Too easy and all the 3rd World apologists and American liberals would start screaming about American Concentration Camps like the poor Japs we had to move out of California in 1942 until we could figure out which ones were not serving their living God Emporer Hiroito and his war on America.

The internment camps were filled w/ Japanese-Americans, not Japanese refugees. There are no plans to place Haitian-Americans in any such camps.

There hasn't been a mass exodus by Haitians because they are scared to death of a tsunami. A tsunami alert was issued at the time of the quake. A rumor of one later sent Haitians scrambling. After about 30 aftershocks, no one is going near the ocean Besides, it's hard to make a raft out of concrete & rebar!!!

I think they are already here working at Walmart.

Did one take your job?

"Cuba is responsible for the biggest mass migration from any Caribbean nation: more than 125,000 Cubans streamed to the U.S. in 1980 after former President Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel to anyone who wanted to leave."

What they fail to mention here is the fact this would've never happened if the SECOND worst president in modern history (Jimmy "the peanut" Carter) would've intervened. I guarantee Castro would not have attempted this with Reagen

It's a timely process of delivering people. They are able to setup temporary housing relatively quickly. Quicker than bringing them here. Plus the ships are well equiped for temporary living.

There is a lot of gang related violence and rape going on with a shortage of police on the streets. I love what the officers are telling the people. "If you don't kill the criminals, they will come back." I love quick justice for these scumbags. Something you don't see in the US anymore. I just hope they are humane when taking justice. Get the rope out boys!

Do you really think that once on US soil...they will leave???? There is too much leeway being given to illegal immigrants in this country. Breaking the law is all of a sudden ok I guess. There needs to be some repercussions for their actions otherwise what is to deter the same behaviour in the future.

Just a way for the prez to bolster his voting base. He will have them with voter cards and SSI before to long.

Are you worried your SSI check will decrease? Non-citizens can't vote!!!

With a handle like "Gramps" you should be the one worried about Social Security. And in case you haven't been paying attention....The government wants to give all the illegals in the country already, citizen status or amnesty which ever you want to call it. If you think they will not get voter status shortly thereafter...then you might want to get some of the new meds they have for Alzheimer's....I hear it works great.

And what I'm worried about, is that when I am eligible for SS, there wont be any left after paying into it for the last twenty years....I think this is a valid concern for anyone who has contributed to the program....maybe I'm wrong.

we already have enough illegal immigrants on the dole!!!

Gramps is a constant and good source for comments. Glad he is here. I believe SS checks are more endangered by Baby Boomers than illegal immigrants. For the safety of the Haitian people I hope they stay home and re-build. There is a lot of world help and attention moving as fast as they can.

I would love to see proof that our government wants to give all illegal’s citizenship. Such outrageous comments I have only heard from Beck and Rush. Personally I would remove the border between Mexico, Canada and the US. I like my neighbors.

Bustem, I don't have to worry about Social Security. I suggest you don't plan on living on SS in retirement either.

ShowMe: thank you.

I don't as I have a very nice pension awaiting me at retirement and also a very nice deferred comp package so I'll be ok...thanks for the concern...my point is there are a lot of people who will /are dependent on a program that will be defunct by the time they are eligible and it will have alot to do with just giving the fund away to people that really should not be eligible for the program.

I would hope that if you had paid for something your whole working life, with the idea that social security was going to be in place to offset the outrageous cost of living, that you would also be concerned but I guess you are able to be a philanthropist while the rest of us keep working at it day by day to make ends-meet.

I worked my ass off for many decades. I paid taxes many of those years at a higher rate than today's. I still pay capital gains taxes as well as property taxes.

There are many problems w/ SS & other such programs. Yes, many should not be getting it. Congress until recently, didn't pay into it. Check out & see how many lawmakers are now receiving Medicare. John McCain is being paid around $165,000.00 a year, $54,000.00 in VA benefits & more than $24,000.00 in SS benefits! That's collecting a lot of taxpayer money for someone who's worth over $100 million!!!

In this age where info is just a click away, people should be checking those applying for any kind of assistance. A good start would be w/ the DMV. If I saw someone was driving an Escalade, I would check further. It's really not hard & hopefully someone will start requiring federal, state & county officials to check on applicants to weed out those playing the system!

The few that make it through will be millionaires by next year after learning from the Cubans how easy it is to do Medicare fraud. Should they end up a little further north in Broward County they can learn how to create a billion dollar Ponzi scheme from Scotty Rothstein by buying off all the politicians and police force.

Let so much as one in "temporarily" and within time, turn around, there'll be tens upon hundreds of thousands running up and down the streets like the worthless, inherently incompetent feral animals which they very much are.

Operation Pierre Pan--reminds me a lot of "Operation Peter Pan" with the Cuban kids which ocurred between 1960-62. Mind you, I wasn't even alive then, but I remember my mom telling me the very first time we went to Miami and I asked how come there were so many Cubans there, and she told me: "Oh, these are the boys of 'Operacion Pedro Pan,' because they never went back home."

And boy, did I learn a lot of history!

John T-239903:
Let so much as one in "temporarily" and within time, turn around, there'll be tens upon hundreds of thousands running up and down the streets like the worthless, inherently incompetent feral animals which they very much are.

------
I agree John T.

We have seen this over and over again. Once here, they rarely, if ever leave. Then come the marches for more money and status for their people.

Then come the DEMANDS for special government programs sponsored by you and I whether we like it or not.

