After Haiti
By: Ali Boyd
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Opinions
It was inevitable - Haiti has left the headlines. Last Thursday marked the first day the New York Times did not echo the fight for survival in Haiti with a prominent display on its cover. It seems the Apple Tablet is now more interesting. We are moving on. For those left in the wake, now is the time to differentiate between compassion and justice.
David Brooks was initially correct in his January 14 Times column when he stated, "this is not a natural disaster story. This is a poverty story." But Mr. Brooks then proceeded to construct a Eurocentric narrative, effectively blaming Haitian society for allowing an earthquake to devastate their island: "Some cultures are more progress-resistant than others, and a horrible tragedy was just exacerbated by one of them." Labeling a country in this way is a perpetuation of paternalistic compassion - feeling sorry for Haiti because they are not as enlightened as their Western, white neighbors. But Haiti continues to fight back by issuing a call for justice, not simplified compassion.
The earthquake has catalyzed a critical discussion on international aid effectiveness in a country plagued by structural oppression. The disaster is not as natural as the news sound bites would have us think. Earthquakes of the same scale have hit places such as California and Japan, and these areas have successfully bounced back. Only through systemic change can Haiti ever become a San Francisco or Tokyo.
Even in the wake of the disaster, tourism continues to turn a profit from Haiti. Cruise ships continue to dock on protected Haitian beaches. The fact that armed soldiers are stationed to defend vacationers from starving, desperate survivors should be an indication of compromised ethics. Even with some passengers refusing to disembark, the company continues to parade their floating cities around the beaches, turning the Haitian fight for survival into another market - "poorism."
It is important that a cycle of dependence is not perpetuated.
Now is the time to employ local Haitian talent to rebuild their beautiful country. As the hype fades and human interest pieces echo fewer miraculous stories, the international community must remain in solidarity with the Haitian people. We have shown our support with the overflow of donations - now we must sustain it.
David Brooks was initially correct in his January 14 Times column when he stated, "this is not a natural disaster story. This is a poverty story." But Mr. Brooks then proceeded to construct a Eurocentric narrative, effectively blaming Haitian society for allowing an earthquake to devastate their island: "Some cultures are more progress-resistant than others, and a horrible tragedy was just exacerbated by one of them." Labeling a country in this way is a perpetuation of paternalistic compassion - feeling sorry for Haiti because they are not as enlightened as their Western, white neighbors. But Haiti continues to fight back by issuing a call for justice, not simplified compassion.
The earthquake has catalyzed a critical discussion on international aid effectiveness in a country plagued by structural oppression. The disaster is not as natural as the news sound bites would have us think. Earthquakes of the same scale have hit places such as California and Japan, and these areas have successfully bounced back. Only through systemic change can Haiti ever become a San Francisco or Tokyo.
Even in the wake of the disaster, tourism continues to turn a profit from Haiti. Cruise ships continue to dock on protected Haitian beaches. The fact that armed soldiers are stationed to defend vacationers from starving, desperate survivors should be an indication of compromised ethics. Even with some passengers refusing to disembark, the company continues to parade their floating cities around the beaches, turning the Haitian fight for survival into another market - "poorism."
It is important that a cycle of dependence is not perpetuated.
Now is the time to employ local Haitian talent to rebuild their beautiful country. As the hype fades and human interest pieces echo fewer miraculous stories, the international community must remain in solidarity with the Haitian people. We have shown our support with the overflow of donations - now we must sustain it.