The UN, Red Cross and world governments are providing relief for Haiti in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake which ripped the Caribbean nation apart.

The royal palace was destroyed; schools and houses shredded, and medical attention is still difficult to find as hospitals lie in ruins.

But, the earthquake and relief story will be shared and scrutinized by the blogosphere and news agencies around the world.

In this article, we will view an extremely disappointing human wrong. The sheer prejudice, racism and lack of concern on the internet. Especially in this instance, I see it as a symptom of an overarching problem seen over again, and frankly, I am in extreme disappointment.

This video is not editorialized with words and shows raw images capturing the damage and injured. However, it is the YouTube comments on this video which have left me in utter disgust:

WoWpallyftw: i wouldnt exactly consider them “people”

WeThrowPie:  a CHIMP breathes and eats and drinks, but it’s still just a chimp. Same with n******. They are subhuman scum.

Edjumakated: If they’ve truly gone through such abuse, then they will never grow up to be a benefit to society, carrying with them many psychological tortures. Hey, I have an idea. If we let all the poor and starving die off, guess what? NO MORE POOR AND STARVING! =D

Why?

Although there was a backlash of several people who felt as compelled as I did to retaliate and condemn these words, I am sickened by the prospect of having our future generations raised in a world so ignorant and so filthy.

To think that not only would someone seek out this video and watch it, but then come to the conclusion that this event was intended for this demographic? …that mother nature is justified to target this area because of race, poverty or disease?

I am ashamed for every human being today, not just the ones who reacted like this. I am embarrassed because when one is hurting, I would sincerely hope that a helping hand or compassion would be prioritized over differences. It is appalling that hate crimes of treason are committed like this against our own species.

I may be a bit naïve to hope the best for and in people, but I am justified in feeling betrayed by those who hold themselves on a higher rung of the ladder than the people of Haiti.

The universe is impartial, impersonal and a disaster of this magnitude could hit anyone at any time.

So to those who believe they are making a harmless comment on YouTube, I say this:

When seeing videos of people suffering, drop the ego, put down the salt, and take a long hard look at whether you don’t care because you are insecure or because you are so self-absorbed that nothing exists outside of you.

In either case, you’re doomed for failure when everyone realizes how self-righteous you are. So when you are lonely and typing comments on YouTube videos calling someone a racial slur when they are suffering, remember you are the only one who will suffer for screwing up your own life and the world at large; one comment at a time.

Optimism

After writing this, I saw an ambulance parked below my balcony. The paramedics were ushering in a patient from the building across the street.  A girl and her parents were leaving the building when their compassion for the patient led them to inquire.

The girl recognized the patient and obviously showed concern. She left her parents, approached the ambulance and I heard the girl ask her friend if she needed some water, and how she was feeling. The girl boarded the ambulance and proceeded to leave the scene to the hospital.

My Point

Posting a comment on YouTube which is callous towards anyone who is suffering is like walking past an ambulance after recognizing your best friend is in it. We must unite on all fronts concerning basic needs to achieve any progress. If we continue to allow differences to negate our essential human connection, we will continue to destroy ourselves and the world.

I am not going to say what race the family was or whether the patient was “different” or not from them, because it truly does not make a difference.

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