I hate to see people suffering, but these people had a duty to take care of their own and they failed to do it. Haiti is an independent country with its own government, yet the whole place is a barely functioning slum. It always becomes someone else's duty to come in and save them. It is nobody else's fault but their own.

The same pattern emerges in every single black-African nation. Despite endless injections of foreign money and assistance, they hover in a desperate state of poverty, filth and overpopulation.

It is becoming clear that race is MUCH more than just skin color, and the more people of the third world you bring to America, the more America will resemble the third world.

These are callled emerging markets

How many of those "black African nations" were robbed of their resources? With all the gold, oil, diamonds & other resources stolen by the US & others, they could have very prosperous countries & citizens!!!

Iraq & Afghanistan are "countries w/ their own govts & are barely functioning slums" but we have poured a trillion dollars into them. Nearly a $100 billion has either been given to Pakistan or forgiven in debts to us. Yet, we still spent $200 million to help them reconstruct parts of their country after the quake of '05. We've been pouring millions into Colombia but their coke & criminals still come here. The list goes on & on.

John T-239903

you have some nerve. To call someone worthless. How dare you. Tell me what makes you better than anyone else. And be careful you may have to relocate one day. People like you make me sick to my stomatch. Again for the record, the europeans stole this land from the indians. And you have the nerve to say someone else is worthless. But hey we reap what we so.

Did one take your job?

LOL, what job? you mean the one I lost last year to cheaper labor because at 12$ an hour I was overpaid and had health insurance the company no longer wanted to pay for?

Gramps:
How many of those "black African nations" were robbed of their resources? With all the gold, oil, diamonds & other resources stolen by the US & others, they could have very prosperous countries & citizens!!!
----------

Gramps, you have successfully spewed the standard leftist excuse for the poverty of Africa and much of the third world: "their resources have been robbed by the west".

You're wrong for the following reasons:

1. The west did not "steal" the resources from African countries. The corrupt African leaders have always, and continue to work out deals with the west to sell these resources at low prices, then hoarde all of the profits for themselves, so that while they live in palaces like Mugabe, the people live in squalor.

2. Even putting aside the issue of resources, African countries that were once colonies of European powers went into rapid decay after the withdrawal of the Europeans. Though colonization is often used as an excuse for African poverty, the benefits of colonization were far more numerous than than most realize. Roads, railroads, pipelines, communication lines, water and sanitation systems, factories and government infrastructure were all in place thanks to colonization. All that was needed was to keep the system operating and the people would have lifestyles like that of westerners. However, these systems quickly deteriorated into the mess we see today.

Africa is NOT poor because because of exploitation, it is poor, it seems, because it is populated by Africans.

geez, I for one, sure am happy American Immigration is thinking this one out...

machinehead,

I don't have to attach political monikers to what you are spewing here. It's plain racist. You see black skin and you automatically think worthless. You are in denial of the harm that the slave trade, and other practices that have been perpetrated against Africans with some of these still in practice today.

Simply abolishing slavery does not repair the damage of kidnapping people from their homeland, making educating them illegal, and destroying family and culture of said people.

machinehead......If anyone owns Africans as slaves today it would be.....Africans! Africans have enslaved other Africans for several millennium. What does your remark have to do with the article?

Bob-Martinez

No, because Reagan would have negotiated some deal with Castro. Like he did with Khomeini, our worst enemy, at that time. Reagan sold arms to Khomeini, remember?

That is treason. Is it not?

is very interesting to notice that Haiti, the poorest country in our hemisphere is the country where the USA has intervened most; as a matter of fact the US has invaded Haiti more than any other country in the world. But Haiti do not have Oil, gold, silver, copper,…..Is it sugar, cotton, or bananas, the motive for the USA intervention?

Haiti was the first country where black slaves declared independence! And that was not acceptable to the country founded on the principle that all man “are created equal”. Our ‘founding father” Jefferson, declared an economic blockade against Haiti, immediately after their declaration of independence. ? President Roosevelt wrote the Haitian constitution and imposed ‘Jim Crow’ to this independent country. President Woodrow Wilson order the first invasion in July 28, 1915 which lasted 20 years, the US dismantled the Haiti constitutional system, and reinstituted ‘forced labor’ ( slavery?) and created the National Guard to execute cup d’états any time any Haitian president would try to bring any social changes . Thus Haiti has been run under USA sponsored military dictatorships. ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier, our allied against Castro, was the dictator from 1957 to his dead in 1971. 30,000 of his opponents died. Luis Mazin , Duvalier’s finance minister was appointed prime minister and he was George H. W. Bush horse in the elections of 1991. Aristide a progressive leader won with 88% of the vote. His platform of land reform, reforestation, investment in infrastructure for the people, and increased wages for sweatshop workers. Aristide, the elected president, was deposed in a military cup 7 months later and the first public university that he had created was turned into a US military base. In 1994 Aristide was returned to power by president Clinton, with the condition that Aristide had no power as president and was forced to implement the U.S. neoliberal plan--which Haitians called the "plan of death." Then Aristide was kidnapped and taken to South Africa during the George W. bush administration. That was a in a joint effort between the USA and France. The French were pits off because Aristide was claiming in the World Court that France pay back the millions of dollars they forced the Haitians to pay for their freedom

Now, since our government has been so preoccupied with Haiti, should not, we as Americans be somehow responsible for what it is going on there. Hope this time we do right thing, so we can be proud of be Americans.

