Comments on: Tent Cities in Haiti http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/ "A tiny act can have profound effects." Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:09:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: fmh109 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-1/#comment-31048 fmh109 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:41:36 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-31048 The resourcefulness of these people really is amazing. I do believe that people just choose to go on despite what happens to them. They could have either lain down and died or worked with the few resources they had to turn this disaster around. It says so much for the strength of the human spirit and the innate will to live that it is unimaginable to me to go through a situation like that. What is the most shocking is something Sam said, that most likely these tent cities will be around for years before they can turn the country around. The resourcefulness of these people really is amazing. I do believe that people just choose to go on despite what happens to them. They could have either lain down and died or worked with the few resources they had to turn this disaster around. It says so much for the strength of the human spirit and the innate will to live that it is unimaginable to me to go through a situation like that. What is the most shocking is something Sam said, that most likely these tent cities will be around for years before they can turn the country around.

]]> By: fmh109 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-31047 fmh109 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:38:04 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-31047 It is very interesting to see that no matter how devastating an event, life still goes on. People still need to find some semblance of their lives before the earthquake, and help others to do the same. They saw the need for certain necessities like shelter and water, and once those were generally met, they moved on to providing entertainment and luxuries like movies and salon functions. In a very small way, Haiti’s tent cities represent the change in national economies all over the world from the beginning of time. Once basic necessities are met, people start to purchase and bargain for the things they desire on top of that which they need just to survive. It is very interesting to see that no matter how devastating an event, life still goes on. People still need to find some semblance of their lives before the earthquake, and help others to do the same. They saw the need for certain necessities like shelter and water, and once those were generally met, they moved on to providing entertainment and luxuries like movies and salon functions. In a very small way, Haiti’s tent cities represent the change in national economies all over the world from the beginning of time. Once basic necessities are met, people start to purchase and bargain for the things they desire on top of that which they need just to survive.

]]> By: S_Josaphat http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-31041 S_Josaphat Sat, 24 Apr 2010 05:40:19 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-31041 This video is beautiful. It allowed me to remeber to think in another lense then I usually look through. Life's complexities are not neccessary to survive. There are communities out there who are much happeir with the limited resources that they have instead of these mega citites and developed countries. The hope and faith of just knowing you will see the sunrise the next day is the glory needed to lifet someones spirit. As far as mega consumers in capitalist economy belive that little materialistic things will eventually make us happy. But the sad part about that is that its only making us more depressed sad and less faithful. Now what does this have to do with the video is that the hope and faith the population of Haiti has had over the past years and now even after the tragedy has been measured out to be greater than many wealthy countries themselves. This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves. This is somewhat of a sustainable definition of Haiti's economy. The business to charge cell phones while allowing children to watch movies is an smart economic move in order to attract more business. Many other moves like this are going on throughout these tent cities. It doesnt always takes books and having book smarts to think of these good economic moves. One of the men in the video said the movies are to be of a distraction for the kids of the visible struggle, something to uplift their spirits in order to keep the faith going. Its an alarming issue to know that these tent cities may be in Hait for years, but its nice to know they are reacting to the tragedy in a positive way instead of sulking around looking for help from other nehboring or even long distant countries. Haiti is building its infrastructure little by little through ends meet. Complex measures are being taken in order to do business and help the citizens of of HAiti. This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves. This video is beautiful. It allowed me to remeber to think in another lense then I usually look through. Life's complexities are not neccessary to survive. There are communities out there who are much happeir with the limited resources that they have instead of these mega citites and developed countries. The hope and faith of just knowing you will see the sunrise the next day is the glory needed to lifet someones spirit. As far as mega consumers in capitalist economy belive that little materialistic things will eventually make us happy. But the sad part about that is that its only making us more depressed sad and less faithful. Now what does this have to do with the video is that the hope and faith the population of Haiti has had over the past years and now even after the tragedy has been measured out to be greater than many wealthy countries themselves.

This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves. This is somewhat of a sustainable definition of Haiti's economy. The business to charge cell phones while allowing children to watch movies is an smart economic move in order to attract more business. Many other moves like this are going on throughout these tent cities. It doesnt always takes books and having book smarts to think of these good economic moves. One of the men in the video said the movies are to be of a distraction for the kids of the visible struggle, something to uplift their spirits in order to keep the faith going.

