Car Donations in California

Don’t get me wrong…I wholeheartedly support helping those in need when a crisis occurs. I know that Haiti is in a dire situation and this is just the beginning for them. There is going to be a long process of clean up and rebuilding and a lot of people will be without homes for a while.

I’m also not going to say that I disagree with setting up a venue to raise money for supplies and assistance of those in need due to this crisis. I heard on the radio today that CNN raised $7.2 million in a few hours yesterday doing a telethon. That’s wonderful and an exciting development for this cause.

Here is my “problem” if you will. We have thousands of people right here in America that don’t have jobs, housing, food, health care…and we’re doing what?? I don’t remember seeing any grand gestures being made to the benefit of all of the people who lost their jobs in the last year. I don’t recall a telethon or other fund raiser occuring to assist the single mothers of America that have to work 3 jobs to make ends meet while someone else raises their children. I have yet to see Branjelina donate a million dollars to assist the people who lost their home to foreclosure or had their car repossessed when they could no longer pay their bills because of the ignorance of the people who run this country.

My point isn’t to compare the two things because they are different. I’m not asking anyone to justify to me why we are doing what we’re doing for Haiti. I know why, and I agree. What I don’t understand and what I would LOVE for someone to explain to me is why we are so quick to run off and help everyone else yet we aren’t cleaning up the mess in our own backyard. Instead, America lowers the blinds and pulls the curtains nice and tight. As long as it is ignored and we don’t talk about it then we don’t have to do anything about it.

I see the past presidents walking off the plane in Port au Prince, smiling and waving to the cameras. Hilary Clinton talking about how the assistance will continue and that “we’re here to help”. It makes me want to smack all of them upside the head and say “WAKE UP!! This is great and all, but what are you going to do when you get home??” I have a feeling the answer would be, “…uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh…”