What does race have to do with illegal immigration? You can be Mr. Whitey McWhite from Ontario Canada sneaking accross the border and you are still an illegal immigrant and will get sent back. Playing illegal immigration as a race card only dilutes real race issues.

Now what whitie from Ontario would even want to come to the states...... Be real!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warmer weather!

Its not about black or white its about immigration. it doesnt matter if the people of Haiti were really white or green or blue, they still should not all flee to the united states illegally. we are sending all the help we can down there and although its still very devistating for them they need to focus on surviving at this point and then when things are more stable they need to rebuild their lives... not just run to the US

American immigration (immigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States. Immigration has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of American history. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, religion, economic benefits, job growth, settlement patterns, environmental impact, impact on upward social mobility, levels of criminality, nationalities, political loyalties, moral values, and work habits. As of 2006, the United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than any other country in the world.^[1] In 2006, the number of immigrants totaled 37.5 million.^[2][3]

A record 1,046,539 persons were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2008. The leading countries of birth of the new citizens were Mexico, India and the Philippines.^[4]

The 1980 migration caused huge crime problems in the northern NJ area which was a final destination for many. We don't need another one. The earliest Cuban immigrants were a benefit to the area. They were a proud group that refused a handout and worked for everything they have today. In 1980 too many looked for the free handouts and some were not welcomed buy they hard working relatives.

A major migration from thsi island will be a bigger disaster.

1980s

Another large wave (an estimated 125,000 people) of Cuban immigration occurred in the early 1980s with the Mariel boatlifts. Most of the "Marielitos" were decent people wanting to escape from communist tyranny, and have succeded in establishing their roots in the US. Fidel Castro sent some 20 thousand criminals directly from Cuban prisons, as well as mentally ill persons from Cuban mental institutions, with the alleged double purpose of cleaning up Cuban society and poisoning the USA. Those people were labeled "unadmissible" by the US government, and with time, through many negotations, have been returned to Cuba.

Every time I've come on the vine, no matter what the headline is, someone wants to turn it into a black/white issue or Democrat/Republican issue! What's up with that??? Maybe I don't get it because I come from a racially diverse family (white great-grandfather from Ireland, Ethiopian great-grandmother, Native American grandmother, African American grandfather...etc.)

I'm a mess, so where do I fit into the scheme of things for all you racially motivated people? BTW, my son has been mistaken to be Hispanic!!

Now what does that have to do with Haitians trying to get into the US after one of the biggest natural disaters? Absolutely, NOTHING!!!

I agree, and that is so very sad. Racism even in a time like this.

Everything always becomes a black/white political issue here. LOL

I come from a very diverse family too, my great grandmother was native american indian, GGF from Scotland, the other side were from England, have one haitian married to my cousin, we have several hispanics, italians, and probably something else I'm forgetting. we're just a bunch of mutts, but in the grand scheme of things, what does that all matter if you all get along and people are happy?

How about helping to clean up their own nation instead of posing for CNN like I saw this morning. I swear CNN will make people sick of this before the month is over. It's the same here live in slums and wit for a hand out.

on the contrary, it's a humane policy. The US is in no position to take on all these people who would most definitely become dependent on the govt for subsistence. The US govt is broke or haven't you heard that. The Haitians are better off staying where they are and rebuilding. The US can no longer afford to swing its doors wide open for everyone. It's more important for us to take care of our own citizens than be generous with foreigners and ignore our own.

We have children going hungry in our own country. Elderly people choosing between buying their meds or food.

Charity begins at home.

All you bleeding hearts scare the crap out of me you would let millions of poor in our country knowing we can't afford to feed or house them. If you qualify and can afford to help people in need then start adopting. Try starting with the the millions of children in our country that would love to be adopted.

Flooding the country with people who can't speak English and have no education would do more harm to ourselves.

Mia,

I'm reporting your comments as inflammatory and in violation of the COH.

The US is in no position to take on all these Haitians who will most certainly be dependent on the govt for all their needs. If you feel so strongly about it, then you should offer to sponsor a Haitian family and let them live in your house with all expenses paid BY YOU.

African swine fever was first diagnosed in the indigenous Creole Pig population of Haiti in 1978. Under pressure from the United States – which feared transmission of the disease to American pigs and damage to the lucrative pork industry – Haiti instituted a program of eradication. By 1984, the island was pig-free.

In Haiti, however, pigs have special significance for religion and nationalism – as well as for the ever-struggling economy. For the majority of Haiti’s citizens, rural peasants, these hardy black pigs were farming tools (aerating the soil and producing fertilizer), sanitation devices (eating household waste), and commodities (which could be sold, or, if necessary, eaten). The word for pig, in Haitian Creole, is the same as the word for bank.
http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/84486.html

In 1779 they couldn't speak English and neither were they educated but, still, we let them in to help us fight for our independence. I think we owe them something in return.

Hey Mia, The Native American Population didn't let "us" in. "We" occupied the land by force and eventually conquered the native population. Get off your high horse, you lost the war.

Tom-Tom ...1779? Do you realize that was over two hundred years ago. I think Haitians have been "repaid" a thousand times over. If there is a survivor that fought in 1779 perhaps we would make an exception.

Haiti was a French Colony in 1779. France took the side of the U.S. and sent French (Haitian) troops and French advisors. We paid back France in WWI and again in WWII. We've also intervened in Haiti on a number of occasions when the wholesale slaughtering thing started up. Taking in a bunch of refugees is not going to help Haiti. Overseeing the rebuilding and re-establishment of a non corrupt government will help Haiti.

