I remember when the great tsunami hit in 2004-it was one week after my dad died. My world was crushed, the shock that it was real was so hard to swallow. And the week later, I thought about those people who not only lost one family member, but who lost entire families, and I couldn't even begin to know how they felt.

It is much the same with Haiti-why can't we just have compassion and stop to think of if we lost almost our ENTIRE family, PLUS have no home to go back to, and no food to eat, crying babies and no way to help them–why is it so hard to feel pity? God forbid that we as individuals be so heartless, that our turn comes.

March 4th makes a year ago that my home burned to the ground, and all that was saved was our garage and our lives. But my family is alive, and we all had a warm place to sleep that very night. I think Americans tend to give more on a personal level, one that doesn't show the amount of dollars that are given to help their neighbor, friend, brother, sister, etc. It was truly humbling to see all of the people that came out of the woodwork to help us-offering us a place to live temporarily, giving us clothing, money, etc. I know time and time again my own scenario has been played over and over again in America.

I too agree that we should help our own country's people, and I have been blessed by the generosity of others, and have tried to bless others when I can, but there are two things to consider as well-1 is that American spending is out of control, and people are purchasing a lot of things they cannot afford. YES-I absolutely know that there are families that really are hurting, and a lot of them. But it's kind of hard to hear the sob story of someone who loses their $200,000 house when there is a good chance that they couldn't afford it in the first place. America's mentality is all too often, "If I want it, I'll get it," without considering the real cost, and delayed gratification.

The second thing to consider is, those who are giving to Haiti are giving from their hearts, just as we give to our fellow Americans-voluntarily. Surely all of us have seen the donation cans set up to help a sick child, the public dinner that benefits the 9 year old cancer patient whose family has no insurance, the Salvation Army raising money at Christmas, the Angel Tree Foundation, which participates in a child's life who has a parent in prison, and a TON of other causes. And I think most, or many Americans, do reach in their pockets and at least dig out their change, and give time and time again.

When we see the homeless in America, and we are bothered that our own problems are not being taken care of, maybe we should look directly in the mirror. What is stopping YOU or ME from raising money in our community to house a homeless person? Or help a family not lose their home? Do we get upset enough about it to actually DO something ourselves? Or is there a reason we don't reach out? Maybe because sometimes we know a person is where they are because of choices, such as not paying the bills by choice, or buying two brand new cars they can't afford, or watching them blow oodles of money on eating out 3 times a week, buying toys(boats, 4 wheelers, fancy cameras, etc.) they can't afford, spending money on cable TV and habits they can't afford. Maybe, just maybe that is why. And I wonder if those who are sick of hearing about Haiti, and want to see our own needs in America met, have actually reached out with their own dollars to help someone in America.

As far as Haiti or some other countries reaching out to us when our tragedies strike, what can they really offer that they have, that we don't have much more than they already?

I have yet to have my children go to bed on an empty stomach because we had no food, our neighbors had no food to share, and we had no stores to get food at because our stores had been destroyed.

I have never had to tell my children that half of their family has all died at once, and I cannot find their favorite blanket or teddy bear for them to hold and cuddle with because it is somewhere beneath the rubble.

I've never had to tote my children across dead bodies, and listen to an entire country screaming and crying all at once because of horrific tragedy, while I screamed and cried, and my child screamed and cried too.

Please, just let me do what I can to help, when I can, when it is 1000 miles away, or 100 feet away to my next door neighbor's house.

we are only helping them so much because they're so close.

we never help japan, or madagascar, or finland!

i'm pretty damn sure they've got natural disasters happening.

why aren't we helping indonesia??!!

they're pretty ****** if you ask me.

i never heard of other countries fawning over us when we were hit by hurricanes katrina or andrew.

it's really irritating.

we look like we're just trying to keep up appearances.

be like canada.

they're all like

"whatever, eh."

Thanks for the great post. My favorite part was the last line. I donated during the TV. program to help Haiti last night. I did it by text. Very easy to do. It cost less then a pizza to help those people in need. I can always go without a pizza or two in order to do the right thing. Win,Win!!!

Take care and God Bless,

wheels209