Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts

Monday, January 25, 2010

Trini Pride



I keep telling myself I am starting to show my age...

Everytime I get together with friends we talk about the antics we used to get up to in our younger days.
Reminiscing like the ole folks do...

Except reminiscing is not what my generation is known for.
We are makers and doers and breakers of rules.

We are visionaries and dreamers.
We don't accept "Just because...", we create things where they didn't exist before.

So when did we turn into people paralyzed by fear.

People so in love with their country, but so convinced that they can't themselves bring positive change - and with so little faith in our leaders - that they choose to take their families and migrate elsewhere. Sacrificing their identities for their children's safety.

And those of us left behind.

We sacrifice one freedom after another, in the name of safety, and peace of mind.
But peace of mind never comes.
Only steel bars, and alarm systems, and the recognition of degrees of safety.

When it gets to be too much, we complain that the authorities just can't get it right.
But we know... they can't do it alone.

Will nobody stand up?

The problem is that we've been trying to stand alone.

United, we stand. 
Divided, we fall.

Too true nowadays.

This weekend we had an opportunity to unite, and we did so in true Trini form.

From Blackberry Messenger broadcasts to Facebook posts and Twitter messages, T&T responded to spread the word of a stolen vehicle with a sleeping toddler still inside.

The car was subsequently abandoned, with the child still safely inside.

Only the persons responsible for that robbery can say for sure whether the rapidly-spreading word played a role in their abandoning the car.

We can say this. Trinis are still the warm people with the big hearts we are famous for. Given the opportunity to safely do so, we will still show that light within and help our brother.

To everyone who was a part of this, to everyone who raised awareness - job well done!

Thanks for demonstrating what it means to be a Trini...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

All eyes on Haiti


Death and destruction have a way of putting things into perspective for us.

Those who have lost loved ones can tell you that everything changes. We re-evaluate what is truly important in our lives.

Small grievances between family members lose their significance.
Petty quarrels are totally forgotten.
Little things that seemed so important just minutes earlier, we simply couldn't care less about.

In these times a light shines on the truth that is within our hearts.

At times this truth has been so hidden, for so long, behind walls of anger or pride or learned indifference, that it surprises and overwhelms us when it is revealed.

We discover how much we truly do love, and how much we really do care.

Too often, we remember too late.



Today, allow that light to shine.
Remind yourself of the love that is in your heart.

Reach out in peace to those around you.


Let today be the start of a new day.
A day to acknowledge that love exists.
If there is to be Hope, there must first be Love.

_________________________________________________

HAITI DISASTER RELIEF:

TRINIDAD

DIGICEL - TXT or CALL to donate

If you are in the Caribbean or Latin America, you can send relief donations to Haitian NGOs coordinating disaster relief via Digicel. Donate via TEXT or CALL. Instructions here: http://ow.ly/WkxF


In Trinidad and Tobago txt HELP to 5151 or call 5151 from your Digi (donates TT$3 )


Donate clothing, blankets, towels, non-perishable food items and bottled water

We encourage you to give what you can.

If you are inclined to give gifts of clothing, towels, blankets, sheets etc - please ensure items are clean and in good condition.





COP (POS)
Corner of Tragrete Road and Broome Street 

9am - 3pm


YMCA (POS)
Benbow Road, off Wrightson Road (opposite the power station)


UNESCO T&T (POS) 

2 Scott St, St Clair 

9am-2pm and 5-7pm 

More info here

ITNAC (Belmont)
Hilton Hotel Trinidad, 1B Lady Young Road, Belmont (tel: Olivia Constantine at 682-6755)

ITNAC (Arima)
Global Revival Ministeries, bypass on Eastern Main Road, Arima



Many more opportunities to help, including cash donations...
Detailed list here: http://meppublishers.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-haiti.html







INTERNATIONAL



Red Cross International Response Fund

Give to the Red Cross via Credit Card or using Amazon's payment processing system.






Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (Wyclef Jean)

Donate to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund online or 


or text the word YELE to 501501 to donate $5 charged to your cell phone bill (within the US).


Partners in Health

Give to the Partners in Health in response to the appeal for assistance from its Port-au-Prince clinical director, Louise Ivers: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us."




Doctors Without Borders

Give to  Doctors Without Borders who are on the ground and have setup clinics to treat the injured in Haiti.