Overseeing the rebuilding and re-establishment of a non corrupt government will help Haiti

like that's working well in Iraq!

Maybe the US shouldn't have intervened so much:

African swine fever was first diagnosed in the indigenous Creole Pig population of Haiti in 1978. Under pressure from the United States – which feared transmission of the disease to American pigs and damage to the lucrative pork industry – Haiti instituted a program of eradication. By 1984, the island was pig-free.

In Haiti, however, pigs have special significance for religion and nationalism – as well as for the ever-struggling economy. For the majority of Haiti’s citizens, rural peasants, these hardy black pigs were farming tools (aerating the soil and producing fertilizer), sanitation devices (eating household waste), and commodities (which could be sold, or, if necessary, eaten). The word for pig, in Haitian Creole, is the same as the word for bank.
http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/84486.html

This is the thing that gets me... it is very very sad what has happened in Haiti but that was caused by mother nature... the United States had no control over it, no other country had any control over it... it was NO ONES fault... yet everyone claims its our responsibility to help them. No.. we are doing them a favor by helping, and we should help because we have the resources to do so, but its not that we are required to. Im so tired of hearing.. The US isnt doing enough and blah blah blah yet we are doing more than we are obligated to do. If there was mass distruction in the US would we have any right to cry out... Mexico and/or Canada and/or Russia (or any country at all) isnt doing enough to help up. The situation was no ones fault and no ones responsibility. Be grateful for the help that you get and the rest is just an awful situation that is no ones fault and unfortunately there is no choice but to just do your best to survive and rebuild.

my-2-cents, Yeah, things are actually going pretty well in Iraq right now compared to a couple years ago. I imagine if we start in Haiti right now, they can be doing much better in 3-5 years.

Amanda, no country had any responsibility when we were hit by a natural disaster, (Katrina), but many offered assistance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

TomTom- There's nothing wrong with helping Haiti I'm all for supporting that which we are doing. However, shipping 11 million poor undereducated non English speaking to America is not a responsible act. All the social services we have are going broke as it is. Disabled Americans have to sue for disability now. The amount of Homeless has doubled in the last few years.

If you read the article you would know that there are no plans to let 11 million Haitians into this country!!!

Mia, the native Americans lost the war for this land. They were overpowered by a superior culture with superior weapons as has happened throughout history.

It doesn't mean it was nice, but that's the way it is in the material world. However, at least the native Americans had the chance to fight for their land. We modern Americans have been duped by our own government into GIVING away what we fought so hard to build. When we European-Americans are gone, the whole place will sink into decay, then probably be taken over by the Chinese.

Does that make you feel any better?

That is a nice compliment, but pretty much everybody is tapped out with the Charity crowd before this hit. People just don't have it, and currently there is nothing to share. We have over 10% unemployment and medicaid has crashed the 10% mark as well, in some areas even more. Throw in the illegals and you have every 3 people supporting 1 person. Ca highlights this with there reports, 5.39 million on Cal Medicaid all illegal immigrans, 4.8 million on unemployment, 2 million Americans on Medicaid in a state of about 40million. Total is over 25% on the backs of the system plus the workers in the system who have to see they get there checks. Ca. is our first 3rd world state. Lets start feeling sorry for us before it is to late.

Mia-327347

wow. amen and I do mean amen. I wonder why they collapeds your comment. They didn't collaps the comment that was made calling those people in haiti worthless did they?

Yes, the earthquake is causing alot of need, but allowing illegal immigration by the residents from a country hit by a quake is not the answer. To use the situation in Haiti as an excuse to allow more illegal immigration is just using the light of compassion to promotie a view of the politics of immigration.

Ours is a country of laws, and I wonder why this same dedication to the law isn't utilized at our borders.

you can take a look at minnesota, well minneapolis is a hole now full of crime and nastiness, all because of the influx of somali refugees, to me refugee means you want to escape the horrors of your land, these somalis dont seem to be fleeing anything, they have just brought the same horrors here, raping, attacks and gang violence.

The same is true in Marshall MN and St. Cloud MN with huge numbers of Somalians.

The door is already wide open. Anyone from anywhere who can even try to spell refugee are allowed in the US. The legal immigration quotas and reasons are way, way too lenient. That is why the us is looking like 3rd world countries more and more every day.

America already looks like this because of people like you. If we are going to inforce any kind of immigration issue it needs to be for EVERONE.

we need to end immigration, other countries like new zealand and australia etc only let in people that will be an asset to their country. the US lets in everyone who asks, note how not a lot of people from great countries want to come here, its only people who are coming from 3rd world countries that want in - iraq, somalia, mexico, haiti, phillipines, korea etc that want to come here and all it does is drag our economy and our lifestyle further down hill by overpopulating the land with people who cant speak english, are uneducated, are violent and only here for benefits.

Come visit the armpit of hell, aka NJ. This used to be a nice state. Its overrun with illegal immigrants and migrant workers now from a host of different countries. Crime is horrible here, auto theft is really high, illegal weapons, drug trafficking is terrible, animal fighting rings, you name it we see it.

I can just look around the parking lot of my apartment complex and see the drug baggies strewn about every day. Can't even walk my dog at night because hispanic gangs hang out in the parking lots waiting for their next victim or car jacking, and the cops throw their arms up in the air and blame the complex's management because they allow it to happen. You have 7-12 people living in 2 bedroom apartments that no one knows about and they think this is ok or shut their eyes to it, as long as the rent is paid.

