The Men in The Debris

(Inspired by Roger Rosenblatt's "The Man in The Water")

 As natural catastrophes go, this one was horrible, and extremely unique.  It was the worst in over 200 years.  The most unusual aspect was its point of origin, the earthquake’s that is, for it had assaulted an island that most only know for human tragedy and man-made disaster.  But bloody wars, brutal dictators, and infamous death squads will all be forgotten now, for Haiti, like the innocent, impoverished victims of so many other natural disasters, will now be recollected as yet another casualty of nature’s indifferent devastation. 

Image Courtesy of Army.mil

Nature produced an awe-inspiring wrath of trembling and a deadly decimation of unstable, ill-prepared structures, crumbling cement upon brick, brick upon tile, and tile upon man, woman, and child.  Parliamentary buildings and the Presidential palace suffered too though, and were flung to the ground like any poor peddler on the capital streets, nature again teaching us how feeble we are, no matter what our titles might be. 

But, even as the earth reminds the survivors of its presence with aftershock goodbyes, there is a packing of ships, a calling to action, a praying for survival, and a clearing of debris. 

January 12^th, 2010, at 4:53 P.M. the boundary region separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate shifted, causing immense tragedy.  7.0.  Other countries felt it, but only one endured it.  Innocently, the earthquake chose one of the most vulnerable victims it could find.  Haiti is a country that has been torn by war, unimaginable poverty, and corrupt leadership for years.  A paradise ravaged by man, carnage on display for more than a decade.  No one seemed to notice then though. 

Yet now, the same people that were killing each other in 1994, 2000 and 2004, and then again in 2008, are forced to endure the hardship of death, destruction, uncertainty, and eventually, the long road to recovery, together.  Mother nature enacted one of its greatest forces, thus demanding of human nature one of its greatest virtues.  Now, Haitians must find a way to overcome their tremblings of humanity and repair the fault lines of hatred and injustice with compassion and altruism. 

But Haiti is not alone. 

No less than twenty four hours later, people were rallied, websites were created, ribbons crafted, money collected, aid sent, and lives certainly saved.  200 hundred years ago, when the ground shook, there were no buildings to raze or homes to demolish, but there was certainly devastation, devastation that saw no help and received no aid.  Now, two centuries later, man has found a way to communicate a cry for assistance. And the call has been answered. 

The first country to arrive was China.  The same country often accused of brutal inhumane treatment of its own citizens.  But they crossed the hemisphere and arrived in Haiti quicker than anyone else, providing humanitarian relief.  The next country was our own, the US.  The same country that has been criticized for waging two wars, which have caused the deaths of countless civilians, is now the same country that has provided more relief than anyone else.  Its people have put all political, social, and racial differences aside in an outpouring of financial and moral support.   

But beyond all of that, and before all of that, was the hazy image of men and women, standing atop a swollen future.  Yet they didn’t stand forlorn, nor in dismay.  They are humbled, yes, but not defeated.  No, instead, they are burrowing into the rubble of death, hoping for survival.   

Through the debris, there was a woman wailing at the loss of her five children, her own husband unable to restrain her sorrow.  Through the debris, the mainly dirt roads became temporary graveyards swamped with survivors carrying remnants of their shattered lives and looking for tombstones that will never be erected.  Through the debris, crowds swarmed and fought for food provided by foreign aid.  Through the debris, a woman was rescued after forty-three hours of being trapped.  Through the debris, metal containers were filled with bodies to fill mass graves... 

 ...Through the debris, the ultimate dichotomy of nature and humanity could be seen clearer than ever.

Obnoxious? Arrogant? Naïve?  Harsh responses to a legitimate question of value.  So then, I’ll extend my point and clarify certain issues as well.  I started and concluded by expressing concern of China’s actions and support of Google’s withdraw.  It is unquestionably dangerous to censor such great access to information.  And while I did state within my response that China has progressed very far without the internet, I did not contend that they don’t use it at all.  China surpassed the US in internet users and time per week four years ago, but it is always moot to compare numbers when discussing China, considering it is a country of 1.3 billion, while America is still only 300 million.  Percentage wise, over fifty-sixty percent of America’s populace are active internet users, while less than forty percent of China’s populace are active users.  And while China’s internet use is growing quicker than any other country, it is possible that my point has been both proven wrong and right. 