Its an alarming issue to know that these tent cities may be in Hait for years, but its nice to know they are reacting to the tragedy in a positive way instead of sulking around looking for help from other nehboring or even long distant countries. Haiti is building its infrastructure little by little through ends meet. Complex measures are being taken in order to do business and help the citizens of of HAiti. This booming economy in Haiti is lovley to see how the country within weeks of the earthquake can turn around and get back on their feet and make ends meet for survival. Its also intereesting to see how money little, none, or alot is good for business. The city of Port A Prince has somwhat of a better economy than before. Haiti has little money but is able to conduct successful business not on the mission to make money but to help the community while being able to help themselves.

]]> By: vmartinez_0903 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-31037 vmartinez_0903 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:04:11 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-31037 I think that these Haitians have so much strength. They have gone through so much in their lives, and they are still standing and still fighting. They have built this town out of scraps and tents and have made it work for them. They are people who have really strong character, because without it they would have never made it to where they are. Yes, they have nothing, nothing but their lives, They are striving to try and live, and succeed with the little recourses that they have. These tents are their only homes. They have to try and live in these packed places and make the best of it. I have so much respect for these people who have lost everything and ask for nothing. Unlike some of us here in the United States who have all of our necessities and we still have the nerve to ask for more. Or to feel that we are superior to people. They are trying to rebuild their city even though they are against the odds. They try but there are still some obstacles in their way. The Red Cross is only repairing homes in areas deemed safe to return to. The authorities have banned people from rebuilding homes located less than 10 meters from the water’s edge, but many people lack the skills or the money to move. The international emergency appeal for Haiti has raised only slightly more than a third of the 106 million dollars the UN asked for. Recovery and reconstruction efforts have faltered. The International Office of Migration has distributed construction kits to the displaced, but they contain barely enough materials to rebuild a small room, let alone a whole house. But they still stand strong and united. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. With oil too expensive for the impoverished nation, charcoal from burnt trees has provided 85% or more of the energy in Haiti for decades. As a result, Haiti's 9 million poor have relentlessly hunted and chopped down huge amounts of forest, leaving denuded mountain slopes that rainwater washes down unimpeded. Thousands of injured people waited for care outside badly damaged hospitals, while an unknown number remained trapped inside collapsed buildings. Basic services like water and electricity were out, and Haitian President Rene Preval said his government needs help clearing streets so rescuers can reach some of the hardest hit areas. About 3 million people one-third of Haiti's population were affected by the quake, the Red Cross said. About 10 million people most likely felt shaking from the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey said. What Americans have to learn is that we are blessed. I know that not everyone in the United States is well of but no one is Haiti is and they need help. I think that these Haitians have so much strength. They have gone through so much in their lives, and they are still standing and still fighting. They have built this town out of scraps and tents and have made it work for them. They are people who have really strong character, because without it they would have never made it to where they are. Yes, they have nothing, nothing but their lives, They are striving to try and live, and succeed with the little recourses that they have. These tents are their only homes. They have to try and live in these packed places and make the best of it. I have so much respect for these people who have lost everything and ask for nothing. Unlike some of us here in the United States who have all of our necessities and we still have the nerve to ask for more. Or to feel that we are superior to people. They are trying to rebuild their city even though they are against the odds. They try but there are still some obstacles in their way. The Red Cross is only repairing homes in areas deemed safe to return to. The authorities have banned people from rebuilding homes located less than 10 meters from the water’s edge, but many people lack the skills or the money to move. The international emergency appeal for Haiti has raised only slightly more than a third of the 106 million dollars the UN asked for. Recovery and reconstruction efforts have faltered. The International Office of Migration has distributed construction kits to the displaced, but they contain barely enough materials to rebuild a small room, let alone a whole house. But they still stand strong and united. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. With oil too expensive for the impoverished nation, charcoal from burnt trees has provided 85% or more of the energy in Haiti for decades. As a result, Haiti's 9 million poor have relentlessly hunted and chopped down huge amounts of forest, leaving denuded mountain slopes that rainwater washes down unimpeded. Thousands of injured people waited for care outside badly damaged hospitals, while an unknown number remained trapped inside collapsed buildings. Basic services like water and electricity were out, and Haitian President Rene Preval said his government needs help clearing streets so rescuers can reach some of the hardest hit areas. About 3 million people one-third of Haiti's population were affected by the quake, the Red Cross said. About 10 million people most likely felt shaking from the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey said. What Americans have to learn is that we are blessed. I know that not everyone in the United States is well of but no one is Haiti is and they need help.

