These are the times that try men's souls, wrote "American Crisis" author, Thomas Paine. With the devastation in Haiti from an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale and more than 40 aftershocks, including one a week later that measured 6.1, that statement holds true today more than ever. With hundreds of thousands suffering in Port au Prince and the rest of the country, ongoing relief efforts struggle to feed the hungry, quench the thirsty and alleviate the sick, wounded and suffering. The Red Cross reported the disaster may affect some three million people, with a loss of life estimated at nearly 250,000. Nevertheless, with all that suffering, there are still some who thrill in kicking others when they're down and almost out.
So perhaps it's time once again, folks, to pass out our shameful “Stormy Morning Warning” and honorable “Starry Night Delight” awards. For new readers, these are based on an old mariner's sailing formula. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning. Red skies at night, sailors delight.
Shameful "Stormy Morning Warning" Awards
Our first infamous “Stormy Morning Warning” goes to Rush Limbaugh for his negative remarks about the Haitians. Limbaugh's cold commentary lacked human compassion. As reported by various news sources, on his national radio program Limbaugh said, "There is no need to send money to Haiti. You already do so by paying U.S. taxes." Shame on Limbaugh.
The next shameful “Stormy Morning Warning” goes to Ohio's 13th U.S. Congressional Representative, Democrat Betty Sutton. During these trying times of economic recession, Sutton mails a self-promoting, six page, full color flyer to everyone in the district embellishing her support for last summer's Cash for Clunkers program. And she does it at the taxpayers expense.
Less than a week later Sutton blows her horn again. She publicly shows her chutzpah by repeating her Cash for Clunkers support and a few other pet causes in a second mailed flyer. Same self promotion, same number of pages, same full color flyer and again at the taxpayers' expense. Reportedly, these mail outs cost taxpayers well over $100,000 at a time when unemployment in Ohio is nearly 11 percent and the poverty level even higher. Her self promoting "campaign" literature at the taxpayers' cost rankled many including yours truly. And you wonder why so many voters reject new and renewal levies. Shame on Sutton.
Honorable "Starry Night Delight" Awards
Honorable “Starry Night Delight” awards go to former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as President Barack Obama for their support in organizing much needed relief for the victims in Haiti. At a time like this, politics should be set aside and the suffering greatly assisted. If it had happened to us, we'd expect as much help from other countries as they'd hope to receive from America. On national television, Clinton pleaded with his country's men and women for additional help. "We've got to have more," he said. "We need more food, water, medical supplies and shelter materials quickly."
Another worthy “Starry Night Delight” goes to Doctors Without Borders for providing much needed medical services to the Haitian people, to George Clooney and other celebrities for their TV telethon designed to raise relief money, to Pope Benedict XVI for publicly committing the resources of the Roman Catholic Church to help alleviate the suffering, especially the children, to the Red Cross who responded with its immediate presence in that island nation, to religious organizations from sea to shining sea, to the hundreds of thousand of Americans who ignored Limbaugh and so far, as of this writing, have donated more than five million dollars and to the Republican Party who soundly renounced Limbaugh for his lack of human compassion.
Lastly, commendable “Starry Night Delight” recognitions go to both Coventry Township trustees Tom Seese and Brenda Patterson. During their November campaigns both chose the high road by promoting their hopes for the future rather than traveling the low road by degrading their opponents. Both cleanly run campaigns set fine examples and their victories perfectly illustrated the type of campaigns voters prefer.
Finally, for those who can spare anything to help the earthquake victims, mark your contribution Haiti Relief Fund and send them to the American Red Cross (1-800-Red Cross), UNICEF, the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund out of San Francisco, www.hopeforhaitinow.org (1-877-99-Haiti) or, among others, your church.
In his inaugural speech, the late President John F. Kennedy offered a most profound statement that surely applies to this situation. "If a free society can not help the many who are poor," he said, "it can not save the few who are rich."