Let me guess. Your ancestors came over here legally then I presume? Oh, thats right. Your EUROPEAN ancestors shook hands and danced with the natives and said , 'Can we please live here too? We promise to be nice!' Everything was honky dorey right? You are just as illegal as they are jerkoff.

Ophelia 13

Wow, you know white people smoke dope, car jack and all the other things you say are happening in your apt complex. Or did you think otherwise. the only difference is white people do it at much more grander scale. For example yes blacks and mexicans are in gangs. But white people call there gang the army. And they destroy entire countries. Why are you not bitching about that?

Gee pisshead, and here I am staring at a beautiful clean beach in Florida, drinking clean water out of the tap, driving down a clean street free of rubbish with all the traffic lights working, people cooperating and getting along, having it tough in this economy but not sitting on their collective lazy asses waiting for the world to come feed them.......and then you had to ruin it.

Thanks Dwater...

You nailed it :)

Dwat. "having it tough in this economy but not sitting on their collective lazy asses waiting for the world to come feed them"

Another right wing bigot who thinks his right wing buddies are the only ones who work....Sad person here.

Another white person that doesn't know that Africa isn't a country. Figure that out first then we will address the rest of your well thought out comment. Oh yeah keep brain storming and I bet you will... on second thought forget it. Your just too stupid.

First: I am NOT a liberal, I am a registered Republican (soon to change to Independant).

Second: Dwater, Africa? Who is talking about Africa. Haiti is located in North America. And for hundreds of years these people were at the mercy of European rulers who didn't do anything to educate them either. When freedom was gained their Hitler like rulers deliberately kept them down to maintain control. At least the dumbasses in Africa have an excuse for their lack of knowledge, what's yours.

With that said, I can not believe the heartless comments on this board. While I am not an advocate of anyone coming to this country illegally, but how can anyone treat these people so coldly.

This country can waste billions of dollars so banks can continue to pay undeserving employees huge bonuses, pork barrel spending on turtle tunnels, 1.2 million for to study the breeding habits of woodchucks, $19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence, $13 million to repair a privately owned dam in South Carolina, $500,000 to build a replica of the Great Pyramid of Egypt in Indiana, $6 million to upgrade the two-block long Senate subway, $1.8 million in swine odor and manure management research in Ames Iowa.

Need I go on?

If we had a responsible government we could afford to help by providing a safe haven for these people. Instead we have grandstanding politicans breaking their necks to go to Haiti for a photo-op instead of making sure that babies aren't dying for lack of food and water.

Liberals seem to be all for "helping" as long as it doesn't incovenience them.

Now, now I feel like a moderate...

OK, I think Dwater is trying to say that Haiti is not capable of being a self stabilizing democratic society. He is comparing Africa to Haiti because of the historical connection between the slave trade and the settlement of Haiti. He sees the lack of progress of most African countries as a mirror of the corruption occurring in Haiti. I've never been to Haiti, but I have been to a bunch of African countries and there is definitely overt government corruption happening there.

As far as all the pork barrel spending you are complaining about. Blame the lack of a line item veto. Our own government is corrupt. All the sweetheart deals that were given just to pass the health care draft made me throw up in my mouth just a little. It's disgusting to watch the politicians slobber over each other in an effort to get a bigger chuck of my tax dollar to spend on some bull $hit just to create some temporary jobs in their district or pay back a favor to another corrupt politician/lawyer/contributor/etc.

That said, we don't need to take in a bunch more refugees. These people need to stay in Haiti and help rebuild their country after this disaster. The people of Haiti have an opportunity to essentially start from scratch and turn Haiti into something its never been. But that will take a lot of international support. Instead of applying band-aids to open wounds, the international community needs to go in, stitch the wounds shut, and allow them to heal once and for all. If Haiti can get past its past, it can finally move forward.

Todd, well said. And yes you are right I did understand what Dwater was saying. I guess it was his absurd way of saying it that set me off.

You are also right about the pork barrel spending. So much for our illustrious leaders promise to look at these bills "line by line". (BTW I'll let you use my towel to wipe your face, just as soon as I'm done with it!!:) With any luck the healthcare bill will get flushed, too bad we can't do the same with our representatives.

No, we don't need more refugees, however, when I see babies in danger of dying for lack of basic needs it's hard to say we should bring them here. My hope is that Haiti will find it's way this time. However, with Rene Preval (a technocrat) it doesn't seem likely. He's fairly absent from the people even now.

There are 10,000 organizations registered that provide help to the people of Haiti, yet nothing has changed in 30 years. As long as liberals run there and do for them, they will never learn to do for themselves. Kind of like the generation after generation of the poverty welfare state liberals have created in some of our large cities in the USA.

"Gee pisshead"

Dwater, was that necessary?

Agree to disagree, but please try to be civil about it. Name-calling brings you down a notch. If that's the only way you can bring your argument to the table, maybe you should step back a minute and cool off.

Haiti has been corrupt from inception, hard to believe it will change anytime soon. Even 40 years ago, my father watched the theives come out of the shadows to take the money of the vendors that had sold goods to the cruise tourists - just as he had been warned would happen. The bulk of police are crooked, just like Mexico's.

After stabilizing the population and helping with infrastructure, that is all that can be done - the citizens of Haiti will have to do the rest, if they ever will.

