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But I don't much mean it to be so please hear me out. To be honest, all this "Help Haiti" has me rather flustered. We have so many homeless and starving people here in America without the basic necessities to live, and people generally tend to not give a damn about them. Yet every time there's a natural disaster, everyone wants to be a hero. I believe that we should focus our efforts to the home front first, and then worry about taking care of others. Just wanted to voice my opinion, and see what you guys have to say... ninja

You didn't. biggrin I just wish that people would come out of their complacency and finally change. I know it's possible, but it's difficult to change, and even more so if people don't believe or even want to change. That's why I've been trying to weave those sorts of lessons into my music more so lately. I believe that I've been given the gift of being able to write for a reason, and should use it to help spread some knowledge, not just try to make money. I know I went a little off from the original topic, but yeah. I appreciate your input! 3nodding ninja

I am on that same kind of mission. My writing and my music aswell seem to have a way of striking deep chords in the minds of people that hear/see it. Maybe we can help each other out. ^-^ If ever a door opens for me I will try to help you find it too.

I know the American government is terrible. I don't believe that there is a single non-corrupt politician in the system. I honestly have zero faith in our government whatsoever. But my main point is basically that our people tend to not care about the general population in our country, and it seems to me like they just want to help out other countries to ease their concious, and that's disgusting to me. I DO think that everyone worldwide should be working together to better the planet, and myself think that the idea of different countries is ludacrious. We're all on this giant marble of a spaceship together, and we need to start acting like it. Not picking and choosing who to help. I also believe though, how can we help others when we can't even properly help our own? It's not a matter to me of one group deserves help more than the other, it's simply we cannot begin to help solve problems when our land is rampant with them. I hope that helps clarify where I'm coming from a little bit. ninja

The thing is that the natural instinct of people (when this sort of thing happens) is to help out because they feel better about themselves. This is only because the media uses things like this to suck money out of people because, in some way, they get money from exposure and tax breaks for giving to charity. They shove these things in people's faces to make them feel bad and obviously no one wants to feel bad. It's just a marketing scheme. So few are really helping anyone just because they want to.
I met this couple about a year ago on the side of the street as I was driving by. Normally I don't just hand out money because I don't feel people will use it to get themselves on track (which is wrong of me, I shouldn't choose who is more worthy of help). But this couple I knew was legit. I knew because they were together. I saw true love there. They stayed together even through that and never left each others side. So I turned my car around and parked by them, asked what their story was, and gave them $100 (which was a lot for me). I wound up suffering a little because I gave them so much and had a hard time paying my bills that month. But i would give them more if i could go back in time. I never saw them again but I hope that action snowballed.
My point is that if people really wanted to help then they would do something like that for people. But most only care about themselves.

To say the least (but not really).. the fact is that very many people in this country in need of aid won't get it regardless of whether or not Haiti does (nor were they getting it before the earthquakes), so it's better to see the funding and help going to anybody period instead of nothing happening at all. People here needed help before Haiti (though that's a hard case to make since I learned "fourth-world country" was even applicable in modern times and it was regarding Haiti), and they'll need it afterwards.

Debating whether or not they should get it when it's making a difference for the lives of many who desperately needed it is exactly the sort of thing that's keeping a lot of people here in the U.S. from getting help to begin with. Coming from somebody with relatives living on reservations, that's a point that hits a lot closer to home than most would think. Obviously, many people in America need help too, but you can't force people to give them that help by preventing it being given to others.. nor is that a way of doing things I could personally agree with, either.

The U.S.A. has a lot on its plate right now both at home and abroad, and the courses will only get larger as the world continues to grow and change, but an America helping the rest of the world in the midst of such chaos is the America I do my best to believe in every day. While I do hope for things at home to get better, I believe a big part of helping ourselves is reaching out to others with an open palm rather than a closed fist.. and Haiti is a perfect example of that.

That being said, do whatever you can (within reason) for friends, family, and strangers alike when the chance presents itself!

I was taught a couple of things when I was real little now I am probably one of the oldest (44) gaians, lol.

1. If if's and buts were candy and nuts, then everyday would be christmas(my grandmother's fav day). The point being; cut those 2 words out of your vocabulary, and you'll find out that it is rather difficult to make excuses. So next time, just try harder; no excuses, no fault, no blame just try again.

2. Make a dot to represent yourself on huge piece of paper, then make a circle around that for your home, a circle around that for your country, a circle around that for the world, and a cirlcle around that for the universe, and finally a circle around that to represent everything you hope for after you journey in life. Look back at your 1st dot and just remember not to sweat the small stuff. Peace all, this comes from an ex-army sniper; and may I find peace in my longer days, and forgiveness for all I have done. Thank you for letting me release some bad days.