The Real Tragedy

On Tuesday, January 13, a 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti, practically flattening it's capitol, Port Au Prince. Although they have yet to confirm the number dead, I've heard anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 people lost their lives, not to mention the countless others that are still missing or injured. As America (and the world) tends to do in response to disasters, almost immediately medical supplies, food, temporary shelters and water were on planes headed to Haiti. Many other people began donating money, which in this age of technology has become incredibly simple - a few mouse clicks or a text message and you're done. For most of the Wednesday I watched my boss, almost in a state of panic, try to figure out what we could do, what HE could do, to help the Haitians immediately. The reality of it is, there wasn't much that he could do- and it seemed to be tearing him up.

As I sat at my desk and watched his normally happy, talkative demeanor change to one of sadness and defeat I began to look at my own attitude toward the situation. Yes, it is a tragedy. Yes, I feel bad for them. Yes, I'd like to help them. Yes, I will pray for them. I think all that - then go back to my regular routine- finishing my work, worrying about my financial problems, what to have for dinner, etc. At first I chalked that up to being somewhat a spoiled, self-centered American. Part of me wished I was more passionate about this Haitian tragedy, but another part of me was just fine with how I felt, and even thought that others may be going a little overboard in their reactions.

Then it dawned on me. The real reason I felt somewhat apathetic about the earthquake is that there is so much terrible things happening to people around the world on a daily basis. Why does it take a terrible tragedy for people to start to care? It's great that people are pouring out their support now, but where were they on Monday - before the earthquake, when most of the country was living on less than $1 a day? People didn't seem to care then. And what about the 25,000 children that die around the world each day from diseases that are completely preventable? How come we are not putting forth as much effort to help solve that problem? Maybe if we focus on THAT problem - helping other countries develop better infrastructure so they have water purification systems, stronger buildings, sustainable food systems, then maybe when natural disasters strike the devastation won't be as great. This earthquake could not have been prevented, and those who died could not have been saved. Deaths from a lack of clean drinking water, a steady supply of food, or basic medical supplies - those are things that CAN be prevented and yet we let millions of people die each year from them. Where is outcry then? I'm just as guilty as the next person. In the back of my mind I know the problem exists, but I don't do anything about it. I don't do anything to help. I still continue to live my life of relative luxury. God forbid I go without a cell phone, mp3 player, and DVR. So I guess it's relly myself I'm frustrated with.

I don't know what the answer is. I'm not saying don't help people in a time of tragedy. But maybe we just need to be more aware are the tragedies that are affecting people around the world on a daily basis. Not just in the aftermath of an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami or other unpreventable disaster.