Emma, sorry, you are right. 'Pisshead' was uncalled for. Now can anybody who knows something about this region explain why one half of the island dominated by black descendents of Spanish Slavery (Dominican Republic) is relatively prosperous, organized, law abiding, stable and progressing WHILE the other half of the island dominated by black descendents of French Slavery are completely incapable of doing anything to improve their lot and requires endless support?? I could make a simplistic remark about the fact that Haitians speak a version of French, and that should say it all; but I will avoid the observation that France is the most whiny and consistently needy nation in Europe and being born of historical French influence was no great benefit to Haiti.

My "message" is not to blame others for something we've already done and our doing to ourselves.

You can ask but they won't answer. They are very busy right now putting together a proposal to allow thousands of Haitian orphans to go ahead and come here permanently.

The Catholic church was helping in Haiti long before this quake. More aid, relief workers & money has been sent since the quake. You really should educate yourself about the issues before posting!!!

This type of thing from the Catholic Church will be the undoing of this country.

OMG, the filthy Irish are going to be the demise of this great country. OMG the Italians are going to be the demise of this great country. OMG, freed slaves are going to be the demise of this great country. OMG the Cubans are going to be the demise of this great country. OMG the Mexicans are going to be the demise of this great country. OMG, the Haitians are going to be the demise of this great country. The more things change, the more they stay the same. I would have thought that after this many years, and this much advancement in education opportunity people would have become smarter and less hysterical. It is painfully obvious that is not the case.

I think it is great the Catholic Church wants to help these poor unfortunates. I also think we should get them to the Vatican as soon as possible! The Catholics will then be able to put their money where THEIR mouth is and leave mine alone!

Are there any Cubans on Cuba to welcome them? I thought most of them were here.

but they don't work

Why is it that everyone wants to come to the US...why don't they try going to countries closer to home.

I'm sick and tired of our country being the recipient of world problems. I don't see any other country opening their doors.

Yeah, why didn't your ancestors stay where they were!!!!

Good for you Gramps! My family came here from Ireland. The Irish were thought of as sub-humans at that time. Help wanted signs in Boston added additional employment requirements "No Irish need apply." Anyway........

These are people that have lost what little they have, even the basics that will keep them alive.

We are all one diaster away from being in the same situation.

Alex-317360, You have your head so far up your a** you can't see reality. I am one of those Cubans, the only difference is we came here in '62, NEVER took welfare and have contributed more to this society than probably you and your family combined. You show your ignorance when making statements like that. You're probably one of those who sits at a bar all day and bitches about how much you hate everybody and they take all your work not realizing or refusing to realize that you're just a useless drunk piece of @!$%#. There, now that sounds just like you, RIGHT???

BarbieGirl-936850

I'm glad you brought that up. Thank you. So many seem to forget

You buying?

Bob, in all fairness you could point out that the exodus of 1961-63 of Cubans to Miami brought the educated and ambitious Cubans to America who wanted nothing to do with Castro's Communism. While I as a white American did not like the large influx Cubans at the time I am obliged to say that the Cubans who came back then worked their butts off in all aspects of education, business, commerce and politics and now rightfully enjoy a high degree of prosperity. While I refuse to live in Dade County and Miami cause it seems like a foreign country it is organized, clean, law abiding, prosperous, takes care of itself and is a credit as a Cuban dominated metropolis. And this is due solely to the industriousness and class of Cubans who came to America to escape Castro. If when Castro dies Cuba suddenly embraces democracy and capitalism I have no doubt in my mind that industrious Cubans will soon turn Cuba back into a prosperous country. Sorry, but I am not welcoming a bunch of Haitians who never accomplished crap in their own country now coming to invade mine.

Miami became a foreign city when the white people moved in. And if white is so dam right why the hell did they leave europe? It used to be filled with indians and mexicans. Thus the name Miami. I wish you were doubled jointed so you could bend over and kiss your own ass. Dumb Fool

Indians, true....but Mexicans in Miami??? I would kiss my own butt but your head is already shoved up it. What exactly is a Mexican except the ancestors of WHITE Spaniards breeding with the indigenous indian people of Central and South America. I guess thats why they speak SPANISH. There were no Mexicans in Miami. There were native Americans and then WHITE Spaniards. As far as why did we come here, well that is the nature of a dominate culture that builds boats, develops international commerce, thrives on invention and discovery and masters arts, science and warfare. White English, French, Dutch and Spaniards expanded, beat the crap out of aboriginals and took their land. Same thing the an olive skinned Macedonian named Alexander did 3,000 years ago and the yellow Mongols did across Asia and what the Nazis and Japanese ATTEMPTED to do in the 30s-40s.

And you nailed that one, Scrape!

LOL they aren't plus the Mexicans don't even want them.

Scrape -

"Juan, Paco or Horhe" - Not funny at all!!!

BTW - it's Jorge, but you knew that, didn't you?

Thanks screminmimi :)

Alex thinks it is funny Emma, as was intended by making light humor of a very serious issue. How can US authorities make any such statement toward Hatians when they do nothing about the Latino population entering our country illegally. The message is loud and clear that a double standard exists! I don't want any illegals here and it should be a priority to resolve this serious problem to help Americans can get back to work. I live in North Carolina where illegals thrive and they take much needed jobs away from our citizens that are suffering right now in this bad economy. It's no wonder Americans are losing patience right now and we need new leaders in Washington that will work for the people.

We are indoctrinated from the cradle that because we are born in America there is no reason everyone can't have the American Dream. We are the Land of Opportunity. Therefore, if you are an American and are living in poverty with no rosy future before you, it is all your fault. We're all created equal with equal opportunity to suceed or fail in life. (That's bull, we aren't all born into families with resources to help us move forward, but that's what we are taught.) Even when it comes to a natural disaster in America, we don't have much empathy or sympathy for the victims, because, hey....this is the USA, pull yourself up and move on.

