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Cynthia Tucker

Haiti and the US short attention span

7:00 am January 20, 2010, by ctucker

WASHINGTON — Last Sunday’s traffic jam around the Haitian embassy was a small, but poignant, reminder of American generosity: After a call went out for clothes, baby formula, batteries and other items, the old mansion which houses Haiti’s diplomatic mission here was swamped. Cars lined up for blocks as citizens gave what they could.

By Monday, U-Haul trucks were parked outside to take the collections away, and police officers were on hand to keep traffic moving. But the Red Cross and other aid organizations were still raking in donations because so many Americans — though battered by the Great Recession — have been moved by the desperate plight of Haiti’s earthquake victims.

But we Americans are as well-known for our short attention spans as we are for our goodwill. And Haiti’s desperate people, already the poorest in the hemisphere, will need sustained assistance for years to come.

After the dead have been buried, the wounded patched up and the hungry fed, will Americans still have the patience for Haiti? After orphanages and churches have been rebuilt, will all the journalists leave? When former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are no longer standing shoulder-to-shoulder to plead for aid, will Americans forget about Haiti until the next crisis?

Already, many observers and commenters are declaring Haiti a broken nation that cannot be fixed. Those include Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, who said: “The USA will once again pour millions into that country, much of which will be stolen. . One year from today, Haiti will be just as bad as it is right now.” And let’s not forget leading conservative light Rush Limbaugh, who sought to give his listeners an excuse for failing to donate: “We’ve already donated to Haiti,” he told a caller. “It’s called the U.S. income tax.”

But it’s not just right-wing cynics who are painting a picture of a doomed nation. So are several among the more thoughtful observers, who look back on the island’s bleak history and see a culture of corruption, poverty and violence.

Washington Post columnist Anne Applebaum wrote: “I have no illusions about anyone’s ability to help, for this is not just a natural disaster: It is a man-made disaster first and foremost, and so it will remain.”

Pessimism may be a rational response to Haiti’s longstanding dysfunction, but it fails to take into account the nation’s experience over the last few years. In November, the International Monetary Fund reported that Haiti and Guyana were expected to be the only two Caribbean nations to report positive growth in 2009, despite the worldwide recession.

Recent efforts by the United Nations had helped to stabilize the country, according to a September 2009 report from the left-leaning Center for American Progress. (Those who give the U.N. short shrift should note its contributions — and sacrifices — in Haiti.)

“Haiti is currently experiencing one of the best combinations of open political space and physical security that the country has seen in decades . . .Haiti’s President Rene Preval, elected in 2006, is also well regarded by the international community. And the democratically elected government is defined neither by corruption nor predatory behavior. . ,” wrote authors Reuben Brigety II and Natalie Ondiak.

Needless to say, the earthquake that devastated the country has crippled its government, destroyed schools, churches and hospitals and killed many of its community leaders. Recent gains were wiped out by a few cataclysmic moments a little more than a week ago.

But Haiti’s last decade shows that it’s not a lost cause.  If the United States can sustain its interest and assistance over a generation, the island nation could prove the doubters wrong.

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24 comments Add your comment

Turd Ferguson

January 20th, 2010
7:27 am

The US donated some 30 billion over the last 10 years. Just wondering what happened to all that cash? Perhaps the international community should increase their donations along with the UN.

Rising interest rates, out of control govt, trillions in debt, trade deficit etc…we have our own devils with which to deal.

bob

January 20th, 2010
7:31 am

“The USA will once again pour millions into that country, much of which will be stolen. . One year from today, Haiti will be just as bad as it is right now.”
I think history shows this comment to be correct.

King Of All

January 20th, 2010
7:44 am

That 30 Billion is not all cash. A lot of it is garbage, bad medicine and bad food that we could not dump elsewhere. We dump it there and call it AID.

Turd Ferguson

January 20th, 2010
8:05 am

Call it what you will. One mans “garbage” is another mans treasure.

