Sorry for bringing this up again, but...

JessAndTrav

Today has been my first real opportunity to get caught up on the crisis in Haiti.

I'm watching CNN right now, and their are peple bathing themselves in the background behind Anderson Cooper.

Meanwhile, people I know are being obnxiously vocal about how American's should ust watch out for themselves right now.

I'm sorry, but American or not, they're still human beings. They're saying that at LEAST 1/3 of the country is directly affected by this. If something was affecting 1/3 of our country---just imagine.

Just imagine. I'm at such a loss.

Sorry for the post, but I had to get this out somewhere, and I'm not in the mood for FB drama.

hayleymajayley

I don't get how people could think we SHOULDNT help them.

crfische

If I had a FB friend that said something that ridiculous, I'd be defriending them, stat.

It's horrifying and heart wrenching.

JessAndTrav

They're saying that we shouldn't send money to Haiti because of where we are fiscally as a nation, or that we could be sending the money to support the troops.

But seriously? It's a natural disaster that's affecting a country with no government. Their own government isn't helping them, somebody should. We shouldn't ignore people in crisis, no matter where you're from.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Yeah, I don't get not wanting to help people, no matter their nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, etc, at all. They're human beings.

NuggetBrain

It's difficult in situations like this because the country was so poor and corrupt and whatnot anyway, that what is considered helping?  Getting it back to poor and corrupt rather than devastated, poor and corrupt?  Do we put in a little more to help get them to a better quality of life than before?  If so, when do we say "okay, enough" and how do we help them in the future?  Do we help them insitutute a new government now that theirs is pretty much in a shambles, or just let them figure it out?  My heart goes out to the Haitians and to the people who have to try to figure out the best way of helping without nation-building.

lyndausvi

I do not get people who feel this way. 

How could you not help these people?

JessAndTrav

That's an excellent point, Nugget.

Think about with Hurricane Katrina. The poorest people were deeply affected and probably affected the most, and they're still rebuilding,

But at least they're able to have shelter again. They're still in the state they were in before the storm, but they're not bathing out in the streets, you know?

God, this story is killing me. They found a US student who was volunteering in an orphange that was killed. She was just trying to help.

alixzafiris

Yeah I'm of the opinion that the brainless twits spouting completely unintelligent and downright douchbaggish remarks on FB should be carted off to Haiti and told to have at it and see how they make out.

I mean seriously, people are so flaming ignorant it makes me want to kick them. Haiti's been one of the poorest nations on the planet for... fvck I don't even know how long and people have the audacity to balk at doing something to help out themselves, and scoff at others who do, government or otherwise? It'd tell those idiots that you sure as hell didn't hear them complaining about when other countries swooped in to help in the aftermath of Katrina and 9/11. Ignorant jackasses; it's called humanity - go get some.

Oh this makes me see red. *stabby*

amlaplante

I had a FB friend post something about how Brad and Angelina are giving $1 million to Haiti and she said that we should be giving money to the homeless people that are standing on the street corners in NY and not be giving it to Haiti. Let's just say I wasn't very nice in my response. I can't even understand how someone would gather give money to the homeless man that can walk over to the food bank, rather than a child with 2 broken legs and parents that are no longer alive!! I did a little research just to point out to her that Brad and Angelina already gave $8 million to other organizations and charities, some of which benefit the US directly. I'm tempted to defriend her...

smokeybailey

Let's be selfish for just one minute right now.  Let's put "America first."  Okay, now, let's be the first nation in, let's do AS MUCH as we can, let's show them (and other very impoverished areas of the world) that America cares.

Ooh, look, we are helping Haiti and helping out ourselves by improving our stock in the world.  Why?  Because destruction creates a void and why shouldn't we help fill it?  Of course, you can wait for Venezuela, Cuba, Iran or someone else to rush in and to point out to this group of poor people that the US could not give a damn about them.

Do the idiots who really think that not helping a country is good for America?  Puleez.  If we had poured aid into helping build Afghanistan, we wouldn't be having the problems over there that we are now.  Poverty and despair creates very desperate people looking for a solution or looking for someone to be angry at.