On the other hand, we've also been taught that America is the go-to country for a helping hand, we're obligated to give until it hurts just because we are America. We are taught that we need to feel guilty for the sucess of our nation; therefore, for the good of our eternal souls, we must give until it hurts, then give some more.

Get the Hilary out of there she will give the store away.

African swine fever was first diagnosed in the indigenous Creole Pig population of Haiti in 1978. Under pressure from the United States – which feared transmission of the disease to American pigs and damage to the lucrative pork industry – Haiti instituted a program of eradication. By 1984, the island was pig-free.

In Haiti, however, pigs have special significance for religion and nationalism – as well as for the ever-struggling economy. For the majority of Haiti’s citizens, rural peasants, these hardy black pigs were farming tools (aerating the soil and producing fertilizer), sanitation devices (eating household waste), and commodities (which could be sold, or, if necessary, eaten). The word for pig, in Haitian Creole, is the same as the word for bank.
http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/84486.html

no,the haitians didnt want the french whitey there,if the french have stayed that would be a far better country,they did it to themselves.

If the "French whitey" didn't take them from their countries, they wouldn't be in Haiti!!!

Score for Gramps!

Hey least the Mexicans work Haitians don't. you want to take care of them move there and do something.

Funny, unemployment here is 10% & millions of Americans aren't working. Are the millions out of work because they don't want to work or because there is no work available? Haiti's unemployment was at 70% prior to the quake. Those who had jobs worked in sweat shops.

We need to divert the illegal immigrants coming up from Mexico to Haiti to help rebuild the country.

There are many constructions workers out of work here in atlanta. I'm sure they would be glad to had a contract to rebuilt Haiti.

yes the mexican men have to work gub'ment wont give them welfare,only to their woman with the 12 kids qualify for the welfare check an the section 8 houseing benefits.

Alex

I totally agree. If one looks at Haiti before the earthquake, there would be very little difference with the view after the quake. Except that the huts, and cardboard homes, and shacks would be flattened. Haitians are not exactly known for being industrious and even trying to build up their country. Corruption has always been rampant in that country and now they see an opportunity to dump their problems on the US.

Corruption has been & still is rampant in Pakistan, Iraq & Afghanistan. Yet, we have poured over a trillion dollars into those countries. Citizens of Afghanistan & Iraq were given fast track citizenship. And you think Haitians should be a concern?

Are you two on drugs?

"Well I hate to be cold why in the hell do we need to take people that don't even want to help themselves" Alex-317360

How in the hell are they supposed to help themselves? Have you any knowledge of Haiti at all? These people have bee brutalized from the beginning. You need to educate yourself before you spout stupid statements like this.

Haitians are not exactly known for being industrious and even trying to build up their country. Corruption has always been rampant in that country and now they see an opportunity to dump their problems on the US. Peach-1322200

Who is "they"? The government of Haiti or the people that have lost what little they had? Haiti was once a big tourist island. The decline in Haiti was caused by those in power, not the citizens of the island.

Making rediculous comments on subjects you have no knowledge in just makes you look stupid.

Uh, I'm pretty sure that "those in power" were Haitians. They exploited their own people and this hasn't changed in 2 centuries. Not saying it didn't start out from France, but Haiti's been free of French rule since 1804. Haitians have been exploiting other Haitians for over 200 years and their current (pre quake) situation is a direct result.

To Todd-651965:

Uh, like wow, I didn't know that!

C'mon.... your argument is innane. Yes, I know that those in power were Haitians. So with your way of thinking it's the citizen's fault that their government is corrupt. You might say the same thing about the citizen's of the US. Stalin was a Russian, Hitler was a German, Mao was Chinese, Mussolini was Italian. What does that have to do with it?

I matters not who was doing the brutalizaion.

If you live like sheep, you get slaughtered. If you don't like your current government, you take a stand and attempt to change it. I'm not saying violence is always the answer, but if your government is as bad as Haiti's was, you do what it takes to change it. What's that famous saying? It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees? Or something like that.

It's the duty of the citizens to control the government, not the other way around.

I thought Hitler was Austrian??

I see.... sorta of like what this country wouldn't you say. We seem to have a ton of sheep here....

And how pray tell can the people of Haiti change their government? Especially when elections are corrupt, the police force brutal and they have absolutely no rescources to change anything?

It's easy to make the statement that citizen's should control the government, when you live in a free society. Except of course when it comes to politicans in Washington making decisions on your behalf that they know you don't want.

Your argument is like comparing apples to oranges.

BTW, Hitler was born in Austria, but became a German citizen in 1932.

"You might say the same thing about the citizen's of the US."...Bingo, Barbie wins today's best quote.

At least Haiti was ruled by despots previously, like Papa Doc and Baby Doc - now their prez is elected... but not doing so well - next! Will their current gov't be voted out? Stay tuned, it's doubtful Haiti can vote in new blood, since even this country, with far more practice, cannot seem to use our voting power to help ourselves.

Gee Todd, maybe you should spend a little time on Google. It might smarten you up a little. The Haitian's have revoled against their corrupt governments. But the good old US of A reinstalled it and sent in the military to make sure they didn't revolt again.

And just look at how far they've progressed since then.

