A scene after the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th, 2010

For many of us in the United States, independence means a ton. Even for the most marginalized of groups, we scream and kick for it because of the hypocritical nature of this hollow pursuit of happiness. For most of us in this country, we enjoy freedoms that we often take for granted. From the computers we communicate with to having three meals of some variety, we all have a much better outlook on life expectancy than millions of other peoples, many of whom surround the very borders of this country.

That includes Haiti, a country that found independence from their true oppressors only 28 years after the United States did. 205 years and 12 days after that day, Haiti still can’t escape the treachery and tragedy of having the least amount of resources of any country in the Western Hemisphere to cope with an earthquake that registered at 7.0 on the Richter Scale (that’s devastating, folks). While I’m happy to see the outpouring of people reaching out to partial motherland, I’m saddened that it always takes these sorts of events to draw our attention to Haiti.

Whatever you do, and in whichever direction you choose to donate your efforts to help Haiti, make sure it’s genuine, long-lasting, and consistent. After Katrina, many of us who left it up to the government to “take care of it” have yet to truly speak up.

Now is that time.

Jose, who would build an arc in place of a house …