Haiti – Artists for Peace and Justice

For Americans from the United States going to Haiti it is an hour-and-a half plane flight. For Haitians going to the United States it is a four-day journey by inner tube. You know the numbers: 7.0 on the Richter scale, over 100,000 people killed. Hundreds of thousands displaced. And before the earthquake it was one of the poorest countries in the world. Now Haitians can say "We’re number one." The only place less habitable is the Mojave Desert. The water they are drinking in Port-au-Prince we would not use to wash our clothes. I did an Internet image search on Haitian Dogs and there were not many photos – and the dogs that did crop up were not looking too good.

When the first immigrants sailed to our country they were on boats wearing Pilgrim hats and aprons. When the main influx of 700,00 African’s came to their future country, they sailed in boats wearing metal necklaces, bracelets and anklets - and where possible, rowing. We come from huddled masses – they are still huddling. What does that say about them – and more importantly – what does that say about us?

It says that we should help. And a lot of people are doing so. Anybody can go to Haiti. They are looking for volunteers. You want to go? Go. I wish I could. But I have to cut health insurance coupons out of this month’s AARP magazine. No. I cannot go to Haiti.

But I found another way to participate – or at least donate something of value. My Sweetheart forwarded me an email from an art representative. He was asked by an organizer to contact artists to contribute a painting for an organization, Artists for Peace and Justice. An Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director started Artist for Peace and Justice. The purpose of APJ is to raise money for the work of Rev. Rick Frechette, an American doctor, and priest and community organizer working in the slums of Port-au-Prince. He was in Haiti for twenty years before the earthquake and will probably be there for twenty more.

Me? I will never go to Haiti. And then I was just forwarded another e-mail from my sweetheart, who received if from an art representative who got it from an event organizer who received it from the guy who started the Artist for Peace and Justice organization and was in Haiti supporting Rev. Rick Frechette’s work. That Academy-Award-winning screenwriter and director’s email said, "…You made a real difference today. Our team landed, and after a few missteps landed at St Damien's Children's Hospital with medicine, supplies, support people and doctors. As of a couple of days ago the art event raised over $126,000 dollars for Haiti and still counting.