Month: February 2010

We Did What?

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I was reading the New York Times today when I came across an article that struck me.

As the story goes…

10 Baptist Americans took it upon themselves to smuggle Haitian “orphans” over the border. Sound absurd? I thought so too. I decided the “… ” was necesarry around the word “orphan” because our fellow Americans didn’t actually have any documentation stating that the status the children was, in fact, orphan.

“What surprises me is that these people would never do something like this in their own country. We must make clear they cannot do such things in ours.” -- Frantz Thermilus, Chief of the National Judicial Police
“What surprises me is that these people would never do something like this in their own country. We must make clear they cannot do such things in ours.” -- Frantz Thermilus, Chief of the National Judicial Police

What were we thinking? In recent times, I have found that Americans, with the help of our media, believe that what we do for suffering countries is always well-received and appreciated. We have found this to be a false assumption in regards to this Haiti hiccup.

These Americans are now held in Haitian prison because they thought they were “doing the right thing.” All things considered, Hooray! for the Haitian police. Despite their infamous corruption and the tragedy that has left Haiti in ruins, they have tried to maintain some national dignity and independence.

I understand the United States is trying to help the cause but let’s try and work with the Haitian government instead of around it. In the end, Haiti is a country of its own who has a government and people that may not like the way the United States does things. Let’s respect that.

Photograph courtesy of the New York Times

In the Spotlight: U.S. Soldiers

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Image Source: Spirit of America- Backpacks Delivered to Afghan Schools
Image Source: Spirit of America- Backpacks Delivered to Afghan Schools

School supplies are necessary in order to be a successful student which is a luxury that Afghan children are not given.

 The United States forces are doing their part to help re-establish the education system.  Specifically the Army’s 649th Regional Support Group is providing school supplies in the Kandahar province for both teachers and students. 

Iowa native Army 2nd Lt. Shaela Bresnan, Backpacks for Afghanistan program coordinator stated, “Unfortunately, children here lack the opportunities to educate themselves. Even when they have access to a school that they are able to attend, they do not have the physical resources to get the most out of their education.”

Backpacks for Afghanistan program began in August 2009 and will give local students to receive backpacks with five pencils, three pens, two colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, two erasers, two notebooks and two folders. Teachers will receive a kit with classroom materials such as world maps, construction paper and small chalkboards. 

“When I was a little boy, if someone had given me a pen instead of a gun, this country would be a better place,” said Afghan Col. Haji Toor Jan, Afghanistan National Police security commander of civil affairs. “The program is very good for our future. Our people will one day have doctors, pilots and engineers. This will be our future.”  

Many schools and churches and other organizations have even donated to the Backpacks for Afghanistan program.  Even you can contribute and assist with this worthy cause.

“If you change the life of a child, you change the world,” commented Army Sgt. 1st Class Elaine Holten, A Backpacks for Afghanistan organizer from Florida.

Check out this YouTube video of “Colorado for Kabul Kids” a non-profit group who provided backpacks and even you can contribute to this worthy cause.

Bush vs Obama: The AIDS Battle

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We all know the dangers and growing concerns surrounding Africa’s AIDS crisis, and no one knows what the future fate of the country will be. It seems that only time will tell. Although George Bush has received a lot of negative publicity since his presidency, he did many great things to combat AIDS in Africa. Under his administration he set up an Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, also known as PEPFAR. PEPFAR has committed $15 billion dollars over five years to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to time.com “PEPFAR has increased tenfold the number of HIV-infected patients in Africa who receive antiretroviral treatments.” Today, with a new President, and different plans surrounding medical aid, no one knows where the fate of Africa will lie.

During Obama’s campaign, he pledged to support PEPFAR, and now it is up to him to follow through. Recently, U.S global AIDS coordinator, Eric Goosby, released information surrounding what the Obama Administration calls “the next phase of PEPFAR” time.com. In this phase they will stray away from emergency help to sustainable help in order to meet the needs of people with HIV. Many doctors and citizens are asking, “is this enough?” Health officials know that HIV is very dangerous, and Africa needs all the support it can get. So, as I said before, only time will tell the fate of Africa and its HIV/ AIDS epidemic.

coffins_aids a young African child walks past coffins of deceased HIV/AIDS victims.

A turn for the worse or the better?

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      “These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”  These were the words of President Bush at approximately 8:30 pm on the night of September 11, 2001. This day marked the turning point in our nation’s attention to airport security.  The TSA, with whom we associate airport security measures, was created from the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) passed on November 19, 2001.  This administration is now part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created in November 2002, which deals with threats to the security of our nation.

September 11, 2001 - Source: AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong
September 11, 2001 - Source: AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong

According to the timeline of September 11th, chronicled on CNN.com, the terrorists aboard the four hijacked planes were “armed only with knives.”  With the creation of the TSA, regulations regarding baggage and other security measures have been enacted to better protect airline passengers. These rules have evolved into extremely advanced protocols for monitoring air safety.  One of the first acts of the TSA was to ensure that all checked luggage was screened for explosive materials.  These screening processes have come to include fairly invasive strategies that are hoped to limit the threat of terrorism in the air.
               

                Everyone who has flown in the past year has experienced these inconvenient measures.  We should be asking ourselves… Should I really have to take off my shoes, belt and jacket while going through the metal detector? Does having only 3 oz. of liquids or less really protect me while on a flight? Do heavier screenings for passengers really keep the terrorists off of flights? Are we safer now in-flight than before September 11th?  The government believes the answer to all of these questions is YES!  By examining the safety measures taken to protect air passengers, especially those invoved in international flight, we can see how strong relationships with other countries are paramount to making air travel safe.