Anmwe! (Help)

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake –magnitude 7.0- hit Port- Au- Prince, Haiti (the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.) After such a devastating event, practically the entire world has come together to take on the mission on helping the Haitians in their grief over loss of family members, food, shelter, and other necessities. One of the most vital factors is the need of medicines and medical aid. This shortage risks the lives of thousands who are in need of surgery and even treatments for simple infections that can lead to even more casualties. It’s these disturbing events that bring us together and lets us see our humane side by helping these poor people throughout their lamentable situation.
Countries with different governmental systems and societal ideologies, such as the United States, China, and Cuba, have set aside their differences and united for the sole purpose of providing aid to Haiti. China, for example, who does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti, was one of the first countries to offer their support. And Cuba has allowed American planes to fly through Cuban air space. Even though most of the world has joined to help Haiti, it seems that the Haitians are suffering more by the hand of their own people.
Besides the lack of supplies, there has been an increase in looting and rape. While people have to endure painful injuries, mourn the loss of relatives and friends, or just see how their homes have crumbled down to nothing, they, in addition, have to deal with the delinquency that is taking place. They are forced to confront the theft of the scarce food they have, the possibility of being killed for it, and at night to protect themselves in their little cloth tents from rapists. Many of the articles I have read say it is plain survival, but it seems like they are just taking advantage of the situation and making it all worse for other earthquake victims. The victims are having a shortage of food and medicine, and they also have to deal with the same problems that everyone else has to overcome: they also are trying to stay alive. So does survival really have to mean your well being over that of others, no matter at what cost?
I have always desired to be a doctor, ever since I can remember, and its incidents like these that make me want to become a doctor even more. Helping people in need and knowing you’re making a difference in the world is more than satisfactory. For me, the definition of survival is getting ahead and bringing along as many people as you can with you. It is helping others when they have nobody else.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

As I was sorting through the items in my room, deciding whether they were necessary or not, I came upon an old dusty box. Its contents consisted of an old diary, letters, a baby doll, an album, and a baseball--abandoned objects that were once of great importance in my childhood. Although, my diary included only five written pages and the letters were fading, it was nice to see how I would express myself then, and I remembered events that I had forgotten over time. It made me realize the little importance I’ve given to writing and how much I missed the “traditional” way of writing.

There was a time when letters were our only means of communicating with people who lived far away. Today, there are so many ways, it is overwhelming. Of course communicating is more accessible and faster, but sometimes the simple act of writing on paper is better. Unlike talking over the phone, writing your ideas and emotions takes a lot more thought and awareness. And it is much more meaningful knowing that someone took the time and went out of their way to write you a letter. It is a lot more personalized and it is permanent, it remains there until you either destroy it, or it fades away.

Unfortunately, letter writing is now a lost art. We are too busy and comfortable to sit down and spend time to write a letter when there are computers, cell phones, and other technologies that allow us to communicate faster and easier. After all, that’s what the future is about, right?
Well, after all the heartache over the estrangement of letters in our modern culture, I searched through my box, reading letters full of nonsense or emotions and knowing that I will cherish them forever. I know that even though I will eventually get completely sucked into the world of technology, I will always long for the missed art of letter writing.