]]> By: sql5113 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30982 sql5113 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:44:42 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30982 First of all, I can’t believe that it has already been over 10 weeks since the disastrous earthquake hit Haiti. When the event took its place, people from all over the world got together to help Haitians in need. I remember when Sociology 119 students collected money for helping them also. In our Tuesday class, I could still see the sadness from Haiti with Ian’s experiences and his photos. From tents without electricity or water to collapsed school and office buildings, those pictures captured the reality of Haiti very well. Until I watched this video, I thought that Haitians were in great pain after the disastrous event. However, very interestingly enough, I could see some Haitians who are trying to make money even during these painful days. At first, I wondered how they can be that positive in that kind of situation. In the video, entrepreneurs were trying their best to make some profits for their future. It was very impressive to see that. If I was in that situation, I might have just given up to live my life without thinking what kind of changes I can make. There was another interesting part. Even though I admire those entrepreneurs’ efforts to make money by selling their stuffs, do they really think that they can sell electronics such as computers and TVs? As the narrator said in the video, even before the earthquake, most of the Haitians lived without electronics. Then, why are they trying to sell them at this time when no one has enough money to afford their foods? Maybe it tells that how desperate those people are for making money. For sure, they must know the reality. They must know that no one will buy their expensive stuffs. I guess they are relying on their little hopes for selling them one day when they get really lucky. After hearing the stories from Ian and watching this video, I was a little bit confused about Haiti’s current situation. But I think now I understand a little about what is going on. My only hope for Haiti at this point is to become a country that runs normally as it was before the earthquake. Everyone knows that it will take few years to reconstruct everything. They have to start everything from scratch. However, Haiti is not alone. There are many people who are like Ian, who are willing to go to Haiti and help them. There are many aids coming from countries all over the world to sustain the innocent lives of Haitians. Thus, if they do not stop trying to dream, Haiti will stand up still again sooner than we imagined. I’m really glad to see those people who do not give up in this video. First of all, I can’t believe that it has already been over 10 weeks since the disastrous earthquake hit Haiti. When the event took its place, people from all over the world got together to help Haitians in need. I remember when Sociology 119 students collected money for helping them also.
In our Tuesday class, I could still see the sadness from Haiti with Ian’s experiences and his photos. From tents without electricity or water to collapsed school and office buildings, those pictures captured the reality of Haiti very well. Until I watched this video, I thought that Haitians were in great pain after the disastrous event. However, very interestingly enough, I could see some Haitians who are trying to make money even during these painful days. At first, I wondered how they can be that positive in that kind of situation. In the video, entrepreneurs were trying their best to make some profits for their future. It was very impressive to see that. If I was in that situation, I might have just given up to live my life without thinking what kind of changes I can make.
There was another interesting part. Even though I admire those entrepreneurs’ efforts to make money by selling their stuffs, do they really think that they can sell electronics such as computers and TVs? As the narrator said in the video, even before the earthquake, most of the Haitians lived without electronics. Then, why are they trying to sell them at this time when no one has enough money to afford their foods? Maybe it tells that how desperate those people are for making money. For sure, they must know the reality. They must know that no one will buy their expensive stuffs. I guess they are relying on their little hopes for selling them one day when they get really lucky.
After hearing the stories from Ian and watching this video, I was a little bit confused about Haiti’s current situation. But I think now I understand a little about what is going on. My only hope for Haiti at this point is to become a country that runs normally as it was before the earthquake. Everyone knows that it will take few years to reconstruct everything. They have to start everything from scratch. However, Haiti is not alone. There are many people who are like Ian, who are willing to go to Haiti and help them. There are many aids coming from countries all over the world to sustain the innocent lives of Haitians. Thus, if they do not stop trying to dream, Haiti will stand up still again sooner than we imagined. I’m really glad to see those people who do not give up in this video.

