It is a matter of luck that I did not plan to leave Haiti one week later than I actually left for the summer. As you may be aware, during the past few days there have been protests and violence in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince. Normally I am not in Port-au-Prince although that is where I was exactly one week before the demonstrations began. On the first of July, I flew out from Port-au-Prince and due to flight delays arrived in the New Orleans airport early Monday morning (one week ago.) To the best of my knowledge, all of the people I know personally are safe and reality is that even if I were in Haiti when this occurred, I would in all likelihood be perfectly safe too.
When I wanted to get an update on the current situation this morning, I googled the news in Haiti. Many articles came up about American missionary groups who are/were stranded. It seemed that there was more concern on many news outlets for American groups who are in Haiti than for the Haitian people themselves. Upon further reflection, I realized that selfishly, my own initial reaction was about my own security and convenience; "I am so glad I didn't leave one week later." In some ways I think this is natural, we have an innate desire to keep ourselves safe and that is not a bad thing. It is a reality that in general and people tend to be more concerned about those they know, especially those who are closest to them rather than anonymous strangers in other places.
Perhaps the very conditions that lead to the anger that fuels such protests which sometimes turn violent (I am not excusing violence) can change only when we all, myself included, move beyond our initial response of self-protection and self-concern to truly loving all of our neighbors on the entire planet, as we love ourselves. What if we were all able to realize that each and every person in our world is equally deserving of having the ability to meet his/her basic needs and that of their family members? Only when we can all truly agree to that and work for policies and create systems that make true equality possible will such protests and problems of this nature become preventable.
Let us pray for the people of Haiti and reflect on how we can change ourselves and non-violently work for systemic change until each person on our planet has the equal access to all basic human rights including access to meeting all basic needs in a way that is dingified and empowering.
During July and August instead of weekly updates, I will write when inspired to do so and will resume regular updates in September. Enjoy the summer! Take care. Many blessings!
