Did you ever read Mountains Beyond Mountains? I read it years ago and never forgot it. It's Tracy Kidder's biography of Paul Farmer, the Boston doctor who has devoted his life and work to ensuring that the people of Haiti have basic medical care (beginning with clean drinking water). Farmer is a truly remarkable man, and his organization, Partners in Health, continues to do extraordinary work in Haiti and elsewhere. Now, obviously, they need help more than ever. If you haven't yet made a donation to help the earthquake victims in Haiti, PiH is a good place to start. Other reliable organizations that will direct 100% of donated funds to relief efforts in Haiti are Doctors Without Borders and The American Red Cross—probably the quickest way to help out is to text "HAITI" to 90999 from your cell phone to have a $10 donation charged to your account.
Our school secretary is Haitian. Somehow, almost miraculously, she got word very early on that most of her family and friends were all safe. She still hasn't heard from everyone down there, though. She was thankful to be able to tell her son (who is in Julie's class) that an old friend of his is OK.
I have nothing to say about the filth and hate spewed from the vile mouths of Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh. Keith Olbermann said it all, and better than I could have, in just under 2 minutes; please go watch.
I gave to PIH also. My daughter thinks that Paul Farmer's other books are way better to read than Mountains to Mountains, but then she is very critical. I can't believe what some people are saying about Haiti; it makes me ill.
Posted by: Margaret | January 16, 2010 at 04:56 PM
Great clip from Olbermann. I had missed that one. He really nails it.
Posted by: Elena | January 16, 2010 at 05:45 PM
Charity Navigator has a good list of trusted charities working in Haiti (via Consumer Reports): http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004
We went with Doctors w/o Borders.
Posted by: Mark | January 16, 2010 at 09:09 PM
Ditto! How horrible that these people consider themselves American. Truly frightening.
Posted by: Sue Hardy | January 16, 2010 at 09:24 PM
Phenomenal book (the title is Mountains Beyond Mountains).
Posted by: sheila | January 16, 2010 at 10:57 PM
Whoops, thanks -- I just fixed it.
Posted by: Karen | January 16, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Olbermann said it perfectly.
Posted by: Sharon | January 17, 2010 at 11:43 AM