Nebb

Kind of related (FB drama), but a mutual friend of my husband and I just posted this as her status:
"is taking cash donations for the Karen Needs Serious Cash Foundation. I accept cash, cheques, money orders and email transfers. It is for a good cause -- ME!"

My awesome husband commented that all of our money was donated to Haiti, because theyre actually in need. I just find something so utterly crass in posting what she did.

lyndausvi

Nebb - CNN just anounced the 11 year old girl rescued last night died.

I broke down in tears.

Nebb

Ohh lynda thats awful I cant stand the pain these people must be going through, it just breaks my heart.

JessAndTrav

Someone I know posted this:

i hope the eathquate that killed 10s of thousands in Haiti does not create 10s of thousands of zombies!! then they would all get on a boat, come over here illigally, and take the jobs of hard working american zombies!!! that would be HORRIBLE!!!!

How fuckkking insensitive is that?

Nebb

What in the fuuck J&T, who are these people you know??? (the wtf is for them, not you)

JessAndTrav

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sorry-bringing-this-up-again-but?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8777c0e1-2d54-42d1-92ee-07b59745d74aPost:e7f25d1d-3699-445b-b90a-610552202dd0">Re: Sorry for bringing this up again, but...</a>:
[QUOTE]I had a FB friend post something about how Brad and Angelina are giving $1 million to Haiti and she said that <strong>we should be giving money to the homeless people that are standing on the street corners in NY and not be giving it to Haiti. </strong>Let's just say I wasn't very nice in my response. I can't even understand how someone would gather give money to the homeless man that can walk over to the food bank, rather than a child with 2 broken legs and parents that are no longer alive!! I did a little research just to point out to her that Brad and Angelina already gave $8 million to other organizations and charities, some of which benefit the US directly. I'm tempted to defriend her...
Posted by amlaplante[/QUOTE]

I've heard this today too.

But to be quite frank, the large majority of those that are homeless in America brought it on themselves through addiction. I feel sorry them, yes. I want life to change for them, definitely. But they live in a country that had shelters, food banks, free soup lines, etc. Being homeless in America isn't glamorous, but it sure as hell beats being homeless in a country with nothing.

And these people are hard-working people who did have homes. They can't help what they've lost.

lyndausvi

I have not been on FB all day.  I'm happy to report I had not insenstive comments from my friends.  Quite the opposite, friends are loading up planes in St Thomas to fly over to Haiti.

crfische

But to be quite frank, the large majority of those that are homeless in America brought it on themselves through addiction

Um, where exactly are you getting your facts from on that one?

JessAndTrav

Sorry, I shouldn't have said majority. I should have said percentage.

smokeybailey

I live and work around a large number of homeless people and based on my personal interaction I would say that a LARGE percentage are actually mentally ill.  They drink to medicate their illness because no one is handing out the anti-psychotics or other mental disorder medications.

I have never met a homeless person who made me think, well, he certainly brought that upon himself.  I think that's a horrible assertion.

alixzafiris

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sorry-bringing-this-up-again-but?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8777c0e1-2d54-42d1-92ee-07b59745d74aPost:de1e2f92-a06f-4cf9-a3f9-0b60deeb5d33">Re: Sorry for bringing this up again, but...</a>:
[QUOTE]Sorry, I shouldn't have said majority. I should have said percentage.
Posted by JessAndTrav[/QUOTE]

That's just semantics, it doesn't make a difference to the actual meaning of the statement whatsoever.

crfische

What Smokes said.

JessAndTrav

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sorry-bringing-this-up-again-but?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8777c0e1-2d54-42d1-92ee-07b59745d74aPost:53330221-afad-4e29-9ae5-ed904cf5a071">Re: Sorry for bringing this up again, but...</a>:
[QUOTE]I live and work around a large number of homeless people and based on my personal interaction I would say that a LARGE percentage are actually mentally ill.  They drink to medicate their illness because no one is handing out the anti-psychotics or other mental disorder medications. I have never met a homeless person who made me think, well, he certainly brought that upon himself.  I think that's a horrible assertion.
Posted by smokeybailey[/QUOTE]

I think I misspoke. I shouldn't have said what I said.

