I think none of us can truly understand how the people of Haiti are feeling.   I have experienced an earthquake—one of the bigger ones in recent history; I was living in San Francisco in 1989 when our little piece of the world shook—and I will never forget it.  

Michael and I had just moved into a brand new apartment, built with the possibility of an upcoming earthquake in mind—the architect placed the building on huge sliders, meant to ‘go with the flow’ of the quake.   These sliders caused the entire apartment to move dramatically back and forth when the quake began; it was so severe that it knocked the television off the stand, shook the glass wear out of hutch, and even blew the pictures off the nails that fastened them.  Michael and I had no idea of how severe the earthquake was—but we thought it might very well be ‘The Big One’ due to the extreme sliding and shaking of that apartment.  Those of us who live In San Francisco know that it is not a matter of if there will be an earthquake—it is a matter of when it comes . . . and how devastating it will be. 

The San Francisco quake was not The Big One—except to the few who lost their lives but it was a stark reminder of nature’s immense power of nature—and how powerless all of us are when forces strike hard. 
Haiti is devastated by this earthquake; however, their world was one filled with distress and hopelessness even before being overcome by this terrible disaster.  Now, in the aftermath, it must be a terrible burden to look to each new day with hope.   None of us—particularly those of us living in relative luxury and security here in technologically advanced countries, can fathom the type of life facing the Haitian people.  At best, their situation was very difficult before, now, it is untenable— and unbearable. 

Seeing the wonderful response to the crisis in Haiti has really restored my faith in humanity.  One of the things I love best about being an American is the generosity and spirit that the American people show—we always respond to our own fellow citizens when in crisis, but we also respond others when their country is in crisis.  It has been heartwarming to see the great response of so many people who care so very much.

I am writing this blog post to remind everyone that it is not only in the first few weeks that we need to respond to the crisis in Haiti—but after the news crews leave, when we will no longer be subjected to viewing the great suffering.  Nevertheless, that great suffering will continue—next week, next month—and likely next year.  Let none of us forget that we are all much more similar than different—that we are all connected by the common blood of humanity that flows through all of us.  When the camera crews have gone and we no longer see the devastation of this terrible earthquake, let  us remember the great words of Jon Donne’s and continue to act with the same great generosity and humanity that separates human beings from all other life forms.

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

                                                                                                                                             —Jon Donne

Please continue to help the plight of the poor Haitian people; you can help with the relief effort by visiting and donating to the following:

The American Red Cross

Unicef 

Doctors without Borders

Peace,

Melinda