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121 Messages to G‑dThe Political Controversy Surrounding the Haiti Relief Efforts
Sunday, January 24, 2010
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| A woman is rescued alive from rubble several days after the Haiti eathquake (Wikipedia) |
And once again they're bickering.
According to a story printed in last Sunday's Washington Post, the geopolitical landscape is once again embroiled in controversy. This time, the tensions revolve around the global response to the Haitian catastrophe. To quote the article:
"There were growing tensions over which country's planes were allowed to land [in Haiti] first, with each nation insisting its aid flight was a priority, according to an official involved in the relief operation.
"France, Brazil and Italy were said to be upset, and the Red Cross said one of its planes was diverted to Santo Domingo, the capital of neighboring Dominican Republic.
"The French government became so annoyed when a plane with an emergency field hospital was turned back Friday that foreign minister Bernard Kouchner lodged a protest with the State Department..."
Following the colossal tragedy that has afflicted us, the heart yearns for some light. Undoubtedly, the international reaction to the crisis has provided just that.
After millennia of non-stop warring and bickering between nations, with only self-interest at the heart of virtually all the conflicts, we've arrived at the day where countries are up in arms—over what? Over the right to come to the aid of a poor and helpless nation that is of absolutely no strategic interest to anyone! Militaries worldwide are mobilized—for what? To rush to the assistance of a devastated people with whom they have nothing in common, other than the fact that they are all G‑d's creations!
One more point:
Haiti's devastation is beyond what the mind can fathom. The enormity of the numbers simply can't be processed. According to the Haitian Interior Minister, the disaster claimed between 100,000 and 200,000 lives (with many more dying each day from injuries, infections, etc.). 250,000 people sustained injuries, and as many as one million Haitians are now homeless. Altogether, three million people were directly affected by the quake.
On the flip side, according to the United Nations, as of this past Wednesday (eight days after the quake), more than 121 people have been pulled alive from the rubble. And the search for survivors still continues.
One hundred and twenty one reasons to be happy, versus the too-many-to-contemplate reasons to mourn.
Which raises the question: Would it really make a difference whether the death toll is 150,000 or 150,121?
Think how much effort is being expended on this recovery effort. How much easier it would be to just start the rebuilding, and bulldoze away all those piles of rubble and start anew.
But every time I check the news, they report on the intensive recovery effort, proudly trumpeting every new survivor found. Because it's not just about a nation afflicted, a faceless crowd—it's about individuals. Every one of whom is priceless.
We're finally getting it. The world understands the concept that we're all one, all G‑d's creations, and we are all mutually responsible for each other.
We're understanding what the real purpose of a military is.
We're understanding the value of every individual.
I hope and pray that G‑d is watching all this with a big smile. Surely this outpouring of care, love and brotherhood will elicit from Him revealed blessings—for Haiti and all the nations and individuals who've so helplessly rushed to the rescue (personally, or through contributing to the relief effort).
There is no more need for earthquakes or other natural disasters. We've proven our point. It's time now for G‑d to finish off the process of global goodness and harmony that we've started—and send us the Moshiach to bring an end to all suffering.
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Latest Comments:
is a great thing, because then we open ourselves to getting answers. And this is a great question!
I think we NEED diversity and I think G_d has given us diversity, in all possible ways, with people of all races, nationalities, backgrounds, genetics, culture, story... whatever and wherever you look, we're a diverse bunch, and yet the Divine intelligence that created this universe, has presented us with a way to dialogue, and to think, in dialogue, about such questions, and more... in fact, it's what we do, and here, too.
I think religion A, B, C and D... have to do with Diversity within Unity, because we all draw from the same spiritual well.
As to why this or any story, for me, it's about tikkun olam and moving through story with a learning curve. But you are asking for answers and I will say, we each have a piece of the puzzle and this is, deeply, a cosmic dance!
Maybe we are supposed to puzzle this out with each other, as puzzle is to mystery and pieces that fit together.
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Your question is based on a presumption -- that we indeed need "Religion A" and Religion B."
From whence have you arrived at this conclusion?
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a personal answer
Deep questions. . You are right that history has produced in the name of so many religions, deep divisiveness: terrible wars, terrible events. Spirituality contains a different truth that is about One, about compassion, the music of love.
It seems we are here to learn something about love and that in so doing, we move forward, we change, there is motive force.
It's "the rub" that produces the pearl. Sand in the oyster shell. Life has inbuilt, deep, learning curves.
Perhaps it's a story written first with words, with the letters, the Hebrew letters, and to be "kneaded" is to make us rise, as to another place. I have asked Why this story? As Jews? As non Jews? it seems scripted.
Did G_d write us all into a story. a divine story, to be divined? Is the answer coded in the letters? As dovetail is to pieces that fit perfectly, a "dove tale", taking us forward and back to "the garden"?
We are a part, and apart. Look to the words! Alone, all one. Awe language!
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If we are all "one", all are "G-d's children", why do we need religion A and religion B, to cause us to be so divided or even divisive..
Please explain.
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You are right: it is time, for the end to all suffering. And what would a Moshiach do, other than what we are doing --this outpouring of kindness, of support, of love.
And who might this Moshiach be, if not those among us who are filled with love, for all mankind. Would it be a woman, or does it have to be, a man? I ask because it seems to me, that throughout history we have had men claiming to be the next Messiah, and they turned out to be false messiahs.
Perhaps, within the word itself is ME I and AWE, and also Sigh, the sigh of life's burdens. Perhaps it's for all of us to divine the message and as we are moving into a new perception of ourselves, perhaps an old Kabbalistic and Sufi understanding, we are G_D, meaning there is a candle that is divine within us all, and we can do this together. This symphony has a conductor. We. as instruments of the Divine, have the privilege of doing this together.
It's called by some Cosmic Consciousness.
For me this story is about LOVE.
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King David in Psalms proclaims "G-d built the world on kindness".
Kindness is one the elements which physically makes up the world.
Hopefully, the "so called" civilized nations can coordinate themselves beyond their UN mentality and render the life-saving help for the poor people of Haiti.
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Thank you Rabbi for that massege; I hope the world really understand that, !!We are all one, all G-d's creation!!, and yes, we are responsable for each other, I say Amen to that, and with all you respect, i will add to it, That we must love our neighbour as we love our self. After learning this lesson of love in this tragedy, I pray to G-d to send us The Moshiac in our days so that the suffering and pain of this world end. May G-d Bless you and Keep you Always. Shalom.
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Truly. Your point is superb.
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From your mouth to G-d's ear. Unfortunately people forget very soon the kindness {Chesid] shown to them. "What did you do for me today." As long as evil exists in the world - a proponent of that evil will sway many to emulate them to create atrocities. That is why we have locks, barriers, walls, alarm systems, police , army, navy, air force and horrific weapons. You are a trusting "Neshuma." I still will not place a lamb in the cage of a lion. We are still required to celebrate Purim after the appearance of Moshiach. [A Haman can arise].
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Israel rushed to send massive aid to Thailand after the Dec. 26, 2004 Tsunami left over 200,000 people dead. Thailand showed its "gratitude" to Israel by continuing to vote with its fellow Muslim nations at the U.N. condemning Israel for Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
I understand that the rush of aid and medicine to Haiti is not done with any thoughts whatsoever of repayment by Haiti. It's plain humanity. Yet how wonderful it would be the next time the U.N. considers an anti-Israel resolution to hear the ringing voice of the Ambassador from the nation of Haiti voting No in an outpouring of thanks for our caring. It's called Hakaras Hatov in Hebrew. I'm sure there's a phrase for it in Haitian Creole.
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