Haiti
Dear Friends,
For once, I am left nearly speechless, with sadness, and with a feeling of overwhelming helplessness over the images we’re all seeing of Haiti, and the stories we’re all hearing. It doesn’t lead one to wax poetic, to be philosophical, or even to know what to say. Such terrible suffering, such incredible devastation, people still trapped, hopefully some left alive, so many dead, the faces of the children, and of the people we see trapped as time for effective relief efforts to save them is running out. Tears run down my face, and surely yours as well, when I see them rescued. My heart goes out to those still waiting for news, or who have already had bad news of their loved ones. And then in sharp contrast, the jubilation of those who have found a loved one alive.
In the era of the immediacy of newscasts, where we see it all happening on our screens, as it actually happens on the scene, we are drawn into the drama with them, and our hearts ache as we watch. We have all seen other natural disasters, the terrible tsunami in Asia that took so many lives a few years ago, Hurricane Katrina. We read of earthquakes in distant countries, and sometimes it’s hard to imagine what it looks like on the scene, what those people must be experiencing and feeling. And this time, we seem so much closer. Like so many others, my family and I have been glued to our TV. It’s hard to stop watching, and to stop thinking about what they are going through.
I can only hope, along with all of you, that all the countries and agencies contributing to the efforts on the ground there, will be able to save the lives of the injured, free as many as they can of those still trapped in the rubble, and feed and treat medically those in such desperate need. And in the meantime, all we can do from so far away is pray and watch. Many, many people have made contributions to relief organizations, but even that probably won’t provide immediate help, as it appears that in the immediate chaos it is difficult to disperse the goods and supplies they want to provide. In time, I’m sure that all of our contributions will provide great help for the people of Haiti, but for now the need appears to be for heavy equipment, highly skilled manpower, medicines, water and food. And as always, with any contribution, you want to be sure that the organizations you are giving to are reliable and will do what they say they will, and are capable of delivering what they promise.
Long term, my hope for Haiti is that the already difficult conditions there before the earthquake will improve as a result of all this help, perhaps to bring them into a condition that is even better than what existed there before the earthquake.
I join you in all our hopes and prayers for these people, that as many as possible will survive, that they get the help they need as quickly as possible, and that in time the country heals from this terrible grief. And may each of us in our own small way find a way to help, even from so far away. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I know yours must be too.
Love, Danielle
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My heart breaks too for the people in Haiti. I and so many others are on a tight budget. But if everyone contributed even 10 dollars that could make such a difference. Tragedies like this really put things in perspective.
I think the only thing good that has come out of this horrific tragedy is the human compassion from people all over the world,from every race,religion,creed,colour and nationality. I echo the same sentiments as you, just yesterday I found myself reduced to tears over seeing some of the children that have lost parents,or who have been severely injured as a result of this tragedy and who are in urgent need of medical help. It was heart breaking and heart wrenching to see dead bodies lining the streets, and people looking daunted by the prospect of not knowing what’s going to happen to them next.
Being from Jamaica I feel akin to Haitians as Haiti is only a stones throw away. I would have been devastated beyond words if this had happened in Jamaica. I can only imagine what it feels to be a Haitian right now. It’s made me rethink my future and where I want to live, for a while i’ve had a burning desire to live in San Francisco one day. But now I am thinking perhaps it’s not such a great idea despite how beautiful it is and how suited the climate is to me. I am now too afraid to live anywhere where earthquakes of this magnitude can occur at any given time. Call me chicken but i’m just too scared after seeing the crippling and mind numbing impact it can have.
We are on a ski holiday at Blue Mountain N of Toronto; however not much skiing is getting done since my husband has just discovered Danielle Steele and is on his 8th book in less than two weeks. ‘She spins quite a tale’ and there’s always the unexpected’ he says. I look over and he often has tears running down his face over the plight of some poor woman. It’s funny to me. I’ve been scouring the second hand stores for more DS books to keep him quiet and reading. We are getting too old to ski anyway. He’s 71 and I recently turned 65!!! We too are wondering what’s going to happen in Haiti? Watching the outstretched arms grabbing for food and water, is unbearable. What can we do? Kudos to Clooney for his telethon tomorrow nite. Lets hope there’s still hope for these poor souls. Sometimes we wonder where is God???
Pictures from Haiti are not good Danielle.I believe that all will be in order but man need very long time.Danielle when I see this pictures from Haiti I feel not good.Danielle I think lot of you.When I read books of you I must think of you.Nice greetings from Prague jirka to Danielle.