Haiti has a heart of gold
When I hear about the rich giving to the poor it hardly attracts my attention. Once they overcome their greed, it's an easy thing for the rich to give some of their excess to those who need it most. When the rich give, it always seems like they do it more as a publicity stunt to flex their superiority muscles, crushing the down-trodden and meek.
The opposite, however, is far more stunning; when the poor give to the rich. Most recently, this has happened between Haiti and the United States.
From Reuters.
Personally, I think this article draws a clear picture about the difference in attitude between Haiti and the United States. Perhaps you may recall that after the Tsunami in Asia the U.S.'s original pledge for aid was a measly $15 million. $15 million is certainly more than $36,000 in the purest sense, but if you realize the relative sacrifice involved in both values, Haiti rises as being a far more generous nation.
Let's look at the numbers:
Haiti has a GDP of approximately $12 Billion. $36,000 is about 0.0003% of Haiti's GDP.
The United States has a GDP of approximately $12 Trillion. $15 million is about 0.0001% of the U.S.'s GDP.
Hmmm....it would seem that Haiti is willing to sacrifice 3 times as much up front even though they have so much less. I sincerely hope that people in the U.S. accept this donation with gratitude. Way to go Haiti!
The opposite, however, is far more stunning; when the poor give to the rich. Most recently, this has happened between Haiti and the United States.
From Reuters.
The Haitian government and a group of businessmen from the poorest country in the Americas on Tuesday offered the United States $36,000 in aid donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina.$36,000 may not seem like a lot of money at first glance, but when we remember how impoverished Haiti is we realize just how generous this gift is.
The interim authorities in the unstable and destitute country of 8 million people, half of whom survive on a dollar a day, acknowledged the amount was modest.
But Finance Minister Henri Bazin said it was a testimony to the friendship and solidarity between the richest nation in the hemisphere and its poorest neighbor.
Personally, I think this article draws a clear picture about the difference in attitude between Haiti and the United States. Perhaps you may recall that after the Tsunami in Asia the U.S.'s original pledge for aid was a measly $15 million. $15 million is certainly more than $36,000 in the purest sense, but if you realize the relative sacrifice involved in both values, Haiti rises as being a far more generous nation.
Let's look at the numbers:
Haiti has a GDP of approximately $12 Billion. $36,000 is about 0.0003% of Haiti's GDP.
The United States has a GDP of approximately $12 Trillion. $15 million is about 0.0001% of the U.S.'s GDP.
Hmmm....it would seem that Haiti is willing to sacrifice 3 times as much up front even though they have so much less. I sincerely hope that people in the U.S. accept this donation with gratitude. Way to go Haiti!
3 Comments:
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I do appreciate the gift from Haiti. It is very generous to say the least. However, comparing it to the U.S. aid to only one of many, many places thru-out the world is hardly fair. The U.S., both publically AND privately, outgives the rest of the world by far. There really is no comparison and even the largest global economies envy our generosity. I hope this doesn't sound boastful. But I do believe it is factual.
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