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: A Public Defender's Life in Alaska

So, there is one thing I do not understand. At all. I am watching CNN about the earthquake in Haiti. It is an awful tragedy. But here is what I don't get. I see a lot of bodies that are just covered with sheets. I see people complaining that there is not enough rescue workers. But I see people walking around everyone. Not injured. Not dazed. Just walking. Almost strolling. By the thousands. I see empty pickups everywhere. I just don't get it. Why not get a crew together? At a minimum remove the rotting bodies? Why is not every able bodied person helping to dig out neighbors? I just saw people reject UN food because they confused the package date of 2008 with the expiration date of 2010! Are you serious? They actually took the food and dumped it on the street so no one could eat it! If you think I am wrong, go ahead. Watch the news. I just saw a little girl die on CNN because there were not enough people to free her. Now granted I am NOT there. I have never lived through anything like that. But I saw the concrete on her. I have moved rocks that big with a truck and a chain. She might die if you try. She will absolutely die if you do nothing. For F's sake people. Get some pry bars. Even some 2x4's. I bet a dozen people could have saved her. Get people pulling on her and others lifting and prying. Do something! Instead, I just see people wandering around. Not injured. Not dazed. Is it just that they have been so poor for so long they can't help themselves? Is it just what I see is so distorted from reality? It may be that they can't help anyone. It doesn't look that way to me. I am tempted to give money to help. But I'm not going to. I want to see all those able bodied men I see on TV just walking around help first. If they were injured or frantically looking for a loved one or anything, I might get it. But that is not what I see. I just don't get it.

Full post as published by A Public Defender's Life in Alaska on January 17, 2010 (boomark / email).