Whacks Eloquent

January 20th, 2010
8:18 am

I have no doubt that many church and other philanthropic organizations will continue to focus on Haiti over coming years. They did with the tsunami. That said, I really hope that Haiti in 2015 does not wind up looking like Haiti in 2009. They need to move forward, starting with a clean flush of their government. Anybody heard estimates on how many of their government officials are missing or dead?

Joan

January 20th, 2010
9:00 am

Bob has it right. It is unfortunate that Haiti finds itself in this mess and lacks the wherewithal to dig out of it and rebuild. It will, undoubtedly, be years, if ever before this is cleaned up. I wish them well, but this country has an awful lot of indigents with their hands out too, immigrants looking for status so they can avail themselves of the educational and health systems and the like, so America needs to clean up its own mess first.

lovelyliz

January 20th, 2010
9:06 am

It’s that whole proserity gospel thing. You know, blame pverty on the poor and remind the world that you are good because you have been “blessed” with $$$$, even if it’s on the back of others and you do nothing positive for anyone other than yourself.

WPWW

January 20th, 2010
9:21 am

The U.S. shouldn’t be squandering taxpayer’s (fiat) money on ANY foreign aid, nor should be be entangled in the crooked, Globalist UN. There’s no point in throwing “good” money at the bad.

Blue

January 20th, 2010
9:31 am

Not-so-lovely-Liz; wow…”even if it’s on the back of others and you do nothing positive for anyone other than yourself”. I make VERY good money as a recruiter who places former military personnel into civilian companies. I would say that is not all for myself. There are many very wealthy business owners who EMPLOY other people. What you see is him getting wealthy off of others; what I see is someone who got wealthy by providing opportunities for other people as well. I guess when you have an entitlement mentality like you obviously do, you will always see the negative. But I’ve got news for you, some of us who HAVE been blessed have worked hard to achieve, are VERY thankful, have NOT done so “on th backs of others” and then use some of our (in your mind, ill-gotten) wealth to help others with less. Hate to burst your little liberal, entitlement bubble. Maybe you should have studied harder, worked harder, made different choices? But I’m sure you did and it was all just someone else’s fault for your lot in life.

What'sup!

January 20th, 2010
9:41 am

As time passes media coverage will become less and less regarding Haiti, but that doesn’t equate to American’s short attention span . . because many faith-based and non-profit organizations will continue to provide assistance to the Haitians as they have done for many years. What it means when the media’s coverage begins to wane is either there are some other issues that need coverage and brought to the forefront; Haiti will be in the news for a very long time and organizations will be seeking donations for quite a while. BTW, lovelyliz. . . poverty and poor are synonymous so I don’t understand what you mean when you say “You know, blame pverty on the poor”. Yes it is a blessing for those who have money but in most cases those who have money “worked” for it and I believe in most cases those who have money will and do give to the less fortunate.

Chris Broe

January 20th, 2010
9:43 am

Rush Limbaugh is saying the Obama knew about the earthquake before it happened and did nothing because Haitians were beginning to reject voodoo economics.

Cynthia McKinney issued a statement calling Rush Limbaugh a wingnut.

“Rush Limbaugh is a total wingnut!” she exclaimed.

Well, it looks like the good citizens of Massachussets put the nix on the Rx fix. It was the mandatory participation thing. Nobody can afford it. Look, I’m not one for being noble, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the health problems of 300 million Americans don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

Besides, if I had to read the phrase “invoking cloture” one…more…time…….!!!!

How annoying is the new commercial song for Special K cereal? It’s a xmas carol!! Where is the supervision? How did THAT get past committee? It’s like that NFL theme song, it’s a different part of the SAME SONG!

It’s the “Sleighride together with you” song. On the same vein, how about the Rock as the Toothfairy? What is happening to America? Where did we go off-message?

These are some of the many ways that the vast right-wingnut-led media conspiracy is torturing us all.

BTW: keep donating to Haitian relief. Another $10 would be a groove. That seems to be the bulk of personal donations. Texting a 10 dollar donation.

TnGelding

January 20th, 2010
9:49 am

Mission almost impossible, but there is always hope. I was stunned to see some of them conducting commerce as usual while expecting the rest of the world to send aid. Charity begins at home. The bureaucrats are too concerned about “security” instead of getting the aid to where it is needed or bringing the needy to the aid.

