Posted on 01/20/2010 7:32:54 AM PST by AtlasStalled
The devastation in Haiti has brought into stark relief the best and worst of America’s approach to tragedy abroad. On one hand, there is a commendable outpouring of charity from the American people and yet another display of the effectiveness and competence of the U.S. military. On the other, the Obama administration and other spendthrifts are asserting a non-existent responsibility for American taxpayers to help rebuild Haiti. Their call to ride to the rescue reflects a foreign policy that wastes taxpayer dollars while actually fueling corruption and misery. Furthermore, there is no compelling reason for the United States to involve itself in Haiti’s reconstruction. It is an impossible task for another country and there are no U.S. interests at stake that warrant involvement beyond short-term rescue activities.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
In almost every news story I have seen where actual action is taking place, the Catholic Church is involved. I hope if people really want to help, they will donate to Catholic Charities and not to anything tied to any government in any way.
...
Neither Sachs nor Glover identified the chief culprit of current or past suffering in Haiti: intense corruption. Transparency International ranks Haiti as one of the most corrupt places on earth—only 7 of 180 countries have a worse ranking. The State Department’s human rights report on Haiti cites “severe corruption in all branches of government,” including serious police, judicial and voting improprieties. It notes that there were no charges even filed during the most recent year the report covered, despite plenty of investigations and evidence against senior officials.
Without strong support for the rule of law, large-scale commerce is difficult or impossible, wealth is accumulated primarily by the corrupt, and things not deemed essential for everyday life—like stronger buildings—are overlooked. This is overwhelmingly due to the government of Haiti. To the extent that there is any foreign complicity in this dire situation, it is from funneling economic assistance through corrupt Haitian institutions.
The U.S. has spent nearly $1.5 billion in aid to Haiti since 1990
...
It is the HAITAINS that need to take their country back.
No amount of money given to them has gotten to those that need it. You’re just padding the wallets of the corrupt elite. The U.S. is STARTING to take it’s country back from corrupt Demoncats and RHINOS and now HAITI must do the same.
“...there are no U.S. interests at stake that warrant involvement beyond short-term rescue activities.”
Lather. Rinse. Repeat!
Our globalist elite will use Haiti as spin to keep us involved elsewhere. If you can nation build in Haiti you can nation build in Afghanistan (COIN the fusion of left and right), these are all part and parcel of the consensus, even if parts of the left and right disavow some of the parts.
There are many Protestant missions and missionaries there as well. The problem with Catholicism there and anywhere else is Catholicsicm EMBRACES the CULTURE. What I mean is they WINK at VOODOO whereas the Protestant missions and missionaries do NOT WINK at VOODOO and steer people away from it. So Catholics are not successful in changing HEARTS which where BEHAVIOR stems from.
Rebuild at least some of Haiti or face a massive invasion (well, bigger then the one going on now) of illiterate, poor or criminal boat people.
The size of MAryland, HAiti has:
Haiti’s population was estimated at 6,867,995 in July 2000, showing a growth rate of 1.39 percent and a total rise of 36 percent since the last official census of 1982, when the population stood at 5,053,792.
The country’s demographic statistics reveal the effect of extreme poverty and an HIV/AIDS epidemic. These conditions have reduced life expectancy to 49.2 years, contributed to high infant mortality and general death rates, and slowed population growth.
At current growth rates, Haiti’s population will stand at approximately 7 million in 2010.
As they say - keep ‘em at home, not here.
I didn't know anything about the voodoo issue, so I appreciate you letting me know.
“The problem with Catholicism there and anywhere else is Catholicsicm EMBRACES the CULTURE.”
Can anyone tell me just what the hell does this sentence mean????????????????
“the Obama administration and other spendthrifts are asserting a non-existent responsibility for American taxpayers to help rebuild Haiti.”
I’m sure Obama has a few friends down there that need some “walking around money”.
Go for it Obama. Americans will love you for it “after they understand it”, just like you said about the health care reform bill.
Rescue aid is one thing. Rebuilding a country is something else entirely, and the American people are NOT responsible for paying for it.
If you would have read the rest of what I wrote it would have been CLEAR.
Catholicism embraces the “culture” which in the situtaiton of Haiti includes VOODOO. VOODOO is hardly “Christian” even by Catholic standards. NO HEARTS are CHANGED when EVIL is embraced that is part of the “culture”.
I think nmh is talking about the voodoo culture in Haiti. That is the first I have heard of this. I would have to look into it more. Perhaps the Catholics don’t get after the Haitians about voodoo as much as the Protestants do. I originally just meant to contrast government aid with private aid, but you know what happens when you try to point out all of the good that the Catholic Church does!
Obama told me faith based charities are not good. Sorry! /s
It’s a good bet that the USA will rebuild Haiti just the way it was, exactly where it was, with the same corrupt, incompetent government that it had.
Same thing that happened in New Orleans.
Haiti is the armpit of the Western Hemisphere. People can point fingers all over, but the US has as much blame as anyone - for feeding the corruption over many years.
Haiti has had many opportunities at prosperity - yet each opportunity is squandered by those in power. And for whatever reason, the people don’t speak up and act up in constructive ways, or for constructive purposes (like ousting corruption) - they just act up to support the next con-man to offer them a carrot.
That being said - Senegal has offered land and free passage to any or all Hatians who wish to be repatriated to the continent their ancestors were from - giving yet another opportunity at making something of themselves. I wonder how many will actually take them up. I suspect free passage as “refugees” to the US will be more attractive - as our government so loves to place future voters on the welfare rolls as quickly as possible. Get them acclimated to living on public assistance - help them to become citizens, and you have a voting base for life.
And mark my word - this is the real core of any “humanitarian” efforts on the part of our government. But stand up against and you are marked as uncaring and racist.
Do you know the difference between a Boss and a Leader ??? Apparently not….
No one wins another’s heart by force…..
Of course you did. Why not promote Christian ministries in general, rather than ministries associated with your particular Christian denomination? Christ, working through His people, can help change Haiti.
Most Haitians are Roman Catholic. Most Haitians practice voodoo. They are not seen as incompatible, either by the clergy or laity. That’s what that phrase means. Essentially, “syncretism” at any price.
Agreed.
Catholic “converts” in Haiti largely retain the customs and practices that are somewhat antithetical to Christianity and Catholicism, in particular.
And there appears to be a wink and a nod in an effort not to offend marginalize.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Voodoo is real, it is demonic. Demons are real. It is not
imaginary, superstition cultural trappings that can exist along side faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The people cannot come to faith in Jesus Christ and at the same time be involved in demon worship, communication with demonic spirits. They must leave behind completely all of this in their past, reject it all and only except the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus only.
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