7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Haiti

[Mrs Jolly]

Man, I'm not religious and I'm hardly a hippy, but when such a chunk of humanity is fed through a grinder in the blink of an eye I can't help but stop in my tracks. If only to stop for a moment and hug my kids and remind myself that this life we have is a precious thing.

The reports of night falling over a smashed city without light and power where the only noise was the screaming of the wounded and trapped were as awful as anything I can imagine.

It's one of those days where you don't moan too loudly about your own troubles.

 

[feller469]

Jagger, what do you want me to type? "Oh my heart bleeds for them, hopefully someone helps them out"?

It sucks for them, yep. My typing here isn't going to do a thing for them. if I were in a position to do something for them and I wanted to, I would go to the Red Cross and donate. And I probably wouldn't post anything about it here.

I haven't had a job in 2 months, yet no one here has sent me as much as 25cents. Do I hold it against the people here or think less of them? Nope, it is my lot in life and I need to deal with it.

I hate that the folks in Haiti have to deal with this, and top it off with a hospital being destroyed, but there isn't much I can do for them right now.

 

[StanScratch]

Amazing how stories such as this evolve with time. I am pretty sure the story first broke this morning - I am pretty sure there was a story on Yahoo about a quake in Haiti when I was looking at the wire around 6 a.m. At the time...not much to report.
And once I get home...it looks like total chaos.
Let's us realize how fragile life is and how much we are at the whim of nature.
Should also let us know that, during times of need like this, helping any little bit cannot hurt. Could be one of us or one of our loved ones on that end...and how would we feel should the cold shoulder be turned towards us?

 

[Bantu]

Jagger, what do you want me to type? "Oh my heart bleeds for them, hopefully someone helps them out"?

It sucks for them, yep. My typing here isn't going to do a thing for them. if I were in a position to do something for them and I wanted to, I would go to the Red Cross and donate. And I probably wouldn't post anything about it here.

I haven't had a job in 2 months, yet no one here has sent me as much as 25cents. Do I hold it against the people here or think less of them? Nope, it is my lot in life and I need to deal with it.

I hate that the folks in Haiti have to deal with this, and top it off with a hospital being destroyed, but there isn't much I can do for them right now.

Seriously?! Are you comparing your job loss to this disaster? Seriously??

 

[Ace Bandage]

Yes, it's horrible that so many people died, but it doesn't affect me. I've never been to Haiti nor do I know any Haitians. I'm not donating anything to anyone in a foreign country. I donated during Hurricane Katrina and I'd do everything I could for a national emergency in America. That being said, I'm not moved anymore by tsunamis and earthquakes in third world countries. Nobody else likes Americans until they need aid or other assistance. As soon as they're in need, they're at our doorstep begging for help.

 

[domshooter]

so far the US has sent numerous ships, including the USS Comfort (a hospital ship). the red cross has pledged an initial 1 Million. all ships on active duty in the East coast area that arent already there, are on standby.

also, fairfax, VA and Los Angeles, CA have sent their search and rescue teams. at least 2,000 Marines are to be sent to help with unrest in the nation, with US Air Force personel helping with air control problems. and an aditional US Marine expeditionary Unit has been put on standby

so far, so good for the US.

not counting the support coming from numerous other nations

 

[Bantu]

Yes, it's horrible that so many people died, but it doesn't affect me. I've never been to Haiti nor do I know any Haitians. I'm not donating anything to anyone in a foreign country. I donated during Hurricane Katrina and I'd do everything I could for a national emergency in America. That being said, I'm not moved anymore by tsunamis and earthquakes in third world countries. Nobody else likes Americans until they need aid or other assistance. As soon as they're in need, they're at our doorstep begging for help.

Do you recall the US turning away offers for assistance from foreign countries during Hurricane Katrina? I bet you don't.

Do you remember a certain president asking other nations to join the US in the fight against terrorism, especially the Iraq affair? Probably not.

Please!!

 

[Jagger69]

so far the US has sent numerous ships, including the USS Comfort (a hospital ship). the red cross has pledged an initial 1 Million. all ships on active duty in the East coast area that arent already there, are on standby.

also, fairfax, VA and Los Angeles, CA have sent their search and rescue teams. at least 2,000 Marines are to be sent to help with unrest in the nation, with US Air Force personel helping with air control problems. and an aditional US Marine expeditionary Unit has been put on standby

so far, so good for the US.

not counting the support coming from numerous other nations

Yes indeed. Let's keep the help coming!

