This morning I was concerned not only for the nation of Haiti, but for the much larger rest of its land area known as the Dominican Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic ); one presumes that if a tiny island is experiencing such tectonic trauma, surely at least some of its same-mass neighbors must have a degree of disruption or perhaps loss of lives, dislocation, and such.

But this morning, no USA television or print media in my locality mentioned more than Haiti…not even the Weather Channel.

Since nobody is further suggesting something in the nature of riots or insurrection or foreign terrorism actually occurred, neither has anyone in media said a state of hostility exists between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, it’s still a wonder why not much is being said about the bigger country…not even a blurb like “oh, they’re okay”. As if Haiti were to be presumed a free-standing water-locked isle in a vast ocean.

Besides the type of damage alleged, USA media I viewed represented that Haiti is a very continually poor country, and up to now has eternally depended on foreign aid for its subsistence; the Dominican Republic by contrast is known to me as growing in New Urbanism, and in past during Bush II it was said many dislocated people thereof had been brought into the USA under compassionate conservatism. It surely would be odd to perceive that the fate of anyone in New Urban digs has a life of lesser value or interest than somebody else.

That’s the measure of true compassion versus false compassion (the latter being a form of expediency). In real compassion, one doesn’t focus on just one type of suffering, set-back, need, then pooh-pooh any other kinds…for example, many around the globe may lose a job through no fault of their own, equally be unable to secure another one even with sterling due diligence, then find themselves foreclosed upon and at best wind up with a stipend of food stamps…permanently. If one says “hey, you think YOU have troubles? How would you like to be an earthquake victim and not know any better than yourself where your new life will be?”, one starts a purposeful polemic within which some might speculate tinges of racism or other favoritism(s). This would exemplify false compassion.

Historically, a number of such false compassions have been used as cloys to “prove” this or these nations aren’t as isolationist or aggressive as that or those nations claim. In past, some calamity breaks out in a financially remote place, and all perceived-prosperous or perceived-well-militarized nations scramble to be the “bestes buddy” of the fallen pending the duration…then on to other fish to fry.

Now, since such “compassion” rarely results in elevating long-term personal prospects within the place having had a bad break, it seems untrue to say this or that assortment of global officials have had an epiphany of heart, where through operation of aid all that results is the provision of funds to a place’s government under assorted international laws, compacts, and treaties to such inclusive effect.

Thus, “true compassion” would seem to best fit in this instant case where any nation’s officials call upon the Haitian government to more effectively utilize aid in ways mutually enhancing to their people, rather than just leaving their people “loiterers” or idled “of interest” social phobiacs without cash aid trickle-down past whatever, if any, housing restoration…since even the USA government and pals HAVE to provide a certain degree of such help.

Let’s hope Obama for once will preach to Haiti’s leaders instead of listen or ask them to export their people without their cut of aid to nations which can’t support many of their own residents, and that world leaders aren’t trying to focus all attention on teeny-tiny Haiti so no other people on earth…perhaps even the Dominican Republic or some Katrina survivors…can get a word in edgewise.