Photos of Haitian children bloodied, parentless and homeless are flooding the media. The raw images create an intense emotional impact. Tragedies such as this always elicit a multitude of responses.’ Some claim the country made a pact with the devil, thus bringing the tragedy upon itself, while others rush to help save lives. Some change the channel while others pick up the phone and give much needed funds. People in armchairs are stirred from their state of apathetic comfort to do something – anything. Many are clamoring to bring these recently orphaned children to the U.S. Helping orphans is a noble cause, but I can’t help but wonder where all these loving, helpful humanitarians have been. What is it about this tragedy that has roused them from their slumber? Haiti had 300,000 orphans before this earthquake struck, according to the Miami Herald. It’s true that efforts were made by groups and individuals to adopt Haitian orphans prior to this tragedy, and I applaud those honorable few. But it seems our society reacts only if a tragedy strikes close to home or is presented dramatically in the media. Rwanda had 613,000 orphans by the year 2001 as a result of genocide and AIDS. Where was the international outcry? We had to struggle to even classify the situation in Rwanda as genocide. Orleans Parish was the seventh most impoverished county of 290 counties in the nation prior to Hurricane Katrina. Other than those who lived there, who really cared? Trying to raise funds for cancer research has made me well aware of the difficulty of translating verbal empathy into monetary support, even when the National Cancer Institute estimates that, ‘based on rates from 2004-06, 40.58 percent of men and women born today will be diagnosed with cancer … at some time during their lifetime.’ Why does it require some tragic stimulus to trigger a large scale humanitarian effort? Many people need an emotional shock to part with their hard-earned dollars if nothing material is exchanged. Sitting in front of the television watching tragic images of destitute youth, many feel morally compelled to fix a situation for which they previously had limited compassion. It is important to give to those in need, whether in Haiti, Rwanda or even right here in the U.S. But let’s not let our transitory compassion carry us away in a river of compulsion. We need to be careful to process the children currently orphaned in a manner which ensures the careful consideration of familial ties. Our attention and funds should focus on helping the Haitian people establish a government in the wake of this disaster which will provide protection from corruption and abuse and give a voice to the people. We need to work with the Haitian government to establish programs and means for the Haitian people to rebuild the infrastructure. The goal – empowerment and employment of the impoverished masses.
‘Human dignity demands that Haitians be treated not as victims but as fellow human beings who are resourceful and have a sense of pride,’ writes Diane Paul, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. ‘Children separated from their parents should be placed with relatives or trusted family friends whenever possible, or with foster families, not in institutions.’ It is encouraging to know the nations of the world are stepping up to the plate to help alleviate as much suffering as possible. But who will care about all the suffering that remains when the music fades and the stage lights dim? To respond to the call of pain and suffering only when others are watching is merely a way of assuaging the conscience. A humanitarian responsibility to help the less fortunate is bestowed upon people who enjoy the benefits of living in a prosperous nation. Such a responsibility is not confined to periods of frantic media coverage. Nathan Shull is a 35-year-old finance junior from Seattle. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_nshull. —– Contact Nathan Shull at [email protected]