I am conflicted

Tragedy brings out the best in everyone, doesn't it? We all come together and rush to do the best we can for victims of unexpected trauma. Such is the response to the recent events in Haiti. Everyone is rushing everywhere. These people, Haitian people, who have suffered so much for so long.

I am similarly affected by the events and have sent in my donation and support all efforts in that regard.

I did that even though I have a few questions:

The Canadian government will match all donations dollar-for-dollar. Or in our language loonie-for-loonie. Is this because our Governor General is Haitian by birth? Will this be a precedence for all tragedies? Why now and not for other, equally devastating natural tragedies: Katrina? Tsunami in Sumatra? Ice storms in Quebec?

The largest corporation in the world, the Roman Catholic church has offered prayers. Um, thanks?

Isn't Haiti simply the other side of the Dominican Republic? They share the same island. Isn't that where everyone I know goes for holiday? If this earthquake devastated Haiti which shares the same land as the Dominican Republic, why is there no news of the effects on the DR? And for that matter, Cuba, Jamaica, and all the other smaller islands in the Caribbean? What about Florida?

Suffered so much? Incredible!

Political turmoil, corruption, natural disaster, AIDS ... incredible. Is this overwhelming response a reaction to this Haitian tragedy tinged with an emotional mountain of GUILT? These people have been suffering for GENERATIONS, not just in the past few days, but years. Years upon years.

So, my $50 has been sent to be combined with the donations of hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of other people. Will this help? Or will it be used to line the pockets of those who do that kind of thing. For generations.

Or is my $50 better spent helping that man on the corner of the street, or giving to the soup kitchen or buying toys to "fill the net" at Christmas?

I am conflicted.

Are you?