tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083673.post8525883544482749266..comments2023-10-28T03:07:12.758-07:00Comments on Mirror On America: Americans caught taking children out of HaitiBrian http://www.blogger.com/profile/07872444863142531165noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083673.post-60809896468125801922010-01-31T22:44:00.199-08:002010-01-31T22:44:00.199-08:00To me... this situation (as well as the showing of...To me... this situation (as well as the showing of bodies in the rubble) has more to do with how Black and Brown folks are dehumanized to some degree. There is this idea (somehow embedded in the collective white sub conscience) that since these victims are Black....there is no need to afford them with a certain level of dignity. That since these children are poor and Black, that no one has to worry about having the proper paperwork... (Hell in most Countries you have to have proper paperwork if you are bringing an animal or non native plant across international borders). THIS is the issue here.<br /><br />All the other noise is hyperbole.<br /><br />I think we have to be careful about these kinds of posts...even for a small blog that has only 3 readers. They can cause headaches. Certain assumptions/suggestions should be avoided, especially in the absence of good evidence or reliable information.<br /><br />I do believe that the Haitians were smart to make this policy...Although Haitian authorities are not explicitly suggesting that this group had negative intentions with the children... it does show that the policy was a good call and could be effective IMO.<br /><br />And as for the leader of this group...saying she did nothing wrong... she already admitted in several reports that she didn't have the paperwork.<br /><br />The problem in Haiti...is that with no effective government... no one seems to be in charge of this. No one is watching what these missionary groups and NGO's are doing (most are legitimate groups doing great work). Haitian police/UN folks should have authorities posted at every orphanage and every location where these children are being cared for...so that no one comes in to do whatever they want or to take whoever they want. There is also the problem of thousands of homeless/street children in Haiti...and those who may have been orphaned who authorities don't know about yet.<br /><br />I just have to stress... be patient with these kinds of stories. Wait a few days for more information to come in before reaching a conclusion or disparaging an entire category of people/charity organizations...or suggesting serious criminal activity.Brian https://www.blogger.com/profile/07872444863142531165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083673.post-68795267838522964432010-01-31T22:43:06.529-08:002010-01-31T22:43:06.529-08:00There is a lot of "jumping the gun" in t...There is a lot of "jumping the gun" in this case.<br /><br />I will have to disagree with the trafficking accusation. Actually...the Haitian authorities aren't really making that claim in this case (the media is doing so for ratings). What this case is about is removing these children from the Country without proper documentation. THAT is the issue in this case.<br /><br />I was planning to do a post on this in a few days...looking at the situation from a broader/different angle. I was going to use this as one of my two or three examples of how there has been some sense of dehumanization surrounding the entire tragedy as it relates to Black victims.<br /><br />I don't have much doubt that this was a legitimate Church group.<br /><br />You made the statement (not a very good one...sorry) <b><i>"why would WHITE FOLKS FROM IDAHO, of all places, be interested in BLACK CHILDREN?"</i></b><br /><br />That statement just doesn't look good.<br /><br />There is quite a lot of legitimate missionary work/charity work led by whites (and others) in places like Haiti, Central America, South America, Africa, Asia, etc.... Not uncommon at all. I have known some of these folks. In fact, I just had a lecture from one last week at Washington University. A White minister who helps Kenyans obtain clean drinking water...an extraordinary White man. Whether this group was completely above board or not... I am not attempting to vouch for. No one can say for sure at this point. But to suggest that such work isn't common is shortsighted...and the injection of race makes it look worse.<br /><br />The adoption of these children & work with orphanages (by outside groups) has also grown more popular in recent years...that's why you have seen so many stories in the news over the past few weeks about adoptive U.S. parents trying to get their cases expedited so that they can bring their children home.<br /><br />The fact is... these children are being adopted by whites because Black Americans and others of color have not been stepping up in significant numbers. (in fact, the same problem exists here in the U.S.). If the Whites coming forward to adopt have the resources and the love to provide good homes, then race should not be the big issue here.<br /><br />Prosecutions? Not very likely. In fact, the U.S. diplomatic mission is working to clear this up. The U.S. is not likely to launch any criminal investigations. From what I have heard/read so far, there is no evidence of any serious egregious criminal activity.<br /><br />Again...the issue here has to do with the adults not having the necessary documentation. The media (in this case) has made this into something that it is not....and some folks have jumped on board without taking an objective or critical look.<br /><br />(Continued)Brian https://www.blogger.com/profile/07872444863142531165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21083673.post-41692233132495322882010-01-31T14:06:45.717-08:002010-01-31T14:06:45.717-08:00I knew something was up with this story. SMHI knew something was up with this story. SMHRainaHavockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02019099371458545624noreply@blogger.com