LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Let This Be A Lesson To All You All Who Operate From 'the Gut'

Intead of, You Know, THINKING and BEING INFORMED!

This is what the primary media coverage of Haiti has devolved into. Not a single primary media organization has a team there now, except, I think National Public Rhetoric has a few people on the ground yet in Haiti.

"The 10 American Baptists detained in Port-au-Prince on child trafficking charges are pleading for the United States government to do more on their behalf and for the news media to focus on them less.

“Help us,” one of the detainees, Carla Thompson, said Monday as she lay on a bed in a scorching jail cell about 8 feet by 5 feet, her ankles bandaged from infected mosquito bites. “That’s the message I would give to Mr. Obama and the State Department. Start helping us.”

How much you bet these people also don't believe in 'government?'

What I know certainly is it because of THEM KSZ, MZ's and M's

What I know certainly is it because of THEM KSZ, MZ's and M's six-year-old six-year-old daughter is still in Haiti, and not at home here with her parents. The rules for taking children out of the country to the U.S. by those who have U.S. relatives changed that very day because of them. MZ was told so when he went to the proper office to get his papers for her stamped.

KSZ is traumatized. This is what happened.

KSZ was living with her grandmother, who died a few months ago. She was then living with her aunt. She'd been picked up from her school, by the driver that MZS and M paid to do this and was nearly home when the earthquake hit. Her school was flattened, and her teacher and the other children all killed. Her aunt's house was flatttened, and she and her family were all killed. KSZ thought she was going 'home' with MZ, to be with her mother. She was then told by the official that she had to stay in Haiti, with this friend, whom she didn't know before. He's caring for his invalid mother. It's a f*cked up mess, multiplied 3 million times. This one would have had a happy conclusion. Except for these idiotic dorkdongs charging in without thinking about anything, without professional qualifications -- except, it seems their leader's proclivity for playing fast and lose with her business models, floating very close to -- yes, let's call it by the legal term -- fraud.

We do not cry for them.

They also have made the Haitian situation now THEIR story. It's all about them instead of Haiti.

The damage accomplished by the determinedly, wilfully ignorant is incalcuable.

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