made catastrophes happen around the world, often to those who are least fortunate and least able to react efficiently and adequately. Such is the case of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti, resulting in still an unknown number of dead and inestimable damages to an already devastated infrastructure in the poorest of all nations in the Western Hemisphere. The photos coming out of Port-au-Prince are heartbreaking. There are images of terrified children in tears, elderly men and women being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings, the grief-stricken faces of those who have lost loved ones. Yes, Haiti is a half a world away and not far from the coast of the US, making it easy to tsk-tsk and then turn the TV channel to something more entertaining. The US will, no doubt, send massive aid to the impoverished nation that shares an island with the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. But there is no reason for those of us in this part of the world to withhold our own charitable giving simply because of Haiti's geographic location. Charity is something that should have an effect not only on those close to home but on those who are far away and who lead lives quite different from our own. Most countries in the Gulf have been blessed with abundant oil reserves beneath their territory and the presence of Red Crescent advertising in most urban centers is evidence that charitable giving is a reality here even beyond the parameters of Ramadan. Yet, what better way to reach out to the world and enhance understanding among the various peoples of the world than to step in when a truly foreign population finds itself devastated by circumstances far beyond its control? How uplifting would it be both for ourselves and those suffering the consequences of natural disasters to see crates of supplies arriving clearly marked “from the people of Saudi Arabia?” Yes, close to home, the Palestinians need our help as do the Indians and the Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis. We cannot ignore them. But a donation to Haiti... that would open a door that has long been closed. __
