Telethon For Haiti Raises Preliminary $57M

COMMENTS (8)

• Good news for Haiti. Nice to see people being so generous.

  Comment by Jamaicafest — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 8:07am PST  Reply to this post

• There are people who spend a fair amount of time pissing on all things Hollywood, but it is a testament to folks like Clooney, et al, that they stepped up and raised a shitload of money for Haiti’s earthquake victims.

  Comment by Steve Perry — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 11:47am PST  Reply to this post

• What’s wrong with this picture? First, Haiti has consistently been hell for one and all — so throwing billions of dollars called “aid” into that situation might simply mean lining many unscrupulous pockets. There was a major news story a few years ago that Haitians would sell their children to other Haitians to work as indentured servants. I really hate it when there’s a disaster and suddenly the victims are all little angels who just need TLC. Really, doing the humane thing of helping casualty victims to heal, and burying the dead, is one thing — but once again having “stars” try to guilt everyone worldwide and insist they empty their pocketbooks and toss billions at a totally dysfunctional and corrupt government and society will merely bring that same scenario back to fruition. Giving huge amounts of money to corrupt, unethical, immoral people will simply perpetuate hell for those who aren’t. According to the stats of the “star,” 80% of Haitians make less than $2 a day, so I ask “where were you 2 months ago, 5 years ago, etc?” Where was that government all that time — trying to help its people or merely helping itself? Amd don’t think every charity isn’t salivating to line their coffers with dollars that, yes, to some degree help Haiti, but will also be used far and wide within the charities for things most givers wouldn’t want to give to. (I know, I’ve worked for them.)

  Comment by MeMeMe — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 2:46pm PST  Reply to this post

  • Yes, the money may end up being diverted to someone’s pocket. And yes, the base standard of living may be “hell” for many in Haiti.

    However, the issue is that there is a crisis to immediately save lives, and while you sit on your hands and say “our money can’t helped this f-ed up country” people may be dying in the streets for lack of food, water, shelter, and medical treatment. So why not take the chance that our money will do some good, even if only does 1/2 the good it should do because of corruption, etc.

    Acting quickly in times of need saves lives. Something Bush and others failed to realize during Katrina.

    We may not be able to help the people of Haiti have a less corrupt infrastructure or a western standard of living, but if we can help them breathe another day, that is the greatest gift and the greatest good we can do. Picture an orphaned 6 year old child, or a mother trying to feed her children, or a man with two broken legs when you make your gift – not a faceless mass of people in a country you think is in the toilet anyways.

    Also, why judge morally people who as far as you know aren’t all murderers or anyting when it comes to keeping people alive. People act shitty to other people, but does that mean they might as well be left for dead?

    Comment by mememe, have a heart — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 5:29pm PST  Reply to this post

• This is a fantastic showing, and a very deserving cause, of course. I just wonder what might happen if the same line-up of talent came together to give of their time and funds to benefit the Motion Picture Television nursing home in Calabasas.

  It’s still open — barely — but it is not the thriving community it once was, or could and should be again for the next generation. Please don’t forget your elders. Keep the Home Open!

  Comment by Don't Forget Our Own — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 4:31pm PST  Reply to this post

  • “Don’t Forget Our Own”, meet “Mememe”. “Mememe”, meet “Don’t Forget Our Own”. I have a feeling you will get along famously.

    You don’t seem to understand the scale of the devastation and how much a few simple dollars will help. If what Mememe says is right and many people make the equivalant of $2 a day in Haiti, then imagine how far the money will go to helping thousands of all ages stay alive in a place where the buildings are all in ruin for the same price as keeping your grandma on a ventilator.

    I have sympathy for your plight. But this is a totally inappropriate time to bring up the motion picture home – and I think it should be supported and saved in general. I’d like to see your grandma kept on her ventilator. But these two issues are not the same thing – maybe you can pay for grandma to come stay with you and pay for her ventillator and in-home nursing. The people of Haiti? They need a little more, and don’t have individuals who can support them individually.

    Comment by Seriously? — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 5:48pm PST  Reply to this post

    • And before you bother to tell me that you aren’t fighting for your Gradma but all the old folks there, and that they aren’t really at the stage where they are on ventilators keeping them alive, they still have some life in them.

      Exactly.

      I was painting a picture of the most personal and most life threatening situation that could hang in the balance with your retirement home plea.

      HAITI = LIFE AND DEATH IN THE EXTREME FOR MANY MORE PEOPLE FROM NEWBORNS TO SENIORS.

      Comment by Seriously? — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 5:55pm PST  Reply to this post

• Two Words. Steel Rebar.

  Comment by Joe Doakes — Sunday January 24, 2010 @ 8:06pm PST  Reply to this post