Why does it take an earthquake to move us?

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Posted: 2/5/10

Ever since the massive earthquake in Haiti on Jan. 12, the public outcry for support has been phenomenal, including celebrity phone-a-thons, special text messaging services and scrolling advertisements across television screens during "Grey's" and "Iron Chef America." At High Point University, fundraisers have been held and groups have been formed focused specifically on donating to the cause. It seems like everyone is concerned with the well being of the Haitians in this time of need.

But where was the surge of support on the eleventh? Or the tenth? Or every day before that? Haiti has been one of the most economically disadvantaged countries in the world, but nobody was talking about it before. No one cared when they had poorly constructed houses and underfunded hospitals, but now that it's all gone, everyone wants to help?

Where was the concern for Haiti during the 2004 rebellion during which "The Cannibal Army" terrorized its opponents by burning down their homes, or setting the people themselves on fire? Where is the concern for the nine-year-old children in Uganda who are kidnapped from their own homes and forced to fight in Joseph Kony's army? And the 13-year-old girls in Indonesia who are sold into forced prostitution and lives of sexually slavery for tourists to the area (60 percent of the "customers" are reported to be American businessmen, by the way).

The issue isn't that people are talking about the problem and trying to help. People should be concerned with the well being of fellow human beings, and the support of Haiti during this time is commendable. But why does it take a tragedy to help the unfortunate? When Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, everyone was up in arms. However, people soon got bored with the cause and moved on to other concerns. Many parts of that region are still in turmoil, but it's not "trendy" to care about Katrina anymore. Haiti is now the hip new charity, and everyone is on the bandwagon. Until something else comes along at least.

Everyone should be donating to help the people in Haiti right now. They need world support to help rebuild their lives. But let's not forget about the problems facing people all over the world every day, and not just after disasters. It's good to take time out of your day to be concerned and get involved in a cause, but it should be done for the genuine concern for the lives of fellow human beings. Not just because George Clooney says to donate a few bucks.

A Facebook group promises to donate one cent to Haiti for every person who joins. The info section of that group reads simply, "Please help!" Joining a Facebook group isn't "helping," and if the creator of the group really wants to help, he or she would simply write a check to the charity and not wait for strangers to see his or her name as the creator of the page. If people are concerned about what is going on, be proactive! Don't just add a #PoorHaiti to your Twitter and convince yourself that you are being worldly and making a difference.

And of course, let's be sure to not forget about the help they will continue to need once the media frenzy of the earthquake has died down. If charging ten dollars to your phone bill is enough to help you sleep at night, then good for you for at least taking the time to do that. But if you are genuinely concerned for the quality of life for others, then be sure to learn about the many things you can be doing to help people world wide all the time, and not just when it's the cool thing to do.