I’m Still Grateful for the U.S.’s Help, But…

Sabrina Joseph, 17

As a young Haitian American, the earthquake has affected me greatly. When I found out, my mom and I instantly turned on the TV and found it hard to stop watching. I automatically thought of my grandpa. He's too stubborn to spend his retirement years in Boston "“ it's too cold for his taste -- so he lives in Haiti. My mom, aunts, and uncles tried relentlessly to locate him with no luck. It took three days to reach him and find out that he was OK. He had lost his cell phone.

Even knowing this, my mom and I couldn't stop watching CNN. It was addictive. At first, I was overjoyed that the U.S. came to Haiti's aid so quickly. The U.S. started to help Haiti so much faster than we started to help New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. I'm still grateful for the U.S.'s help. But CNN's reporting made me mad. If thousands of Haitians are dying, why do they feel the need to repeatedly remind viewers that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? Why is it important that 52 percent of Haitians are illiterate? Is it relevant to report that birth control needs to be introduced to Haiti? Haiti needs help, and reporting facts that have nothing to do with the devastating earthquake is verging on disrespectful. Literacy and birth control are not the most important issues right now. What's important is that Haiti receives as much aid as it needs right now -- and uses it to better the country.

The earthquake is terrible, and I'm sorry for everyone's losses -- but it could also be a blessing in disguise. Haiti's government is corrupt. It's the Haitian government's fault that the country is so poor. Public officials steal money from the government and use it for themselves. I feel like with money and aid, Haiti can finally rebuild itself and flourish.