Paul Shirley's Career Tragically Committs Suicide #Haiti

• Sage

  

  I do not know if what I’m about to write makes me a monster. I do know that it makes me a part of a miniscule minority, if Internet trends and news stories of the past weeks are any guide.
  
  “It”, is this:
  
  I haven’t donated a cent to the Haitian relief effort. And I probably will not.
  
  I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don’t give money to homeless men on the street. Based on past experiences, I don’t think the guy with the sign that reads “Need You’re Help” is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don’t think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either.

  Shouldn’t there be some discourse on how the millions of dollars that are being poured into Haiti will be spent? And at least a slight reprimand for the conditions prior to the earthquake? Some kind of inquisition? Something like this?:
  
  Dear Haitians –
  
  First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.
  
  As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
  
  Sincerely,
  
  The Rest of the World

  MORE: http://www.flipcollective.com/2010/01/26/if-you-rebuild-it-they-will-come-by-paul-shirley/
• tk421

  

  It's not PC, but I kinda agree with him.
• Upper90

  I read it, and it's not that it's not well written, Shirley's a great writer, IMO. (I loved his book, at least.)
  
  And I'm sure this will get a grand pat on the back on some level, and he's certainly entitled to that.
  
  But, in VERY short, to me, this piece smacks of someone who not only doesn't know the history of Haiti, but really doesn't know much about poverty on any level.
  
  Both of those points are fine by themselves, but it's not fine when one tries to pass it off as though they know what they're talking about. Secondly, as I said yesterday, what's with the backlash of people giving to the Haitian relief effort? I got equally as frustrated with Katrina relief....I don't understand the backlash of good deeds. If you personally don't want to give, donate, etc. That's fine by me, and you should in no way have to "answer" for that. But on the flipside, should anyone else have to answer for choosing to do the opposite?
• tk421

  

  I don't care if any one individual or company gives money to Haiti or whomever, but if the U.S is going to give taxpayer money on top of the Billions we've already given them to no avail, it would be nice to have some sort of oversight on how it's going to be spent.
  
  Of course, this would be nice to have in our country also, but I guess if we can't get any accountability here, we shouldn't really expect it with foreign aid.