By the way, I'd sure like to see the "Dittoheads" here defend this abominable diatribe from their hero. What a narcissistic, self-indulgent and single-minded (and I use the term "minded" very loosely) fucking prick this asshole is. Unbelievable. How he can be so insensitive and partisan when people are literally dying as he speaks is beyond comprehension. The motherfucker isn't even human....I'm convinced beyond any doubt. This is lower than whale shit.

If he represents republican conservatism, I NEVER want to be even remotely associated with same. Shame is too weak of a word for this type of "journalism". Even his most ardent supporters should be aghast at this gibberish.

 

[Elwood70]

For those that want to help in the USA, Text “HAITI” to "20222" and $10 will be donated to relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

 

[Bantu]

The fucker should have moved on to the other world when he fell ill in Hawaai. What a waste of a human being (and I do use that reference lightly).

 

[Facetious]

This is a disaster of monumental proportion and sadly, thousands of people are suffering a great deal. If you're a spiritual individual, please say a prayer, if not, think helpful and uplifting thoughts.
If feasible, donate a buck or 5 or 10 - $20 to the Red Cross, a little really goes a long way. If you don't believe that there is a family of mankind on this very earth, well ... :dunno:

 

[Facetious]

√ additionally... Haiti has no institutional medical resources (hospitals) at their disposal because all hospitals are destroyed.

√ The rescue / recovery effort will be greatly hampered because, for the most part, earth moving equipment is almost non existent in this most impoverished nation in the Western hemisphere.

√ Yep, this incident is gonna make Katrina look like a new york steak at your favorite steak house (or a picnic if you will) when all is said and done.

√ Red Cross is reporting that all of their human resources as well as first aid resources are exhausted at this time

 

[Wainkerr99]

Wow....3 whole responses to this thread so far! :wtf: What a compassionate and concerned bunch we have here on Freeones!!

Sad commentary on our tendency toward indifference regarding the suffering of others to whom we are not closely connected....

Different timezones, Jaggers. I heard about it this morning roughly 02h:00 as I was still awake, talking to someone on Facebook. I have been so emotionally drained I haven't even been able to scrape together the energy to say a prayer or send out some positive thoughts.

Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't rather just pack up and go work as a missionary or something . There's just so much suffering in the world.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Every news source is reporting up to half a million casualties in Port-au-Prince alone; MORE than the 2004 tsunami. If it was over half a million it would be the fourth deadliest natural disaster of all time.

I remember seeing a headline on CBC.com about an earthquake in the Caribbean, and how there was a fear of a tsunami. In such little time it has turned into something like this. It's disturbing.

 

[Bree Olson]

I don't normally discuss politics, and while this is a horrible horrible disaster, we do have help on the way. Let's not forget that we have starving, destitute, and poverty stricken people in our own country. Other than that, this is a horrible thing that has happened there. While watching the news last night, it was estimated that up to 60% and possibly more of the buildings in Haiti are not built to code to lower cost and maximize cheap and unskilled labor.

 

[Bree Olson]

OMG a half of a million people... Just read that. I had not heard anything on the expected death toll yet. I am really sort of shocked right now...

 

[TheAmazingRed]

Pat Robertson: "It may be a blessing in disguise"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5TE99sAbwM

:eek:

 

[Facetious]

it was estimated that up to 60% and possibly more of the buildings in Haiti are not built to code to lower cost and maximize cheap and unskilled labor.

Very few concrete structures in Haiti incorporate rebar reinforcement.

Pat Robertson: "It may be a blessing in disguise"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5TE99sAbwM

:eek:

I have heard others say as much and there just might be something to it. It might take a catastrophe as significant as this in order to compel the stubborn oppressive government of Haiti to change for the better.

 

[girk1]

Yes, it's horrible that so many people died, but it doesn't affect me. I've never been to Haiti nor do I know any Haitians. I'm not donating anything to anyone in a foreign country. I donated during Hurricane Katrina and I'd do everything I could for a national emergency in America. That being said, I'm not moved anymore by tsunamis and earthquakes in third world countries. Nobody else likes Americans until they need aid or other assistance. As soon as they're in need, they're at our doorstep begging for help.

Shitty attitudes like this is the reason I am disgusted in most cases by Nationalism or extreme Patriotism. Just because other human beings outside of our man made borders suffer 'we' shouldn't give a damn about 'them':dunno:

As far as 'nobody else likes Americans' I wasn't aware that Haitians hated America or Americans?

 

[Jagger69]

Jagger, what do you want me to type?

Nothing unless you are so inclined, feller.

Sorry you're out of work....looks like I'll be joining you shortly.