That's nonsense, TomTom at least below the Sahara

You do know that the ruling class in Egypt were Greeks, right? And the "Europeans", a loosely named group of nomads, were part of a human migration out of Africa that began about 50,000 years ago? For that DNA chemistry study - look over the Human Genome Project by National Geographic, and even (for a small price) join it through Familytreedna dot com. I did, it is very interesting for those who care.

Tom Tom, The Egyptians most definately DO NOT consider themselves black Africans. You ask what the primitive Whites of Europe accomplished in 1571BC? Heck tell me what Africans have accomplished in the past 2,000 years? The Peace Corps has to go back there every year to teach em how to dig wells and how to stop deficating in their own drinking water. The only Country in sub Sahara that has any kind of rule of law and progressive civilization is S. Africa and ......oh, oh.....gonna open a can of kick ass worms here.

Now please tell me how in the heck do you know these posts are from republicans? I am a republican and I have taken the opposite argument to most of these posts.

Your comment incites, and that seems to be the only thing liberals do when someone doesn't agree with them.

A lot of vacant housing in FL, AZ & NV also. Not to mention the foreclosed homes in the rest of the country.

yes there are enough foreclosed homes in the u.s. to house all of haiti.

Are you afraid your assistance will be decreased?

Yes, I get plenty from my government...they got me a plasma, lots of high-quality food, have numerous children with different father's ....life is great, Thank you for your tax dollars, cupcake!

I am sick of working my butt off to pay for the welfare people. Good ole America, home of the easiest welfare handouts on earth. We already have plenty of people with fatherless children, sitting at home watching TV all day and making more and more babies. I want Obama to do something obout these lazy bastards. I live in the south and if you are of a certain color, they just hand out the welfare. It's a given. Bull@!$%#

nwnative: I'd like to remind you that not all "these lazy bastards" are "of a certain color".

With your additude no wonder we can't move past the color barrier.

I didn't say ALL of them are of color. The majority of the people on welfare where I live ARE. And that's a fact. I see flagrant misuse of our tax dollars every single day by these people. Baby daddy selling crack out on the streets all day while running around impregnating several women who sit at home, watch TV all day and have several children with several different men. Yes, it's true, it's an epidemic where I live. Sorry if the facts bother you.

I suppose it wouldn't bother me if you had sources to back up your "facts". Making statements such as you did imflames unless you can show statistics to back them up.

So where are your statistics?

barbie,i see that same problem in my area also and i live in the north,take a walk through of your local dshs office an take a look around,you will get your stats there.

I don't need a source I can look out my dam window.

Section 8 and welfare is the reason professionals have to put up with this garbage in their neighborhoods.

End those two things and my neighborhood would clean up real quick.

These fools can't afford the rent I pay no way no how, half of em don't even have jobs.

I'm tired of liberals, real tired.

LOL Bf, you are complaining about "professionals" having to put up with those in low income housing. Tell me this, if you are the "responsible professional" you claim to be, what are you doing living in the middle of public housing?

I'm tired of liberals, real tired.

bf-907217

As am I.... but, I really get riled when people start in on the poor. Let's face it, it is NOT their economic level, it is their values. At the risk of sounding like a right wing bible thumper.... our country has fallen well below standards. "Family values" are just about non existant. Parents more worried about providing their kids with designer duds than core values, we've have parents screaming at police, teachers, etc... when little Billy gets into trouble, mothers & fathers (both white and of color) on drugs,... etc, etc. etc, . Our own government officals are men and women that hide themselves behind their office. Crap we had a president that "did" his intern in the oval office and felt no shame.....

Not money nor status gaurantees that an individual is responsible, or good. Before our move to NY we lived in a up scale neighborhood in Michigan... The kids were using drugs etc, most of the parents were functional alcoholics, they just had better manners and dressed better than the people you're talking about.

Coming from the generation that advocated being "free" (I came of age in the 60's) I never thought I would agree with my parents! But I do... this country is "going to hell in a handbasket".

Yeah, what the heck. Let these innocents die from dehydration and starvation.

And BTW how many children have you fostered?

Before you go off, I have 3 adopted children. I adopted one as an infant, one at 3 years old and one at 9 years old. All American adoptions. This was after fostering 2 children.

Go spout your rhetoric someplace else.

So you are a saint. Good for you. Our country can't afford this and we do not take proper care of the foster children we have and again, if you can't handle the facts. Too Bad.

Thank you for the compliment. However, my point was if you are so concerned for the foster children here in the US what are you doing to make it better for them.

And again..... How about some statistics to back up your statements?

He doesn't have to do anything to help them for the point to be valid.

The point is if we are going to help someone OUR people need help and should get it first as long as it's voluntary and not coerced.

And our government shoulding be giving OUR money to them, taking it by force from Americans when America has unresolved problems.

We do not owe those people anything, blow it out your bum Barbie Doll

Excuse me... it's BarbieGirl... not Barbie Doll...

Look, my point is this... if you are not a part of the solution you are part of the problem. If you really believe that we need to help our own first then you should be working to do that. If you're not then sit down and be quiet about what we do for others.

Bravo Barbie. Sounds like nw & bf are the very kind of people they rant on about. We all know the kind, the I want to screech and scream about what needs to be done HERE, however, they only want to dictate what needs to be done because they can't be bothered to practice what they preach. And they call others the "lazy" ones. Pfffffft

Good comment tom343. Sadly not everyone believes. It's unfortunate that even in a diaster such as this that people won't let God touch their hearts.

Maybe God needs to get a job then.

Maybe he will take yours. Wow what an ingreat.