]]> By: davita2011 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30970 davita2011 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:23:21 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30970 After watching this video and listening to the lecture it opened my eyes to the severity of the devastation in Haiti. Of course after the earthquake happened I felt bad and thought to myself what a horrible disaster, and that I would pray for the people of Haiti. What the lecture made me realizes was how much we don’t think about things that go on around the world, unless it directly affects us. This video helps us to acknowledge the amount of strength that the Haitian people have. Even though they have just survived an indescribable lost, they are piecing their lives together in any way that they can. I cannot say that I am surprised, just because Haiti is a poor country, does not make them incapable of being economically prosperous, depending on how you look at it, and how you view prosperity. I have Haitian friends and I am sympathetic to what they are going through, however, I cannot truly empathize because this situation did not affect me directly. 300,000 is a lot of people. To process that many people dying is unimaginable. Its easy to go about our daily lives unaffected by this at all, but it makes you wonder, how you would feel if it were happening to you. Of course we cannot let everything that is happening around the world stop us from our habitual routines and mourn, but we can take some time to try and see and understand what is going, not just in our backyards, and maybe do a little to help. Why do some people feel that helping someone is such a burden? Some might feel that since its not happening to our country it’s not our job to help, when In fact it is very much our job. Helping someone in need is not an obligation but a moral responsibility. Even in this video, while people are experiencing their own poverty, they are still helping others, even if they are making a profit from it, which you cannot blame them for. I liked how this video displayed the Haitians building a community to help themselves and others. Of course they also have to worry about themselves, which is why they are getting all of the resources they can and making a life out of what they have. I liked how the man opened up his tent to allow little children to watch television and hang out. Although they had to pay a little of course, he was still helping them to occupy their time, enabling them to deal and adapt to their situations better. Its unfortunate that they must live out of tents, but it is impressive how shortly after experiencing tragedy they are able to prosper. Opening up nail salons, and other stores, may not necessarily be fundamental necessities, but it makes it easier for them to return to the normal everyday life that they are used to. I guess what I’m trying to say is that even among disaster and devastation people always find a way to rebuild, move on, and profit. It may not be our economy, but it’s their economy. After watching this video and listening to the lecture it opened my eyes to the severity of the devastation in Haiti. Of course after the earthquake happened I felt bad and thought to myself what a horrible disaster, and that I would pray for the people of Haiti. What the lecture made me realizes was how much we don’t think about things that go on around the world, unless it directly affects us. This video helps us to acknowledge the amount of strength that the Haitian people have. Even though they have just survived an indescribable lost, they are piecing their lives together in any way that they can. I cannot say that I am surprised, just because Haiti is a poor country, does not make them incapable of being economically prosperous, depending on how you look at it, and how you view prosperity.

I have Haitian friends and I am sympathetic to what they are going through, however, I cannot truly empathize because this situation did not affect me directly. 300,000 is a lot of people. To process that many people dying is unimaginable. Its easy to go about our daily lives unaffected by this at all, but it makes you wonder, how you would feel if it were happening to you. Of course we cannot let everything that is happening around the world stop us from our habitual routines and mourn, but we can take some time to try and see and understand what is going, not just in our backyards, and maybe do a little to help. Why do some people feel that helping someone is such a burden? Some might feel that since its not happening to our country it’s not our job to help, when In fact it is very much our job. Helping someone in need is not an obligation but a moral responsibility. Even in this video, while people are experiencing their own poverty, they are still helping others, even if they are making a profit from it, which you cannot blame them for.

I liked how this video displayed the Haitians building a community to help themselves and others. Of course they also have to worry about themselves, which is why they are getting all of the resources they can and making a life out of what they have. I liked how the man opened up his tent to allow little children to watch television and hang out. Although they had to pay a little of course, he was still helping them to occupy their time, enabling them to deal and adapt to their situations better. Its unfortunate that they must live out of tents, but it is impressive how shortly after experiencing tragedy they are able to prosper. Opening up nail salons, and other stores, may not necessarily be fundamental necessities, but it makes it easier for them to return to the normal everyday life that they are used to. I guess what I’m trying to say is that even among disaster and devastation people always find a way to rebuild, move on, and profit. It may not be our economy, but it’s their economy.