Call it like it is.

January 20th, 2010
9:51 am

Oh Cindy Lou……..I will give you points, let talk about Hati and not focus on our own back yard. I was wondering how you were going to react to the election last night, and now I see. You just plan on ignoring it. Well keep you head in the sand dear heart, because it just going to get worse for you and better for the American people.

But hey to make you happy I will also comment on the above. Haiti is a hell hole always has been and always will be. You can’t have it both ways Cindy, you want us to stay out of the middle east, yet you want us to continue pouring cash into this armpit of the world.

I say we continue our support for the next month, help them get their power and clean water, then let the rest of the world pony up. France, Germany always thinks we stick our noise in where it doesnt belong, fine! let them take care of this matter. I am sure them and the UN will make Haiti a shinning star in no time.

Davo

January 20th, 2010
10:19 am

Perhaps when Obama losses the 2012 election, he can then be free to run for Supreme Leader of the World, which lets’s face it, he thinks he is already. Then we can divert our hard earned money full throttle to Haiti whilst the haitians do what they do best…wait for the handout.
BTW CT, Teddy Kennedy just entered the history books. His brand of liberalism hit the stone wall of economic reality. His legacy is now as irrelevent to the left as it always has been for the right.

lovelyliz

January 20th, 2010
10:29 am

Yes Blue, but then you aren’t on a national radio program or TV entertainement/news program denigrating the poverty stricken Haitians and blaming them for their financial state.

lovelyliz

January 20th, 2010
10:31 am

Ther are people who are rich and have honestly worked for it, but then there are those who do so lttle and make so much. It’s usually this latter group that are among the most self-righteous hypocrites.

Ric

January 20th, 2010
10:42 am

History was made last night in the blue state of Mass. and CT chooses to ignore it. C’mon CT tell us ALL how it was a right-wing conspiracy. Also do your best to blame Bush to…

Bradley G

January 20th, 2010
11:03 am

Mrs. Tucker, I am dying to hear your spin (I mean “take”, of course) on why the Republicans gained a seat in the senate. Also, how it really means nothing at all in the grand scale.

Please hurry with the opinion. I need the chuckle.

LibraryJim

January 20th, 2010
11:21 am

1) nobody is blaming Haiti’s poverty on the poor. More like, blaming it on the government.
2) we send quality food and grain to Haiti — and it rots on the docks because no one in the government there will distribute it
3) churches have been active in Haiti (a friend of mine goes on mission trips every other year) for years, and in areas they work, they are successful — until the government intervenes!
4) If we were to insist on a more benevolent government in Haiti, we would be seen as imperialistic and as interfering with the sovereign rights of that nation. Already France is accusing us of invading Haiti because we sent the military in with aid — the only organization with the skills to distribute aid in disaster conditions!

So, stop whining about how we don’t do enough, and focus on what we DO for other countries. America is the most generous country in the world when it comes to spreading our resources, often for free!

Jack

January 20th, 2010
11:26 am

Brown for president.

SAN ANDREAS

January 20th, 2010
4:48 pm

I don’t know who is responsible for the earthquake, but it is not my (WAIT FOR IT………….) fault !

Tim

January 20th, 2010
6:00 pm

No, CT didn’t ignore the election last night. She just copied and pasted another persons story, added a couple of lines and then called it her opinion. Surprisingly though, she didn’t blame white people for loss of Ted’s seat. Then again, the day isn’t over yet…

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January 21st, 2010
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[...] that the devastation has happened, our current motives is to spring into reactionary measures, and hopefully, in the long term, preventative. There are glaring humanitarian issues, and it’s not going the way people would like to see. [...]

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[...] The die was cast and a new standard was set for how consumers gather their news – short entertainment-driven sound bytes that could be absorbed while multi-tasking negated the requirement for thought or analysis. Now we have a “crawler” on everything from CNN to ESPN to summarize our news for us, and we are sharing our subjects of interest with friends through quick SMS messages and IM blasts. Even the outflow of natural disasters as recently occurred in Haiti are threatened by our short attention span. [...]