In response to this past week's devastating earthquake in Haiti, the international community has responded with a generous outpouring of support, funds, supplies, food, etc. However, so much has come into the country so quickly, that it has caused major problems in getting it to the areas and the people that need it...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100116/ts_afp/haitiquake_20100116192424
As a result of these continued problems, some frustrated Haitian citizens have resulted to looting and violence in an attempt to get the things that they need to survive. Local police and U.N. peacekeepers have resorted to the use of violence against these groups to try and maintain order...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/world/americas/17looting.html?hp
Given the current state of things in Haiti, should people be allowed to do what they feel they need to do in order to survive these extraordinary circumstances, or is the need to maintain order in a chaotic situation more important? Are the actions of the looters justified, or are the police doing the right thing by doing whatever necessary to keep the peace? Should people be allowed to scavenge for whatever they can get to benefit themselves, or should this be discouraged to be fair to everyone? (due 1/24)
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I think that in this situation people definatly should be able to use violence to ensure their survival. People will do anything possible to survive and this is just a good thing to do in situations as dire as this. I dont think that using violence is always right but in a desperate situation like Haiti's i think that it is justified. Also we should understand that these people were already desperate for food and basic necessities of life before the earthquakes. These quakes have just worsened a already horrible situation.
ReplyDeleteWith Haiti's given situation, i believe that violence is inevitalbe. It will always be there, and especially now that they just had another earthquake, more and more people are going to use violence to survive. The police are there to make sure that not too many people get hurt from the violence. I believe that the people will do anything they can to make sure they survive but they will be curtious to the victums of the attacks. Meaning they will not harm anybody to survive just material things.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why people would resort to violence to get what they want. I mean it's not the right thing to do, but it's understandable. People do what they can to provide for their families. Although, there are many people there trying to help and take care of all the families. The police are just trying to keep the streets safe, but they shouldn't do more than is necessary. I think that they should be strong for their families and put what's important first, but they should also be aware that they're not the only people hurt from the earthquakes. And the people there are just there to help Haiti as a country.
ReplyDeleteI think that the fact that the citizens of Haiti are revolting against what has happened to them is justifiable. If one could put themselves in the Haitian's shoes, then they would be able to understand how they feel. However, I believe that police should be doing what they can to keep Haiti peaceful, because if more riots and violence take place, then more destruction can be done. I do not think that police should use violence to get rid of the violence in Haiti though, because it would definitely make things worse.
ReplyDeleteI believe that what the population is doing in Haiti is right. Although it is looting, the only reason they are doing it is to survive. If the peace-keepers were to supply food and supplies to the ones that needed it, maybe that would help stop the violence. With all of this in mind, if supplies were to move from one place and to the next, it would help with the situation much better.
ReplyDeleteAlthough times are terrible in Haiti, I don't think the people should be allowed to just do whatever they want. Safety and order should still be a priority, because without order it will take even longer for relief to work. The police are justified in trying to put an end to the violence. If the people continue to fight and steal from eachother, then no progress will be made. The people should do what they can to survive, but they should also be held accountable if they try to use force against other people.
ReplyDeleteI think if I was in the same situation as the Haitians I would probably resort to violence also. They have been through so much for so long, not just since the earthquake, and for people to finally take action and generously help them is newer to them. Yes people have helped in the past, but not like this. I think they should pass out the supplies fairly, not first come first serve, because if we do that then not many will be helped rather then us dividing it equally. There should be more order to keep peace between everyone and ensure no one gets hurt.
ReplyDeleteI think that the sitituation that hati is currently in makes it is imposseble for the people not to use violence and looting for survival. A large protion of the aid that is being brought to Hati is not getting to the people of hati and if these areas that are not getting aid there is going to to be violence and looting because the poeple of hati are going to do what they need to survive. I do belive though that the places that are getting aid have to be controled because looting and violence is not nessary.