]]> By: sss5237 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30959 sss5237 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:12:08 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30959 These tent cities quite amaze me. The ventures, businesses, and the growing “economy” are actually very good for Haiti and it’s just great to me that these people are getting up from this big mess, wiping off the dirt, and trying to create something for themselves. That’s something that takes so much strength and character. From what the visitor in class told us, this is exactly what they need and the funny thing is they are doing this for themselves and by themselves and no one is providing them with the clean water, and bags of rice and it’s just amazing how everything is working out. These tent cities quite amaze me. The ventures, businesses, and the growing “economy” are actually very good for Haiti and it’s just great to me that these people are getting up from this big mess, wiping off the dirt, and trying to create something for themselves. That’s something that takes so much strength and character. From what the visitor in class told us, this is exactly what they need and the funny thing is they are doing this for themselves and by themselves and no one is providing them with the clean water, and bags of rice and it’s just amazing how everything is working out.

]]> By: sss5237 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30958 sss5237 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:11:45 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30958 .The only thing that saddens me, is that at the end of the video they said that most of the people in the tent city won’t be leaving for years. It amazes me how these people will never really be able to pick up their lives and make them what they were before. It’s just not possible for them to do that unless outside help provides them with the means to stimulate the economy more and really work to create a new thriving country. The only thing we can hope I guess is that they can be happy with the way things are going, because in the end that’s what matters the most. .The only thing that saddens me, is that at the end of the video they said that most of the people in the tent city won’t be leaving for years. It amazes me how these people will never really be able to pick up their lives and make them what they were before. It’s just not possible for them to do that unless outside help provides them with the means to stimulate the economy more and really work to create a new thriving country. The only thing we can hope I guess is that they can be happy with the way things are going, because in the end that’s what matters the most.

]]> By: jtomvp http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30915 jtomvp Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:22:30 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30915 Too be honest, I expected things to be a lot worse in Haiti. Obviously this is a terrible situation, but at least Haitians aren’t just sitting in their tents all day waiting to be given their lives back, they are back on their feet, and I believe that we can learn a lot from them. I would like to think that if this happened to us, then we would keep our chins up and start back from scratch, rather than dwell on what we have lost (economically), but maybe we are too used to having so much that it would be too hard for us to start over again. Too be honest, I expected things to be a lot worse in Haiti. Obviously this is a terrible situation, but at least Haitians aren’t just sitting in their tents all day waiting to be given their lives back, they are back on their feet, and I believe that we can learn a lot from them. I would like to think that if this happened to us, then we would keep our chins up and start back from scratch, rather than dwell on what we have lost (economically), but maybe we are too used to having so much that it would be too hard for us to start over again.

]]> By: minniemouse22 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti/comment-page-2/#comment-30659 minniemouse22 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:16:33 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=2077#comment-30659 It seems incredible to me that out of all that chaos and pain, people are able to find themselves. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the man charging people to charge their cell phones. And what is more surprising is he is only charging 30 cents. It is a great culture shock to see a community that is working with 30 cents as a charge and that that some is a great amount at this time. I remember in class when the guest speaker said that Haiti was on the cusp of great economy it is disheartening to think that this country could fall so far and yet be able to bring back some sort of semblance of economic culture. It is hard to imagine being placed in a situation like that and being able to think of anything other than being afraid of what tomorrow would bring, but these people have understood their fate and found a way to fight to make it the best they can. I was really surprised that the salon woman was actually making any money. I would think that people would want to save the money they have so it is surprising that they would pay to get their nails and hair done. However, I can see why they would spend their money in that way. It seems incredible to me that out of all that chaos and pain, people are able to find themselves. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the man charging people to charge their cell phones. And what is more surprising is he is only charging 30 cents. It is a great culture shock to see a community that is working with 30 cents as a charge and that that some is a great amount at this time. I remember in class when the guest speaker said that Haiti was on the cusp of great economy it is disheartening to think that this country could fall so far and yet be able to bring back some sort of semblance of economic culture. It is hard to imagine being placed in a situation like that and being able to think of anything other than being afraid of what tomorrow would bring, but these people have understood their fate and found a way to fight to make it the best they can. I was really surprised that the salon woman was actually making any money. I would think that people would want to save the money they have so it is surprising that they would pay to get their nails and hair done. However, I can see why they would spend their money in that way.

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