However, before I continue, I must address certain neglected details in the original post, now after reading up on the story.  Google.cn has been in China since 2006 and has permitted its content to be censored this entire time.  It is only now that they have been attacked by hackers that they have decided to make all information unfiltered in an effort to force China’s hand and portray them as a brutal, totalitarian regime if they don’t agree to this.  Regardless, I still agree with my original perception that it would be wrong of China to do this.  

There is a certainly a parallel between China’s rapid financial, technological, educational, and cultural growth and the internet, but there is also the possibility that they are using it far more efficiently than America is.  Caraway pointed out that the internet is a tool, and as such, people will use it differently.  However, there are problems with this metaphor because most valuable tools function for a specific purpose and are not supposed to work in a recreational manner.  Yet, we have found a way to do so in our country.  Caraway lists other technologies that were once primarily tools once, but now have been manipulated into luxury items.  Guns were created for protection and the procurement of food, but now are used to shoot animals for fun, shoot at firing ranges, or to murder, sometimes for fun as well.  TV was used once to provide the news, primarily, and valuable information of world affairs, and while this still exists, it is again used almost entirely for entertainment.  One only needs to look at the top rated TV shows list, http://www.tv.com/shows/top-shows/today.html, to see this unfortunate reality.  American Idol has been the most popular show in America two-three nights a week for the past five-six years.  I agree that in a free democratic society, the burden of responsibility falls on the individual to place value on their personal liberties and determine their use, but the results are in, and the reality is that we are irresponsible as a nation.  This is a problem, and if it is arrogant to say so, then I will accept it as a compliment.  But I believe it is equally as arrogant to assume that the rest of the world wants and needs what we have, cheap food, big cars, sports and other worthless entertainment.  

When a tool is being abused, the individual often loses his/her access to it.  This is performed by parents and governments.  A child watches too much TV or plays too many video games, and the parents take it away.  A citizen shoots his gun illegally, and the state takes away his permit.  If you cared to read the Time article I posted, it wasn't the state but the citizens restricting the internet use of their children.  Is it possible that this is what many citizens desire in China, and that state is merely performing the service for them.  Caraway argued a while back that the State has a right to protect itself and in essence, isn’t this what China is doing?  Aren’t they protecting themselves from what they see as a potential danger to their way of living?  We may not support it, and as I clearly stated in my original response, I DON’T, but what level of freedom do we feel we should be able to demand of other nations? 

Back to the internet though.  American citizens primarily use the internet as a toy, much like TV and cellphones.  It is used to acquire cheap, kitsch, quick satisfaction for many, if not most.  Looking at Time’s 50 Top websites of 2009, http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1918031,00.html, offers a glance at what the majority of Americans and the rest of the world are using the internet for.  And while there are a few, very few, websites of didactic purpose, most lend themselves to unnecessary luxury and entertainment.  I can only imagine that the list continues to decline in quality the further down it goes.

In closing, I will call on the words of Edward R. Murrow, famous news reporter of the 1950s, most well known for his battle with Sen. Joseph McCarthy and who was brilliantly depicted in the film Good Night and Good Luck, which touches on both the issues of pointless entertainment and censorship.  Much like Murrow was, I am merely conflicted between the two seemingly incompatible realities, as again, I originally wrote.  I ask only that you read the word “instrument” as the internet instead of the TV:

“To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. Good night, and good luck.”

Comments

[James Dugan]

I really appreciated your thoughful and unique perspective of the tragedy. Haiti has longed spent time in my mind as one of the saddest islands in a place of the world where many of us go on vacation. I have never heard anyone go to Haiti. I remember the first time I was made aware of the island: the people who used a raft and tried to make it to US waters. I remember distinctly the sharks circling the smal rubber craft and the people screaming. I often wonder what was going on in the helicopter that took the picture.

What can honestly be a response to this tragedy? Why do these things happen? Why do people in poverty have heartache upon pain? It is just like in New Orleans. It was one of the poorest cities in America and in no way were protected like many other places would have been. Natural disasters have a way to pull humanity together because it makes us feel empathy because it connects us in helplessness. It makes one rationalize curses.

I can only do my part. Send some money to an island I will never go. I will send it to faces on the television crying in front of homes that aren't there. I will send it to a place so that they will feel less of something. Something I hope I never feel. I will send it because I am grateful it didn't happen here. I will send it because I hope someone would do the same if a tragedy happens here.

Thanks