Haiti and the Need to Appear Caring

It really bothers me that Haiti has been such a huge factor in the news for the last two weeks. People have seemed so caring and eager to help those in need. I really have to doubt, however, the sincerity of the populace's actions, as well as question the motives behind their interest in the situation.

The situation in Haiti (which you would be unfamiliar with only if you lived in a depp, dark cave somewhere in the northern province of Uzbekistan) has recieved only constant media attention. Coverage of aid and relief by mass media has bombarded the public. Everyone, from FOX News to Facebook, is hopping on the social justice bandwagon. Why? Because it's the right thing to do, and to not care abotu people hurting and dying and starving is morally reprehensible.

Wake up! When do we as Americans EVER give a damn about something other than the bottom line and the size of our pocketbooks? As cold-blooded capitalists, it's our duty to look out for number one and step on as many hungry, starving, dying people as it takes to satisfy our instiable need for profit, wealth and self-satisfaction. Why do we care so much about people who's lives have been destroyed by a natural disaster? After all, it's their fault for living in such an unprepared manner.

I heard a quote the other day that really hit a nerve. I hate to be a hypocrite, but I can't soundly attribute the quote or cite it directly. However, the essential message behind was, "It's depressing that it takes a tragedy like the one in Haiti to really wake people up around aiding and helping others." It seems really hypocritical to make this kind of comment at a time like this. You are saying that you think people should care more about aiding others, but you are only pointing it out when there's a crisis to be concerned about. The speaker in this case is just as pompous and arrogant as the rest of the populace for caring about a social justic cause only during a time of crisis. You're no better than everyone else you are criticizing.

It's depressing that people only notice about people caring (or not) for others only during a time of crisis.

It's depressing that no one stops to think about this.