I'm definitely guilty of being one of those people who hear about a crisis, such as Haiti, and am tired of it by week 2. Sure, I feel sympathy for people suffering, but I don't like to have it dragged out in the news. With a nation full of people like that, America has all but forgotten the people of Haiti by now.
However, I was inspired today on a few levels by Petersburg local Jesse Sullivan. Turns out, he's been living in a tent for the past few weeks to show solidarity with the people of Haiti and to bring attention to their need. For the full story check out http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/17/mip.wednesday/index.html?iref=allsearch
The inspirational part is that he still cares and still recognizes the needs of those people. He is so committed to it that he is sleeping in a tent in Washington, D.C. in February. He is truly living his life as an example to other people, and that is extremely powerful.
I do, however, wonder what Jesse could be doing if he were actually in Haiti, helping the relief effort. Are his actions helping anyone? Or are they meant to inspire our government?
When all is said and done, I think CNN missed out on the biggest part of the story: Jesse should be a poster boy for relief efforts. Literally, he should be on a poster. Because he is good looking, caring, committed, smart-- basically he's got it all. And if he wants to share it with the world, who are we to stop him?
Edit: After reading Jesse's blog jessesullivan.blogspot.com, I understand his purpose a little better. During the day Jesse is working at the Haitian Embassy in D.C., and made the decision not to accept their offer for hotel accommodations but to show his solidarity and help raise awareness by sleeping in the tent. For more info, or to get involved with his project, check out his blog!
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Creeper
ReplyDeleteOk, I want to go back to this and share something that appeared in the Sunday SJ-R.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.behealthyspringfield.com/sections/local-news/springfield-orthopedic-surgeon-hopes-to-return-to-haiti
There is another PORTA graduate that worked for Haiti. Emily Zimmerman. This isn't getting nearly the play that Jessie Sullivan got. That's wrong. In my opinion, Emily did a hell of a lot more to actually help the people of Haiti than Jessie has done.
It just doesn't seem right. Jessie Sullivan sleeps in a tent in Washington DC, CNN picks up on it, and everyone goes ga-ga. Emily Zimmerman does actual life-saving work in Haiti, the SJ-R mentions it as part of a short article, and nobody is talking about it.
Give me what Emily did, any day of the week.