I’d like to touch on the topic of the recent earthquake in Haiti that Amanda had mentioned in her recent blog post regarding the predicament the children are in. I’d like to specifically touch on the subject of child trafficking and the fears there of.
In the aftermath of the January earthquake in Haiti, there has been much fear from aid agencies (such as Unicef, Red Cross, etc.) and the governments of Haiti and America that local gangs as well as “adoption agencies” and “ministries” are engaging in child trafficking, taking advantage of children whos parents died in the quake. Now, I am by no means singling out any individual group, but to me it seems very sickening that people would even think that they have the right to remove children from what “they” deem is a situation “unfit” for children even though these parentless children may perhaps have other living relatives. Who do these people think they are trying to intervene in other people lives, especially children’s?
I find myself very disturbed by one specific instance which was reported in the media a few weeks ago. It involved 10 American “missionaries” who tried to “move” 33 children who they presumably got from orphanages across the border into the Dominican Republic. They were arrested and are being detained by the Haitian government on charges of kidnapping. I find it very disturbing that people can go into another country and blatantly defy its laws and sovereignty just because they “thought” they were doing the “right” thing to them. It just frustrates me that after every major world tragedy (such as the Asian earthquake in 2004), certain people think they know what’s better for the native people of the devastated area rather than the natives themselves. I also realize that all governments have a certain level of corruption and Haiti is no different, but they have laws that govern their nation just like we have laws that govern our nation and we must obey them.
My question to everyone in the class is, “Who should decide what is best for these children?” Does the situation in Haiti dictate the intervention of people who think they are helping out regardless of a nations law structure? Finally, have we not learned anything from past human trafficking (Children in Poverty, African Slave Trade) to not realize the potentially damaging consequences of actions that are being taken now?
I think this issue is extremely important because as Amanda hinted towards, these events will directly influence the life and development of not only these children but perhaps the nation and even the world as a whole after a tragedy of this magnitude.
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I understand the frustration you express here Chris. It seems like from previous patterns that the U.S has always been ready to jump in and help in the event of a chrisis- which is great and commendable. However, it's a fine line between lending a helping hand and overstepping your bounderies, especially in someone else's "house." I mean just because someone (or in this case a Nation) needs our help, is it right for us to come in and take over? I think when this occurs, the sincerity and validity of that help is undermined because it is no longer welcomed. I guess the U.S. has always been used to coming in and taking charge but perhaps we should take a step back and actually ask those we are helping what they need instead of telling them.
I understand the frustration you express here Chris. It seems like from previous patterns that the U.S has always been ready to jump in and help in the event of a chrisis- which is great and commendable. However, it's a fine line between lending a helping hand and overstepping your bounderies, especially in someone else's "house." I mean just because someone (or in this case a Nation) needs our help, is it right for us to come in and take over? I think when this occurs, the sincerity and validity of that help is undermined because it is no longer welcomed. I guess the U.S. has always been used to coming in and taking charge but perhaps we should take a step back and actually ask those we are helping what they need instead of telling them.
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