Shirley to Haiti: 'Use a condom!'

I'm hopeful that the US military civil engineers--and probably civilian ones too, although I have no direct info on that--sent down will help to build stronger infrastructure than what collapsed or was broken in the earthquake. Of course, better materials are also necessary to do that.

As for statutes of limitations, all that stuff is OT from where I stand. The viable question is, what's the best way to help. I hope native Hatians get most of the rebuilding work/jobs.

 

The problem there is going to be finding skilled labor. Not that a lot of skilled laborers was killed by the quake (a lot was), but that there wasn't much in the way of a properly-skilled work force to begin with.

Haiti will need a massive program in teaching the trades, not just for rebuilding the nation but also to maintain what is being replaced. In the meantime, it may take some imported labor to get the job started while the locals get up to speed.

 

Two obvious questions: Who the fuck is Paul Shirley? Why should I care what he thinks?

 

So to all you people on the Christian right, I ask you, what would Jesus do?

Would he throw his hands in the air and say Fuck it why should I help all those poor people? Or would that damn socialist go in and help those poor, less fortunate people who had virtual nothing before this devastation and now truly have nothing.

 

Jesus wouldn't wait for soldiers and UN folks and doctors and aid workers from all over the world to come dig him out of a pile of rubble and nurse him back to health. He'd take care of it himself.

 

Despite Haiti's government, and the problems in the country, I think any decent person wouldn't have a problem with people helping out other humans after a devastating disaster. It's called compassion, and Shirley seems like he could use some.

Of course, I have given money to homeless people without judging where they may or may not spend it. If I were in their shoes, I might want to drink too.

 

Sgt. Jesus, reporting for duty.
Sgt. Jesus don't take no shit.

 

Re construction trades, it's a conundrum. But those Haitians need their own income, and at least some of them can drive a bulldozer. Never mind shovels, of which there is need aplenty.

Paul Theroux's Dark Star Safari is a good place to read about the wrong uses of foreign aid (from a liberal point of view, if you care). Of course, an emergency such as this one is bound to require cutting some corners to get things upright and covered as quickly as possible.

 

Bob's brother?

 

Dude is a basketball player and his opinion should be dismissed out of hand for lacking any proper credentials for speaking for anyone other than himself. He got a forum and audience because he is 6'8" and could put a ball through a hoop with a net on it. Social issues are beyond him. Next talking head.

 

An insult to heads, talking and otherwise.

 

I mean, he's not a nobody and it's not like he's ever gone around saying he was a "somebody".
He's not anyone important in any sort of grand schemes, but he's made the rounds a little bit thanks to his ESPN blog. He's often funny, frequently an a-hole.

Half of the comments on his blog mock him for his lack of a successful NBA career. That, to me, entirely misses the point of Paul Shirley's writing. While he often did blame big contracts and draft picks for his getting cut, the whole entire blog and book were exercises in self deprecating humor.