Mrs.B6302007

[QUOTE]But to be quite frank, the large majority of those that are homeless in America brought it on themselves through addiction.[/QUOTE]

So my current homeless kids (yes, several in my classes) brought that upon themselves by being addicted to something? 

BTW, it's those WHO are homeless, not that.  Pronoun for people is who.  Pronoun for things is that.  Sorry, that's one of my pet peeves.

smokeybailey

No, I don't think you did.  I have heard those kind of statements before-mostly from people who are not regularly around the homeless. 

I believe that you probably do believe deep down in that dark place in your heart that most homelessness is self-inflicted.  If I work, why can't he?  If he wasn't drunk, he could find the shelter.  I hear it all the time. 

Edit:  I don't think you misspoke.

crfische

I would be curious as to what you DID mean then?

JessAndTrav

It's a moment where I spoke/typed without really thinking. I have a friend that works with social services in my area, and a large percentage of the homeless people who he deals with are those who got there via addiction.

I applied what I see/hear about to the nation, which was wrong and completely ridiculous. I admit that. I'm not afraid to say that I said something without thinking it through.

I ask that you cut me slack for at least recognizing and owning up to the fact that I said something that was not true or well thought out.

I was on a roll today, too.

smokeybailey

Eh, I still think blaming homelessness on addiction and then saying that addiction is someone's fault is like saying that someone is homeless because they are psychotic and that's their fault too.

Addiction is an illness and in quite a few cases, people are self medicating with drugs or liquor because they do not have access to the types of medication and/or therapy that could help them deal with their disorder.

I don't think anyone says, hey, I am going to drink until I lose my job, my home, my liver and my life.  It's usually, hey, if I drink I won't have to deal with problems in my life that I don't have the tools and/or medication to deal with.

This is just a bone of contention with me.  I actually step over some folks that sleep at my work building on nights I work late.  Being homeless sucks.

JessAndTrav

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sorry-bringing-this-up-again-but?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8777c0e1-2d54-42d1-92ee-07b59745d74aPost:090f8dad-928d-47d6-b086-2f48465dc2b4">Re: Sorry for bringing this up again, but...</a>:
[QUOTE]Eh, I still think blaming homelessness on addiction and then saying that addiction is someone's fault is like saying that someone is homeless because they are psychotic and that's their fault too. Addiction is an illness and in quite a few cases, people are self medicating with drugs or liquor because they do not have access to the types of medication and/or therapy that could help them deal with their disorder. <strong>I don't think anyone says, hey, I am going to drink until I lose my job, my home, my liver and my life.</strong>  It's usually, hey, if I drink I won't have to deal with problems in my life that I don't have the tools and/or medication to deal with. This is just a bone of contention with me.  I actually step over some folks that sleep at my work building on nights I work late.  Being homeless sucks.
Posted by smokeybailey[/QUOTE]

I agree with that.

mandysmear

I think it depends on where you are exposed in regards to the homeless.  My sister used to work in the community, in a youth shelter and with homeless and non-homeless prostitutes.  I actually volunteered with her one night as we drove around handing out condoms and lube to prostitues... we saw 36 women that night and all but 3 were (obviously) strung out.  And the 3 that weren't were the "high class" ones... the ones who smelled good, had teeth and more than likely a roof over their heads at night.

8/10 of the homeless she dealt with were addicted to drugs.  The other cases sometimes where people with pyschological disorders/diseases and were off their meds, and my sister has encountered a couple who hate the gov't so much they don't want to work and pay taxes. 

But, then you go to a woman's shelter or a drop in center that houses hundreds of people and my 9:1 ratio will even out. 

So, I can see where J&T is coming from.  Some people are misinformed and unless you've been exposed to lots of homeless people, it's easy to say that... speaking from experience.