ReplyDeleteGiven the horrific situation in Haiti, violence is an unavoidable principle. People will, in general defense, create or start violence to ensure their own safety. Though the violence occurs, it does not mean it is acceptable, violence should be stopped at a certain degree. But in the same sense it is also important to keep some kind of composure during this mass chaos, or Haiti will face another tragic episode of deaths. Yes, the police should do what ever means necessary to keep the Haitians under control, but the police should lemmatize how far they go to keep that order. The people also should just either be more patient, or make their ways to the airport where the supplies are available. I also believe the supply system should be better organized and handled. If this was solved, then the Haitian people would be less prone to violence.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very important to keep the peace because there is already so much chaos there already that they dont need anymore of it. Nobody wanted this to happen so no one should have an advantage of stealing things. I think that at this time, its the most important thing for the nation to try and unite and become more of one country than it ever has been. If they let things get out of hand then the country will just keep getting worse and worse. In order to bring this country back up, they have to keep the peace
ReplyDeleteI don't think turning to violence is a great idea. It's understandable, but not right. Violence is only going to cause more chaos in Haiti, which is clearly the last thing they need. It's only going to slow down the goal which is to distribute essentials to the Haitian citizens. maybe finding another area to collect and distribute food would be wise. Somewhere along the coast where ships could bring in food rather than planes since the airport is overloaded with people.
ReplyDeleteI believe that safety is the most important thing in Haiti. If there were not police in Haiti people would be killing one another for food and other goods. I think that if people were more patient and as orderlty as possible relief would be able to come in faster without fear of a fight/riot breaking out. If everyone works together this Haiti disaster will be easier to manage
ReplyDeleteI think with the situation in Haiti people shouldn't result to violence. Even if its for thier survival. But its understandable why they are resulting to violence.However, things are so bad in Haiti that people just dont care about anything but surviving. And they will do anything they have to , to survive.
ReplyDeletesafety is the biggest issue in Haiti. If we want the Haitian people to survive these hardships, then we must ensure the protection of every life. Violence among the people could mean even more destruction. The casulties would continue to rise and we would be digging a larger hole if we let it continue. Equality is a policy that must be followed in the reconstruction of Haiti. The strongest, most violent people would be the only survivers if we allowed them to steal items from others out of selfishness
ReplyDeleteThe people in Haiti are in a very difficult situation. Violence shouldn't be the only resource to use in order to survive. I think that the police and peacekeepers should try to organize everything to make it easier to access all of the aid. If this was done, I believe it would be easier for the Haitians to recieve help, and the helpers to provide help. I don't think that the people should be able to steal in order to get what they need. If this is done, it will just create more chaos, and Haiti doesn't need more chaos right now. I think that everyone should take the time to organize everything and handle the situation. Then, everyone could move on and help from that point forward.
ReplyDeleteI believe that violence can not be prevented. Many people are going to be doing anything they can to get food. People will do anything to survive and that means violence if it is necessary. I think people in Haiti should worry more about helping get food out to the people rather than worrying about have security and police all over the place
ReplyDeleteI thinl it's better for supplies to be stolen rather than more people dieing from starvation. I believe the donations to Haiti are not getting to every person so some people are without food. The order does need to be maintained but I believe it is unattainable until the people of Haiti return to normal life. I think people should be allowed to scavage for food if it means life or death
ReplyDeletei think that the people of Haiti are only acting violently because they desperately need the donations and are basically racing against time. if they dont get supplies soon enough, they will die. the resorting to stealing the supplies is working though. the supplies are getting distributed and it may not be being accurately placed. while this may be the case, the supplies are being used in some way to help the people of Haiti. i think the UN and local police should find a way to make the stealing into an actual system of ways to get items distributed to hard to access areas. the people of haiti obviously know haiti better than the distributers do.
ReplyDeletewe should really give the Haitians some slack. they just went through a devastating earthquake that destroyed almost the entire country. all we can do is give supplies and send workers over to help as much as possible. they'll die if no one does anything. they must be thinking that no one will help, so they scramble to get what they need in order to survive just a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteI think that the violence is going to keep happening no matter what they do.People just arnt patient and they are in a state of crisis so that really doesnt help either. I dont think that the acts of the looters are right but they are justified givin the situation that Haiti is in.
ReplyDeleteOrder is crucial in this situation, but me personally would do anything it took to survive. So me speaking on this situation is hard because it is easy to say one thing but when you get put into that same situation would you be willing to fight for order or would you fight to feed your kids?
ReplyDelete