Hey everyone, so it’s like this, every day I find myself losing faith in the human race. I find myself getting angry at the dumb irrational and insensitive things we do to each other. Everything came to a head this week with the situation in Haiti. I have been forced to look at the big picture and to take responsibility for my actions and lack thereof on contributing to the upliftment of our society.

A very good friend of mine when we spoke this week said the most interesting thing, he said, “Linisa, poverty is not something to look down upon and turn up your nose at. It is something that as a society we should be ashamed of. No one should ever have to live in poverty; it is a reflection of the heartlessness of people. “I went quiet, what he was saying made a lot of sense.

On Boxing Day I watched this show on CNN where they acknowledged HEROES from around the world and awarded them with honours. I sat with tears in my eyes (yes, I do cry), as one by one everyday people came up and collected awards for their initiative. The funny thing, was that these said ‘HEROES’ didn’t think themselves as such, but rather they felt they were just fulfilling a need …………… Someone needed their HELP. From the Mexican bus driver and his family that feeds 200 immigrants every evening after he gets home from work to the cancer survivor that goes door to door offering free mammogram tests to uninsured women, I sat in awe of these people taking up the charge to make something or someone better off than they were the day before, all without missing a beat.

Over the last week I’ve watched the very ridiculous and amusing comments being made about HAITI on FACEBOOK, from ‘dem cursed’ to ‘dem a devil-worshippers’ to ‘God a purge de country’, all with a heavy heart. I would then look at pictures of dead bodies and people crying out for help as they searched for understanding and reasoning behind such a horrific event. I watched the news channel with reporters who clearly will need counselling after experiencing such suffering. I watched all these things thinking ‘Poor Antigua’, because as much as we may not be poverty-stricken as HAITI, I hate to break it to you, but Antigua is no better prepared to handle a disaster of that magnitude.

Today, I appeal to us all to take time out of throwing stones in our neighbor’s backyard to try and cut our own lawn. I am also quite appalled at the newspaper report that stated that we should ‘brace’ ourselves for an influx of Haitian refugees. I find that we keep doing our best to label a people who are suffering from so much. Is it too much to ask that we look past our own insecurities to that place where Love exists? Is it too much to ask for us to truly sympathise without prejudice? Pray everyone says, but then what. We are our brother’s keepers and therefore should act accordingly. At this point anything that we can afford to give and even that we can’t afford to give is what Haiti needs. Compassion seems like pity at times, our actions and monetary contributions are much more honourable.

I feel so helpless watching parents look for their children in the rubble, and watching kids jump from body to body looking for their mothers and fathers. One psychologist said this week that we should feel it, only then will we do what we must to help. Well guess what, I feel it and I hope all of you do too. We all have our own personal problems and battles to fight every day, but at this moment they all seem so insignificant to what is taking place in HAITI.

I have painfully learnt over the last three years that the changes you want to see happen you will have to facilitate yourself. WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. I could sit and lay blame on many, but that isn’t what is needed now. What is needed is the help of everyone in giving HAITI a chance at a better tomorrow.

So today I am just asking that we look past the superficial, and past the inaccurate self-serving religious judgments and help HAITI however we can. In addition I hope this catastrophe will help us all to make changes in our life to provide the space to assist others than are in need. Take time out to ask your neighbour or even your co-worker if they are ok. We all have benefitted from the contributions of others to our personal development, is it too much to ask for us to return the favour? In a nutshell ‘PUT YA MONEY WHERE U MOUTH DE’ ………………..………………. BE ELEVATED!!!!!

p.s. Do not use this note as a welcome to make any political or religious remarks... HELP HAITI and those around you however you can. BLESS