For most of us today, the news comes to us in snippets. It’s not that more information isn’t available to us. We live in the information age! But we only make time in our busy lives for these short sound bites. In spite of this we tend to draw broad reaching conclusions from these very narrow slices of truth. We become myopic as if viewing life through a drinking straw.
When it comes to the situation in Haiti there is undoubtedly more ignorance than knowledge in the public mind. As usual, most of us are woefully ignorant of the critical truths of history that tell the real story behind the story. And so we end up drawing conclusions from our ignorance. In our own self righteousness, some of us are tempted to think that the people of Haiti have brought all of this on themselves somehow. We become like the disciples of Jesus who, having seen the blind man (Jn 9) asked Jesus who had sinned that he was born blind - was it him or his parents? We become like Job's comforters who just couldn't consider that maybe Job hadn't done some horrible thing to bring all of this on himself. I know that sin has consequences but it isn't always our own sin that gets us. The truth is that it is quite often the sins of others committed against us. And in those times the blood cries out from the ground.
I know you likely don’t have time for a history lesson but if you can take even 5 to 10 minutes you would do well to consider the historical background. It is the old story of greed, slavery, colonialism and oppression.
Canadian singer/song writer Steve Bell has written an excellent little blog about Haiti’s past that is well done but concise. It is worth your time. It’s entitled, ‘Debt, Dictatorship & Disaster’.
Interesting article ..it is avery confusing time...there is a post by a man named grant on steve bells entry that has some intesting points as well...not at all that i believe them"all" but i think he has marked a strong consensus out there as well...???. not so much as in they deserved it for their sins... but more so that the devil is very prominant in this situation and haiti desperately needs christian help!!.Steve bell seems like an exceptional thinker in this case as well...i like many am not so much "ignorant".. more so as "ambivolent" .
ReplyDeleteI don't think really there should be a question of how relevant "why" is in this heartstoppingly(if this is a word) sad event in haiti (really only God knows why doesn't he?) and lets not divide christians carrying different opinions on worldy matters anymore than is already happening out there... but more so on "what?" ..in the sense what can we do as humans for other humans that are suffering...and in my modest quite novice opinion it starts with sincere prayer!!and God will take care of the rest through our coping and understading through him..!!..
i agree...that the people of Haiti need God but more so they need someone to bring them God's message. We need to pray for God to reach them in this time of tragedy and such great loss. I know for a fact that if the people of Haiti knew the peace that passes all understanding...they would be happier, and would find this disaster easier to deal with. My heart breaks knowing all those souls that didnt make it, and for the young children who lost their families, or parents. I cant imagine how it must be there. Lord I just pray that you lift these people up, and touch them with your healing hand and with your love.
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