Like many of you, I’ve seen far too many photographs of the destruction and devastation in Haiti. Today, I’ve been looking for the proper words.
Over the past few days, I’ve been speechless about the events in Haiti. There are some things that a warm hand-knitted scarf or soft blanket won’t heal. And you watch the news, hear the radio, hear people in the street talk about what’s happening, as we all feel helpless watching footage without being there to hug, hold or soothe.
It’s these types of days where we sit in our houses, some tidy, some not, but most of them absolute luxury compared to millions of other people among our books and furniture and full cupboards, wondering how we ended up on the other side of the television. Far away from the news, the tears, the screams, the visceral reality of life in less fortunate places we feel helpless and lucky and selfish for complaining about a stain on the sofa.
It’s these days where everything comes into perspective, but for how long?
When the media trucks pull away, the bodies are buried, the wounds are healing, we retreat into our own little worlds and once again feel righteous when we get angry when we don’t quite make the train, step in gum or someone stole our morning newspaper. Once again we feel okay and drink $5 lattes instead of texting money for a good cause, we go out for $30 dinners, we pretend that everything is okay.
Then inevitably a few months later, something catastrophic happens somewhere where life was already trying, dusty and difficult before the incident that causes us to feel lucky again, once again we see the world as it really is instead of by what happens in our own individual bubbles.
All the good that’s happening now? All the money and volunteers and prayers going to Haiti is proof that kindness and goodness exist. I just wish that we would remember how we feel now when there’s nothing demanding our attention in the media, and that that tiny paragraph buried deep in the international section about a village bombed and destroyed or some other atrocity, warrants the same sense of loss and anger and kindness.
Resources for organizations that are helping on the ground in Haiti can be found all over the web, but I’d suggest having a look here, here and here.
As a fellow craft blogger who follows your page, let me be the first to say that yours has been among the most elegant posts I’ve seen regarding the devastation in Haiti. Since Tuesday, I’ve struggled to find a way to bring our niche together with the destruction. You’re right when you say, “There are some things a warm hand-knitted scarf or soft blanket wont heal,” and donating money is a more appropriate means of assisting ground efforts in this situation.
This afternoon I discovered a makeshift organization, “Knitters Without Borders” that encourages crafters to re-think how we can help. We must remember that we are fortunate to be able to fund the hobbies that bring us joy, and in times like these those diversions can be put aside in the place of focusing energy elsewhere.
The organization asks crafters to set aside the money they would normally use towards funding their hobbies for one week, and to then donate this cash to groups like the ones you’ve listed in this post.
I think this is an innovative way of bringing these realities into our own homes, and our own lives. What a small amount of discomfort to set aside your crafting for a week compared to losing your home, loved ones, and way of life.
Perhaps your readers would be interested in Knitters Without Borders. I’ve written an overview of the organization here: http://spinhandspun.wordpress.com/ but recommend you visit KWB’s original post for more detailed information.
Again, I truly appreciated your post. Thank you.
Kristin
Kristin,
Thanks so much for your lovely and kind comment, and for mentioning KWB! Taking the money you’d spend on craft supplies for a week and donating it to a worthy cause is definitely a wonderful idea as not only does it allow us help a bit but it also reminds us once again just how lucky we are.
x
betsy
i so respect and appreciate your words here. we should never forget.
<3
I know first hand how, even after living in places of absolute poverty, it can be so easy to slip back into the comfort of living in America. That’s why I continue to engage in craftivism on a daily basis, so that I will never forget those who will never have a hot shower, a flushing toilet, basic medical care, a toothbrush, a bed…