Julia Berman 

At 4:53 p.m. on Jan. 12, Haiti, the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere, was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which killed an estimated 200,000 people.

How can such a gruesome and agonizing catastrophe possibly be depicted to the public? The facts and pictures may be easily obtained, nonetheless, how can the pain behind these words and numbers even begin to demonstrate the pain millions are currently faced with? The vestige from the earthquake’s traumatic effects remains in the worst state possible; Haiti urgently requires aid by any feasible means.

Our local community has held dance parties and Red Cross drives, and throughout the United States there have been concerts, celebrity events and the selling merchandise, all intended to raise money.

The media have strived to raise our awareness of Haiti’s plight by rendering numerous photographic accounts of unfathomable trauma. These methods have indubitably been successful – it is estimated that $1 billion has been pledged cumulatively.

Despite the monetary success realized by these sensationalistic and somewhat celebratory methods, it is essential we inquire whether this tragedy is emerging as an immediate worldwide trend. Though an enormous quantity of assistance has been furnished through publicity, my foremost concern is that, if these techniques continue, they will ultimately numb the population so far as to lose genuine sympathy for the hardships occurring in Haiti. Is making this catastrophic Haitian disaster the latest “it” charity truly the only way to grab society’s attention?

            I have attended and heard of several local dance parties that raised money for Haitian relief efforts. These events did not have any undercurrent of solemnity, despite the public’s awareness of the events’ underlying significance. Honestly, I do not believe nearly as many people would have attended those events had the anguish of the crisis at hand been emphasized. Still, the events – which were essentially celebrations – occurred solely because of Haiti’s misfortune. This chronically impoverished country needs money now more than ever, and if festivity is the most expedient method of delivering the resources, we really have no other choice. That said, I still hope a more equal balance between buoyant and empathetic events can be struck.

            In the public sphere, various celebrities have endeavored to do their part to contribute aid to Haiti. Seeing celebrities pitch in is extremely meaningful, because many people view them as role models. Many concerts and events have been held recently, all of which utilized big names. A recent example was MTV’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon, which featured appearances by George Clooney, Justin Timberlake, Sting and Bono, among others.           

The media have done their part in trying to oblige the population into donating. Particularly, the photographs straight from Haiti have been used to evoke the population’s sympathy.

Whether it is necessary for photographs that disturb people to be featured on the front pages of newspapers across the country has become a contentious issue. A Jan. 24 editorial written by New York Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt addressed the controversy. Hoyt wrote, “...the disturbing images of the last two weeks have been telling the story of Haiti, and the Times has a right to publish them.” We cannot entirely move on with our lives and disregard the fact that we feel strong commiseration for these people. In addition, the guilt we are accustomed to feeling as we subsist contentedly is only natural and should be embraced so we are capable of continuing to feel motivated to help.

It is imperative that we do not forget that mankind is suffering; charity is an obligation whose popularity should not rise and fall like the tides. Haiti will continue to require supplies, money, volunteers, for years, if not decades, to come. We must not lose drive, we must persist in fueling ourselves with valuable knowledge and a hunger to recognize the extent of what has happened.

            The aftershock of the earthquake has unquestionably influenced our world, our country and our community. People have been shaken up by the disheartening effects of this tragedy. The predicament with sensationalizing it to raise money is that it may fade into another transitory craze. We must acknowledge that we are all accountable for making sure no tragedy is neglected, whether mentally or physically. Too often, remarkable buzz today is lost tomorrow. Our society may be infatuated with a disaster as publicized as the earthquake in Haiti, but it is vital to face the legitimacy and keep the significance of the disaster with us.