As I sit reading a lot of the comments people are posting around the web and on Being Latino, I can’t help but to be infuriated. Any time there is any sort of disaster, whether it be natural or man-made, here are the bible thumpers shaking their bibles and telling us all how we need to repent for our sins. What sins can a child have to be crushed by a building? What sins can people have that were going about their daily lives when disaster strikes? Shall we take it a step further and say anyone who dies from anything other than old age has died because of their sins. Shall we say anyone who dies from cancer deserved it? Anyone who is murdered had it coming. What about the heart attack patients, babies who die suddenly, the person killed by the drunk driver, were they all taken away because of their sins? What about any other traumatic event that can disrupt someone’s life, is it because they have sinned and need to repent? Think of the most horrible thing that has ever happened to you, was it because you were a horrible person and needed to repent, or was it something that was out of your hands and could not be controlled by you or anyone around you.
Where does it end? When will the preachers stop spreading fear and hatred? When will we learn to be united in times of need without having to belittle people and telling them it is their fault that tragedy has struck?
Everyone has the right to say or do as they wish. They can worship God, Buddha, multiple gods or Satan for all I care, but in this time of tragedy there must be a better way to convey your message than to just go and condemn a people for just being.
I guess it’s easy to bash the outspoken ones. I do appreciate and would like to thank those that have answered “gods calling” or have gone of their own free will to help others out in this desperate time of need. I am not Haitian, but I AM a citizen of the world, and any little thing any of us can do to help our fellow citizens would be greatly appreciated by all who care about humanity.
For more information on how you can help please visit:
There are many more charities that are out there, some Christian or Catholic based, some just regular humanitarian efforts, but together we can overcome this great tragedy and offer hope for Haiti’s Future.
by Mary DeLeon
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