiti rattled previously frayed nerves but may be overshadowed by the boots thumping on the ground. Thousands of people have descended on Port au Prince, none louder than our western media aftershock.
I understand the magnitude of the human tragedy. I feel terribly for the people in the affected city and villages but there's a point where media saturation becomes too much. This is the biggest story in the world but it's not the only news. You would not know this from watching CNN, Fox and especially the nightly news on the big three broadcast networks.
We should just start an All Haitian News Network for the people obsessed with the horror and devastation. Let the rest of us consider what else is happening in the world and watch the story in Haiti in our own measured manner.
Also in the news .....................
There was violence in Jos, Nigeria between Christians and Muslims. Over two hundred people died. Churches and mosques were attacked.
Congo's army has massacred 14,000 people in 2010. The mission is to rid the nation of militiamen responsible for tribal ethnic cleansing. As you might guess, many women and children are among the dead.
These stories are not uncommon in third world nations but we mostly ignore them. It's easier to ease the suffering of natural disaster victims because there are no bad guys to deal with.
Speaking of bad guys, Iraqi victims of Blackwater thugs are signing up for a class action suit against the private American security firm. This suit is very important and may set a precedent in international cases where civilian contractors act like warlords in war torn nations. It's a bigger problem than you might think. For the record, I'm on the side of the Iraqis in this case. Unless new information comes out what I have read makes Blackwater look like a death squad for hire.
This from the politically incorrect logic and commentary department ..................
I understand Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. The Haitian people endure sickness, starvation and death as a part of their life. Where was the media on January 11th? The earthquake made life and death in Haiti a story of a greater magnitude but the truth is, Haiti has been a disaster for many decades. We mostly ignore it, the same way we ignore poor African nations, South American poverty, South Asian suffering and the poor people of any nation without natural resources to exploit.
If you don't have oil, a poor nation must have a natural disaster or harbor terrorists to get the attention of the western media. If your people are suffering from the everyday run-of-the-mill maladies of hunger, sickness, and general hopelessness you won't have CNN and FOX dropping their top correspondents in to set up satellite links for wall to wall coverage. That's just the way it is. This tragedy in Haiti is the news-of-the-day but in a short time there will be another tragedy or inhumane act of terrorism to steal the spotlight. It's only a matter of time. When the media pulls out the people of Haiti will be left to bury the dead, heal the wounded and clear the rubble with little attention.
All it would take to distract the media from Haiti is a blonde girl in Topeka being kidnapped. This is one type of story minority victims are not qualified for. It's sad but true. The media is racist in this regard.
There's more news you did not read today ..................
On a lighter note, a 13-year-old Saudi girl has been sentenced to 90 lashes for bringing a cell phone to school. Our human rights loving allies in the middle east have found a way to get their teens off Twitter and Facebook. She will be flogged in front of her class. In America, classmates would be snapping photos of the whipping with their I-phones. I'm guessing this won't be a problem in Arabia.
I was glad sharpchick mentioned the Poe toaster in her blog. That's a great story. I read it yesterday. I also consider the possibility the original toaster has died. Roses and Cognac, nevermore.
Chappaquiddick was not enough an issue to unseat Ted Kennedy but anger over healthcare reform cost the Democrats his seat in congress. I get it, you can drown a young lady and hide the facts but you can't try to save her with health insurance. Politically, we Americans draw moral lines in the strangest places.
There is good news on the Haitian front .....................
This opinion may be harsh and a tad un-PC. When the dust settles on this disaster the survivors will be better off. ..... What? ..... Am I kidding? ........ No, hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into this impoverished nation at a rate the Haitian people have never seen. The western industrialized nations will help them rebuild. There will be jobs. There will be food and water. There will be better healthcare and sanitation. There are fewer people to feed. In addition to the fatalities Haitians are fleeing by the boatload to points elsewhere, anywhere.
I don't believe this opinion is uncaring. The fact is they had too many mouths to feed, not enough food, scarce water, medievil sanitation and healthcare. If it weren't for charities and aid workers they would have nothing. Many of the caregivers are among the dead. Humanity lost some of it's most humane souls in this tragedy.
Port au Prince will have a different landscape in five years. Once the mourning ends I hope the people of Haiti take advantage of the international investment being made in their poor nation. It is darkest just before the dawn. This earthquake, as horrible as it is, may be the beginning of a new Haiti. We can only hope.
Not all aftershocks are bad.
If you made it through this entire post you may qualify for disaster relief from FEMA. Thankfully they're not in charge in Haiti.