SteveC wrote:
Without the broad-based faith-related infrastructure in place in the Dominican Republic and Haiti itself (missionary schools and supplies, hospitals, clinics, faith based funding for technical assistance, food, agriculture support (and their 'travel related dollars') things could have been worse. But only now has much of the world discovered how to even spell Haiti.

One Baha'i charitable organization I am most fond of is the Mona Foundation, a Baha'i charity which has long supported the Anis Zunuzi School located on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The school remained stable during the earthquake and its buildings are now used as a makeshift clinic run by Doctors Without Borders. You can check out the Mona Foundation and the Anis Azuzi School here:

Mona Foundation: Our Projects: Anis Zunuzi School, Haiti

Which relief efforts have you given to? I challenge you and others here at IF to make an ongoing multi-year pledge to carry on with support, now that much of the news crews have left. Clearly, the Red Cross cannot carry the burden of long term support, it is simply not their mission.

Clearly missionaries have done so much harm in so many places for so many years. And I agree with EH that if all you bring is a message of fear, eternal damnation, division, repression, and a self-driven agenda, you should have remained home. --Steve--

Huh? RC, I wasn't the one who posted above.

As for me, I sort of agree more with C_S in that I have mixed feelings. I have no problems with helping people, I have no problems with telling others what you believe in, but because of the vulnerability of the Haitians at this point, my main hope would be for the missionaries to concentrate on help and do the talking later.

What's this got to do with my daughter and grandchildren, and I'm not the one who said conversion was "violence"? I'm confused.

Hey, Steve, I'm pretty sure you didn't mean how that came out sounding. Not everyone can up and leave home and family, fly to Haiti and attend to the poor. Sending money, as SteveC has said he has, is sometimes just as good.

And by the way, according to the Red Cross, often it's a much better alternative than our immediate resolve to "get up and go." They'd rather have the money to spend on professionals who can actually get things done without a lot of confusion and additional, wildly unnecessary, strife.

EH--
That did come out wrong; I have edited my post. And yes, sending money is what is needed. My point was lost in the poor choice of words as you pointed out. Thanks for setting me right! --Steve--

I know you didn't post it, I was asking if you agree with it.

I was pretty sure that it wasn't meant as written. Not all conversions are acts of violence.

I was just trying to make a point about how statements can be taken at face value and be not what was intended.

As an aside, I would like to let folks know of the following:

Link here:
Haiti Earthquake Update - LIVE ONLINE | Doctors Without Borders

If they truly go to help because they feel it's their religious duty to help then I'm for it.
If they go to help just so that they can take advantage of the situation and also prozelytize then I'm not for it.

I'd be intrested to know how many missionaries go to spread the word in crisis situations verses going to help, because people have nothing.

Maya--
I think a wide majority of us here at IF agree with you. Service is its own reward, as noted in many of our diverse Scriptures. In my own faith, proselytization is prohibited (as it is for many other faith traditions, e.g., the Quranic instruction that there shall be no compulsion in religion). Baha'i affiliated schools teach non-denominational virtues and principles, respecting cultural diversity as a multi-colored garden. And many religious/non-religious people of all stripes have provided assistance through their support of non-denominational aid agencies (as noted by SteveC, for example).

Personally, I don't have a problem with people who feel convicted with a religious obligation to spread the Word they believe to be essential for eternal salvation. But I do believe this must be offered through a spirit of unconditional love for our fellow humans, and one should not withhold food or medicine on condition of conversion. But of course there are, and always have been those who need to be reminded of Jesus' words re: the hypocritical Pharisees of His time:

At least, that is how I see it. --Steve--

My daughters school has been raising money for almost two years to build a school and a well in Sierra Leone. Due to the disaster in Haiti, the school administration decided the students should devote now give their monies to Haiti. As the account for Sierra Leone does not have enough money for the project to commence, nothing at all will be done. The same money that is being tossed at Haiti and will go completely unnoticed in the international deluge of bandaid solutions that will have limited effect, could have been spent on a sustainable development that would have increased the opportunity of the people of Sierra Leone to improve their own lot forever.

I have (and will) give no money to Haiti. They are no ally, no neighbor or friend. My own monies go to either Canadian charities, or to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan where our own military can assure the money is being used properly towards lasting change. Haiti is so much better off than many countries whose problems just aren't as flashy. Enough people are throwing money at Haiti, what little I can do will make more difference applied someplace receiving less publicity, and more planning.

John T wrote:
While I would disagree with a few of your assertions, you and your family's active involvement in making the world a better place is commendable! And I too was disappointed to hear of the redirection of funds away from Sierra Leone. There are many places in the world in need of continued support, and my hope is that people who can will reach even deeper to offer support to this Haitian people; not redirect funds from scheduled projects already suffering from diminished support because of the world wide economic troubles. --Steve--